The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 25

CITY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1999 C3 Ottawa will always be 'home' to the voice of CBC Going whole 9 yards with phrase origins THE OTTAWA CITIZEN 4 1 claiming it has been misinterpreted to mean something vulgar. According to Bert van Ingen, one of the most enduring phrases in the English language goes back to those Shakespearean times that seemed to SDawn 'SO I never stop being amazed at what creates reader reaction. This week's surge came from a reprinted piece from the Internet, claiming the origin of "the whole nine yards" was from Allied fighter pilots in the Second Dave Brown Brown's Beat s- -vv 7 I f. II NwMartto a.i.fcit a World War. It was the length of a belt of 50-cali-bre aircraft ammunition.

First to challenge was Ed Anderson of Manotick. Quoting from the Encyclopedia of Word Phrase Origins, published in the United States in 1997, he offered this version: The phrase is about 30 years old and means all of something. It is not connected to the garment industry as some believe, but to the cubic capacity of the average cement truck back then. When a truck dumped its whole load in one pour, it was dumping the whole nine (cubic) yards. It was particularly important for Mr.

Anderson to have his version accepted. He recently won a pub bet on the yardage issue, and doesn't want to go back to the pub and be challenged again by the loser, who may have read that column. Ed Borza said the accepted origin he lived with, was it was the length of the material in a proper Scottish kilt, when the pleats were ironed out. Other callers had versions too farfetched to be repeated. If one phrase origin can get reaction, let's try some more.

A couple of centuries ago most beds were made of wooden frames, with mattresses supported on ropes. The bed could be made soft or firm by adjusting the ropes. Tightening the ropes for a firm bed was considered the best. Hence; Sleep tight. In that same time period, ceramic beer mugs in England had whistles baked into their handles.

They could be used to signal the server when it was time for another one. Wet your whistle. Those same pubs sold beer in pints and quarts. If the room was getting too rowdy, the publican would shout at patrons to stick to something they knew, such as the drinks in front of them. Mind your PsandQs.

Same time period: There was a rule in England that a man could not beat his wife with anything wider than his thumb. Rule of thumb. Another Manotick dweller wanted to add his favourite phrase origin, many. Wooden warships were vulnerable to fires, and it wasn't a good idea to have metal-to-metal sparks around gunpowder. Iron striking iron could spark, so the trays that held stacked cannon balls were made of brass.

In extreme cold the metals had different rates of contraction, and sometimes the neatly stacked bdlls would suddenly be dislodged from the tray. Oxford Dictionary gives, as a slang definition for a wagon load, or a cart load, the name "monkey." It could apply to the large brass tray. Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Father's Day birthday Denise Lambert marks a birthday today, and expects, as usual, to be teased by her father, Fernand Amyot, about her birth. "Two'As-pirins," he'll huff.

"Hah!" That's a reference to the advice his wife Yvette got when, very pregnant, she called her doctor and was told to take the pills and go to bed. The doctor would check things out in the morning. At 3 a.m. Mrs. Amyot told her husband she was past labour, and was well into delivery mode.

When Mr. Amyot checked and saw a baby on the way, he did what had to be done. He would later be praised for his handling of the delivery. Neither mother nor daughter had to go to hospital, and the umbilical cord was properly tied off. He would later claim "instinct" was his resource.

When Mrs. Lambert called to talk about her birthday, it was mentioned that most women past the age of 39 don't like to talk about it. "I think about my birth every yea at this time, and it occurred to me I never properly said thanks." She's 41. Dave Brown is the Citizen's senior editor. Read previous Dave Brown columns at www.ottawacitizen.com JOHN MAJOR, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Peter Mansbridge says he considers Ottawa his home.

Glebe Collegiate alumnus Peter Mansbridge gets key to the city By Kelly leydier Peter Mansbridge says he'll always call Ottawa home especially now that he has a key to the entire city. The CBC's chief correspondent and news anchor for The National was presented with the city's highest honour yesterday in a ceremony at the National Arts Centre. "I am very moved by this honour," said Mr. Mansbridge. "It's an honour for me to be able to say that I am from Ottawa, and I make no secret about that wherever I go." He sat on stage with broadcast colleague Don Newman and Mayor Jim Watsoa who paid tribute to Mr.

Mansbridge before the broadcaster reflected on his high school days in Ottawa. Mr. Watson said he probed Mr. Mansbridge's past at Mutchmor Public School and Glebe Collegiate Institute. "What they told us will be a shock to all Canadians," he intoned, mimicking Mr.

Mansbridge's on-air urgency. Mr. Watson said the future newscaster's high school antics included being continuously late for lessons, getting a friend to do his French homework, and skipping class on religious holidays to have coffee with a friend after assuring the teacher he was going to church. "Most of your English teachers admired your nice, full voice," said Mr. Watson.

"It was perfect for reading Shakespeare. The teacher would get you to join her at the front of the class to read the classics. Standing there, book in hand, with your thick blond hair straight down to your eyebrows, Beatles style, there stood the future of Canadian broadcasting." Mr. Mansbridge his hair rather thinner at age 50 was then presented with an enlarged high school yearbook photo, showing off those once-luxurious bangs. He sentimentally caressed the photo, to the crowd's laughter.

It was his booming voice that got him into journalism. While announcing flights in a Churchill, airport, a CBC producer heard him and told him: "With a voice like that, you should be in broadcasting." Hearing he would receive the key to Ottawa "brought back a lot of memories about this city" Mr. Mansbridge said. Mr. Mansbridge was born in London in 1948 and moved with his family to Ottawa in 1954.

He became a Canadian citizen in 1959. "Ottawa is still very much our home," he said. "And I'm trying to convince Cynthia that it's as important in her heart as it is in mine." He and his wife, actor Cynthia Dale who attended the ceremony have a cabin in the Gatineau Hills. A key to the city was first presented by Charlotte Whitton in 1951. Other recipients include singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, astronaut Marc Garneau, rocker Alanis Morissette and ABC news anchor Peter Jennings.

Mr. Mansbridge also visited Car-leton University yesterday to speak with journalism students and tonight he will co-host a benefit concert for Opera Lyra and the NAC Orchestra. x' -V 'f i.Jf JOHN MAJOR, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Cynthia Dale, centre, attended the ceremony to honour her husband. Police Services Board Monday, February 22 5:00 p.m. Honeywell Room H233-INFO (4636) Code: 16 Swearing-in of New Board Members D.

Adam and J. McCombie 1. Kanata, Goulbourn and West Carleton Community Resource Centre OPP Presentation on "Parent-Adolescent Crisis Education Booklet" 2. Presentation on Internet Crime Child Porn 3. Independent Legal Opinion on Provision of Legal Services 4.

Independent Legal Opinion on In Camera Meetings 5. Appointments to Board Sub-Committees 6. Change in Meeting Date for May 1999 7. Commendation Letters 8. Acquisition of Motorcycles for Traffic Enforcement 9.

Submission to Regional Development Charge Review Project 10. Delegation of Authority to Acquire Equipment and Services for the Completion of the CAD RMS Implementation 11. Regular Report from the Chief and OPP Inspector 12 Provincial Adequacy Standards Update Peter Mansbridge, centre, shown here in a yearbook photo, once attended Glebe Collegiate. Planning and Environment Committee Tuesday, February 23 3:00 p.m. Champlain Room J233-INFO (4636) Code: 14 1.

Zone 2c Elevated Water Storage Tank Environmental Assessment 2. Kilborn Avenue to Smyth Road Feedermain Link Environmental Assessment i 3. Construction and Demolition Waste Management 4. Stormwater Flowing from Home Depot Site, i Kanata 5. An Update and Review of Strategies for the Protection of School Sites 6.

Deferral No. 6 to the City of Ottawa's Official Plan and the NCC's Appeal of Zoning By-Law 2020z 7. Taggart Realty Management Inc. Local Official Plan Amendment 45 City of Kanata 8. Local Official Plan Amendment 46, City of Kanata Regional Council 1999 Budget Review Wednesday, February 24 9:00 a.m.

Council Chambers 3233-INFO (4636) Code: 11 560-2058 for agendas scheduling information, or to register to make a presentation Agendas: 111 Lisgarin Ottawa, or online www. rmoc. on. ca fclffffc lpgTrfnl regular, blanched, roasted, 2 50 kg i 111 sour or 2.63 kg sated or unsalted II JubM Peajurf OPEN HOUSE Study of Economic Opportunity in the Corel Centre Area Wednesday, March 3, 1 999 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

presentation at 7:30 p.m. Corel Centre, Coliseum Room (enter at Gate 2) 1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata Do the Corel Centre and the Interchange on Highway 417 create an opportunity for Increased economic activity? HFor more Information: Region of Ottawa-Carleton, Judy Flavin: Tel 560-2053, Fax 560-6006 E-mail: planrmoc.on.ca 970424 4 Tenaers contract no. T' 98-327; Watermain Replacement Rainsford Avenue, Wilson, Clarke and Burn streets 0For tender documents closing dates please contact: Ottawa Construction Association, 196 Branson Ave. Ottawa ON K1R6H4 i ETD313: (613) 236-0488 I an Sunflower 2.63 kg inose oack OPEN HOUSE Castlefrank Road Overpass Interchange at Hwy 417 Bird 79 19 Dates 5 kg bag ea lb Environmental Assessment Thursday, March 4, 1999, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Kanata City Hall, 4th Floor, 580 Terry Fox Drive Swiss Herbal Echinacea, 500 mg, Swiss Herbal Hi Potency B12, rj 90 soft gel caps 9.03 ea 500 meg, 90 tabs 7.19 ea rj) Swiss Herbal HVP Chelated Zinc, Swiss Herbal Flax Seed Oil, yi 50 mg, 90 tabs 4.71 ea 1,000 mg, 90 caps 7.03 ea You are encouraged to attend this Open House to: find about the study process and schedule review background information and potential options ensure that all issues and concerns are Identi fied and considered in the assessment process The project team, Including representatives from the Ministry of Transportation, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton and the City of Kanata, will be there to explain the process and answer your questions. The Region of Ottawa-Carleton is undertaking a class environmental assessment study for the construction of an overpass and a partial interchange at Highway 417 and Castlefrank Road. The need for these modifications was established, based on a consideration of planning alternatives, through the Region's Transportation Master Plan process. The Identification and evaluation of design alternatives will follow the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment guidelines for Municipal Roads, while ensuring that the requirements of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario Class Environmental Assessment guidelines for Provincial Highways ere also addressed. 970417 Proenzi 99, 90 tabs 2159 ea Pure Energy, 90 caps 10.79 ea -1 WhiK supplies list On advertised items we reserve trie right to limit quantities No dealers please 13 otl relers to Bulk Barn everyday low puces HFor more Information: Region of Ottawa-Carleton, Rajan Philips, P.

Tel 560-6001 Ext (1712) Fax 560-6006, E-mail: philipsrarmoc.on.ca Farm Boy Market Square I South Keys Shopping Centre I Gloucester City Centre 457 Hazeldean Road, Kanata 1 2210 Bank Street 1 1980 Ogilvte Road wwmmp fj yarns fi a rm n7i7Ej4iLnAfci i rfeileVeAtriieelMlllBjM.