From The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler.
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Private detective Philip Marlowe (the narrator) and police lieutenant Al Degarmo arrive at Bryson Tower—”a white stucco palace with fretted lanterns in the forecourt and tall date palms“—to interview one of the residents about an unsolved murder… Continue reading
Speaking of outlets for creativity that I don’t often publicize here, I also do some amateur design work. Some of it is obvious in the form of book covers and promotional graphics. Most of it, however, I typically keep to myself. Perhaps I should share. For example:
If I were to open a small-scale hardware store (there still are small-scale retail outlets, right?) I would give it the catchy, quirky-fun, palindromic name “Skrew Werks” and use this logo:
ghiyar
Compulsory distinctive patch of colored cloth (for example, red, blue, yellow) worn by dhimmis.*
zunnar
A distinctive girdle or belt worn by dhimmis.
– Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World
* J’s note: Dhimmis were/are non-Muslims living in Muslim lands.
COCK-LOFT, subs. (old). — The head. [A COCK-LOFT is properly a small loft, garret, or apartment at the top of a house …] An old proverb runs, ‘All his gear is in his COCK-LOFT’; i.e., ‘all his wealth, work, or worth is in his head.’
– Historical Dictionary of Slang
America should not have a world-class passenger rail system. America should have a world-aweing passenger rail system. Rail travel is central to American history. In fact, one reason our railways are so technologically behind those in other countries—where bullet trains reach speeds of 300+ km/hour—is that we Yanks started laying track so early.
However, that’s only one reason. Other reasons include private sector profit impatience (no appreciation for long-term business goals) and a lack of political will to drive public investment. These all fall into the category Failure of Vision: people of vision no longer control the resources in the United States. We should really do something to remedy that, but in the meantime let me offer a new vision for US rail travel, which I call “One America.” Continue reading
The point beyond which no further mammoths existed is known to science as the “Elevent Horizon.”
After Washington, DC, is again ranked the worst city in the country for traffic (and doomed to get worse) and the DC Metro system trapped thousands of commuters underground, under a river, under sea level, in the dark for over two hours (read a horrifying first-hand account here) … it is clearly time for new leadership with a new vision at WMATA. Continue reading
– Just remember, there’s no I in “social”!
– Umm, yes there is.
– I know, but when you C it, it goes “shh!”
lilo [1930s] The word lilo describing a mattress-like inflatable for use on water is an alteration of lie low.
– The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories
A married couple heard a ruckus outside their home, so they stepped out onto the porch to find a parade in progress, coming around the main corner of their town and stretching all the way down the street.
A float with an enormous “U” made of flowers was driving away, in front of them was a giant “V” float, and just turning into the intersection was another float with a huge “W” on it. As they watched, yet another float appeared around the corner, bearing a big, flowery “X.”
The man turned to his wife. “Do you know the reason this parade’s going on?”
“No,” she said, “But I’m sure we’ll see Y in a moment.”
