About This Blog


Of all the literary devices in an author's toolbox, none can be as confusing to the uninformed as the "metaphor", which is a direct comparison, or "simile", a comparison using the words 'like', or 'as'. Often, when the reference is uncommon or vague, the reader is left thinking "huh?"

Daniel Ruth, a well-known Tampa Tribune columnist, has a habit of over-using these devices to such extent that many readers only begin to understand the full comedic content of his columns.

We here at DRMW believe that there hasn't been as much head-scratching since Dennis Miller co-hosted 'Monday Night Football.'

To correct this deficiency, we resolve to clarify any obscure references and allow Ruth's humor to shine forth in all its glory. We do the research, so you don't have to!

We hope there will be something here for everyone, from Emo-kids to aging acid-heads, from Ivy-league matriculated to government-school edjamicated, from casual readers to bathroom-stall scholars. For those of you who need to find errors in everything, we put a few mistakes in as well. Just have fun. Let the dissection begin!

Unfortunately, Mr. Ruth is no longer with the Tampa Tribune, therefore updates will no longer be written. This blog is preserved for demonstration purposes only.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

This Law Stuff Can Be So Annoying

Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune

What He Wrote: "... Tampa's ambitious hotsy-tots ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Hotsy-Totsy' refers to being just right, or perfect. The term was coined by cartoon artist Billy de Beck, famed for his comic strips "Barney Google" and "Snuffy Smith". Another of his coinage that has found a place in the English language dictionaries is heebie-jeebies meaning jitters or creeps .

What He Wrote: "... let's describe the Daddy Warbucks' state of mind ..."
Obscure Reference: Lieutenant General Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks is a fictional character from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. His age in the series is around 52. The derivation of Warbucks' name is from his making millions through munition sales in World War I.

What He Wrote: "... what a whiz-bang idea it would be ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Whiz-Bang' was GI slang for a destructive WWI-era artillery shell. Fawcett Publications started its vast empire by publishing a bawdy cartoon and joke magazine called "Captain Billy's Whiz-Bang".
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I never knew Whiz-Bang was an artillery shell. Makes sense...

March 31, 2008 at 2:50 AM

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