Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
What He Wrote: "... thanks to that buffet-line of glad-handers ..."
Obscure Reference: A glad-hander is an individual who appears affable and approachable, is quick with a handshake, hugs a lot, gets too close and is generally over friendly in an irritating way. A 'buffet' is a meal serving system where patrons serve themselves. It is a popular method of feeding large numbers of people with minimal staff.
What He Wrote: "... the biggest collection of high-priced hookers since Eliot Spitzer last felt randy?"
Obscure Reference: A hooker is a colloquial term for prostitute. The term became popular during the American Civil War, among the Union troops of major general Joseph Hooker. 'Fighting Joe' set a very bad example for the conduct of generals and their staffs and subordinates. His headquarters in Falmouth, Virginia, was described as being a combination of a "bar-room and a brothel". Although there is no basis for the popular legend that the term is derived from his last name because of parties and a lack of military discipline at his headquarters, some versions of the legend claim that the band of prostitutes that followed his division were derisively referred to as "General Hooker's Army" or "Hooker's Brigade." Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democrat Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008. According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was Attorney General, and later as Governor. 'Randy' is British slang for sexual arousal and/or desiring sexual gratification.
What He Wrote: "... less due diligence than Al Pacino's Tony Montana eyeing a pile of cocaine ..."
Obscure Reference: Scarface is a 1983 film directed by Brian De Palma, and starring Al Pacino as Antonio "Tony" Montana. A loose remake of the 1932 gangster film of the same title, it tells the story of a fictional Cuban refugee, who comes to Florida in 1980 as a result of the Mariel Boatlift. Montana becomes a gangster against the backdrop of the 1980s cocaine boom. The film chronicles his rise to the top of Miami's criminal underworld and subsequent downfall in Greek tragedy fashion.
What He Wrote: "... the CSX cabana boys ..."
Obscure Reference: A cabana boy is a male attendant (boy in this sense) performing personal services to the guests of a hotel etc., operating from a nearby cabaña (American Spanish for cabin), notably on a beach. A pool boy performs the same duties at a swimming pool. When used in a derogatory manner, it implies 'other' services, usually unspecified, but sexual in nature, much like a 'paid escort'.
What He Wrote: "... two-thirds-billion-dollar stocking stuffer ..."
Obscure Reference: A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toys, candy, coins, or other small gifts when he arrives. These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. In some Christmas stories, the contents of the Christmas stocking are the only toys the child receives at Christmas from Santa Claus. Tradition in western culture dictates that a child who behaves badly during the year will receive only a piece of coal.
What He Wrote: "... CSX's legislative apparatchiks ..."
Obscure Reference: An 'apparatchik' is a Russian colloquial term for a full-time, professional functionary of the Communist Party or government. The term was usually associated with a specific mindset, attitude and appearance of the person; when used by "outsiders", it often bore derogatory connotations. Today this term is also used in contexts other than Soviet Union. For example, it is often used to describe people who cause bureaucratic bottlenecks in otherwise efficient organizations. In this sense, it is a mis-placed metaphor.
What He Wrote: "... the mother of all freebies ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Expect The Mother of All Battles' was Saddam Hussains reply to the threat of invasion by coalition forces during the first Gulf war. In reality when faced with large forces that had a superior technological adavantage his military reply was more akin to that of an elderly aunt with alzheimers. The phrase has found it's way into everyday use as a superlative modifier.
What He Wrote: "... little more than a Daddy Warbucks ..."
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. Since Warbucks got his wealth from selling to the government, this is also a mis-placed metaphor.
What He Wrote: "... the yard gnomes of the Legislature ..."
Obscure Reference: A gnome is a mythical creature characterized by its extremely small size and subterranean lifestyle. In the 1800's Germans made terracotta animals as decorations, and produced gnomes based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of the gnomes' willingness to help in the garden at night. The garden gnome quickly spread across Germany and into France and England, and wherever gardening was a serious hobby. Lawn and Garden gnomes have become a popular accessory in many gardens. They are often the target of pranks, known collectively as gnoming.
What He Wrote: "... air-kiss to CSX ..."
Obscure Reference: The air kiss is a social gesture whose meaning is basically the same as that of many forms of kissing. The air kiss is a pretence of kissing: the lips are pursed as if kissing, but without actually touching the other person's body. Air kisses are often associated with glamor models and celebrities: a tongue-in-cheek explanation is that unlike regular kisses, air kisses don't disturb their makeup.
What He Wrote: "... leaving the taxpayers on the hook ..."
Obscure Reference: On, or off - 'the hook' is an American colloquialism which refers to vaudeville performances. Particularly bad acts which were heckled by the audience were pulled offstage by a large, comical hook.
What He Wrote: "... Tallahassee's answer to a brass pole ..."
Obscure Reference: A brass pole is a fixture in a burlesque house or strip club, which allows the dancer support while doing erotic or enticing moves. It involves dancing sensually, although more recently artistic pole dancing is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment. Pole dancing is also regarded by many as a performing art.
What He Wrote: "... obligate taxpayers to pick up the lion's share ..."
Obscure Reference: The Lion's Share is an expression that has come to mean the larger of two amounts, or more often, the largest of several amounts. The saying derives from one of Aesop's fables, where the term is actually defined as the whole amount. In the fable, a lion, fox, jackal and wolf go hunting, successfully killing a deer. It is divided into four parts with the lion taking the first quarter because he is king of the beasts, the second quarter because he is the arbiter of which animals get what portions of the deer, the third quarter because of his help in catching the deer, and the fourth quarter for his superior strength. Thus the lion takes all.
What He Wrote: "... more winks and nods than a Skull & Bones alumni reunion..."
Obscure Reference: A wink & a nond is the implication of either a) sarcasm (that is usually already overtly obvious) or b) a double entendre. Can be done just physically or both physically and verbally at the same time. The Order of Skull and Bones, is a secret society of Yale University upperclassmen. Skull and Bones is known for its extreme secrecy, and members will deny they belong, or even say the name. As with other Yale societies, the sharing of a personal history is the keystone of the senior year together in the tomb. Presidents G.H.W. Bush, G.W. Bush, and Senator John Kerry are reportedly members.
What He Wrote: "... like it was five-day-old roadkill..."
Obscure Reference: 'Roadkill' is a cruel example of Darwinism in action. The animals that are either slow to move, or weak, or previously injured, or otherwise stupid enough to just stand there are weeded out by speeding motorists, and those who survive crossing the roads live to breed offspring that are more likely to get out of the way when an SUV driver on a cellphone hits the gas pedal. Roadkill is comprised mostly of rodents, turtles, deer. The rest is composed of domestic animals bred for aesthetics. Five-day old would be smelly, indeed, at least in the Florida sun.
What He Wrote: "... political footsie-wootsie..."
Obscure Reference: "Playing footsie' is a practice in which people use their feet to play with each other's feet. This generally involves slipping their shoes off under a table and rubbing their bare feet and soles against one another or up their partner's leg. Footsies generally is used to flirt with sexual partners. "Playing footsies" can also mean that two people favor each other over others, such as in politics or other group activity in which people are not technically paired off. Doing so tends to give an unfair advantage to the two individuals over the rest of the group.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Rays Exorcise Devil, But Not Rude, Vile Fans
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
Welcome to all of our Canadian visitors (via Five Feet of Fury). Thanks for stopping by.
What he Wrote: "... Tampa Bay Devil - oops, sorry for the momentary political incorrectness ..."
Obscure Reference: The Tampa Bay major league baseball franchise (American League) was formerly known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, after a species of sea ray in the genus Mobula. The team was re-named in 2008 to the Tampa Bay Rays. The term 'politically incorrect' is used to refer to language or ideas that may cause offense or that are unconstrained by behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to racial, cultural, or other identity groups. The "Devil" in Devil Rays was perceived as offensive to some.
What he Wrote: "... the Bombshell of the Balkans ..."
Obscure Reference: Originally during World War II, "Bombshell Girl" referred to the "pinup" girls who were painted onto the sides of WWII planes, bombers, and their bombs. The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains which run through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia.
What he Wrote: "... in a FEMA trailer with a gland problem like Tropicana Field ..."
Obscure Reference: The term 'FEMA trailer', is the name commonly given by the U.S. Government to many forms of manufactured housing assigned to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Intended to be temporary quarters only, FEMA trailers have become part of the cultural landscape and language of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities. Tropicana Field is the home ballpark of the Tampa Bay Rays, located in St. Petersburg, ironically resembling a giant orange juice squeezer tilted to one side when viewed from afar.
What he Wrote: "... the extra from "Deliverance" who appeared ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Extra' is a performer who appears in a nonspeaking capacity, usually in the background. Deliverance is a 1972 motion picture drama, noted for the memorable music scene near the beginning that sets the tone for what lies ahead: a trip into unknown and potentially dangerous territory. In the scene, set at a rural gas station, one of the main characters plays the instrumental "Dueling Banjos" on his guitar accompanied by a mentally-challenged hillbilly in-bred albino youth playing banjo.
What he Wrote: "... the pitter-patter of little feet around the manse ..."
Obscure Reference: A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church. 'Pitter-patter of little feet' refers to the sound of children playfully running.
What he Wrote: "... the Inmate-In-Waiting ..."
Obscure Reference: A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a noble court, attending to a queen, a princess or other noblewoman. A lady-in-waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank (i.e., a lesser noble) than the one she attends to, and is not considered a servant. Their duties varied from court to court. Tudor queens often had a large degree of say in who became their ladies-in-waiting. Sometimes Ladies-in-Waiting would be a lady's older sister who never got married and came to keep her sister company. The term is also used in film and stage, to describe an actress whose role consists of very little action or involvement, differing from a supporting actress.
What he Wrote: "... like a drill instructor."
Obscure Reference: A drill instructor (or Drill Sergeant) is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of initiating new recruits entering the military into the customs and practices of military life. Drill instructors have a reputation as unforgiving taskmasters, and they are often portrayed as such in popular culture. The term 'drill instructor' is often used for an employer in any occupation who sets strict tasks and guidelines and is tough on those who do not comply.
What he Wrote: "... there was Gomer screaming ..."
Obscure Reference: Gomer Pyle was the simple-minded gas station attendant and later auto mechanic in the American TV sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show', played by Jim Nabors. Nabors continued the character in his own starring vehicle, 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.' He was often awestruck by the simplest of things, resulting in the exclamation of his catchphrases, "Shazam!", "Gol-ly" and "Surprise, surprise, surprise!". In medical slang, the term 'gomer' is used to describe a chronic problem patient who does not respond to treatment.
What he Wrote: "... 'C'mon Garza, you're down three runs!!!' Goober screamed..."
Obscure Reference: Gomer's cousin was named Goober, played by George Lindsey. 'Goober' is an Americanization of the West African Kongo language word "Nguba", meaning Peanut. "Goober Peas" is another variation of this term. Goober was the town Mayberry's "village idiot".
What he Wrote: "... At this rate, perhaps by August, we could have Tropicana Field pretty much all to ourselves."
Obscure Reference: The Rays have yet to post a winning season nor make the playoffs.
Welcome to all of our Canadian visitors (via Five Feet of Fury). Thanks for stopping by.
What he Wrote: "... Tampa Bay Devil - oops, sorry for the momentary political incorrectness ..."
Obscure Reference: The Tampa Bay major league baseball franchise (American League) was formerly known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, after a species of sea ray in the genus Mobula. The team was re-named in 2008 to the Tampa Bay Rays. The term 'politically incorrect' is used to refer to language or ideas that may cause offense or that are unconstrained by behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to racial, cultural, or other identity groups. The "Devil" in Devil Rays was perceived as offensive to some.
What he Wrote: "... the Bombshell of the Balkans ..."
Obscure Reference: Originally during World War II, "Bombshell Girl" referred to the "pinup" girls who were painted onto the sides of WWII planes, bombers, and their bombs. The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains which run through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia.
What he Wrote: "... in a FEMA trailer with a gland problem like Tropicana Field ..."
Obscure Reference: The term 'FEMA trailer', is the name commonly given by the U.S. Government to many forms of manufactured housing assigned to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Intended to be temporary quarters only, FEMA trailers have become part of the cultural landscape and language of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities. Tropicana Field is the home ballpark of the Tampa Bay Rays, located in St. Petersburg, ironically resembling a giant orange juice squeezer tilted to one side when viewed from afar.
What he Wrote: "... the extra from "Deliverance" who appeared ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Extra' is a performer who appears in a nonspeaking capacity, usually in the background. Deliverance is a 1972 motion picture drama, noted for the memorable music scene near the beginning that sets the tone for what lies ahead: a trip into unknown and potentially dangerous territory. In the scene, set at a rural gas station, one of the main characters plays the instrumental "Dueling Banjos" on his guitar accompanied by a mentally-challenged hillbilly in-bred albino youth playing banjo.
What he Wrote: "... the pitter-patter of little feet around the manse ..."
Obscure Reference: A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church. 'Pitter-patter of little feet' refers to the sound of children playfully running.
What he Wrote: "... the Inmate-In-Waiting ..."
Obscure Reference: A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a noble court, attending to a queen, a princess or other noblewoman. A lady-in-waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank (i.e., a lesser noble) than the one she attends to, and is not considered a servant. Their duties varied from court to court. Tudor queens often had a large degree of say in who became their ladies-in-waiting. Sometimes Ladies-in-Waiting would be a lady's older sister who never got married and came to keep her sister company. The term is also used in film and stage, to describe an actress whose role consists of very little action or involvement, differing from a supporting actress.
What he Wrote: "... like a drill instructor."
Obscure Reference: A drill instructor (or Drill Sergeant) is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of initiating new recruits entering the military into the customs and practices of military life. Drill instructors have a reputation as unforgiving taskmasters, and they are often portrayed as such in popular culture. The term 'drill instructor' is often used for an employer in any occupation who sets strict tasks and guidelines and is tough on those who do not comply.
What he Wrote: "... there was Gomer screaming ..."
Obscure Reference: Gomer Pyle was the simple-minded gas station attendant and later auto mechanic in the American TV sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show', played by Jim Nabors. Nabors continued the character in his own starring vehicle, 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.' He was often awestruck by the simplest of things, resulting in the exclamation of his catchphrases, "Shazam!", "Gol-ly" and "Surprise, surprise, surprise!". In medical slang, the term 'gomer' is used to describe a chronic problem patient who does not respond to treatment.
What he Wrote: "... 'C'mon Garza, you're down three runs!!!' Goober screamed..."
Obscure Reference: Gomer's cousin was named Goober, played by George Lindsey. 'Goober' is an Americanization of the West African Kongo language word "Nguba", meaning Peanut. "Goober Peas" is another variation of this term. Goober was the town Mayberry's "village idiot".
What he Wrote: "... At this rate, perhaps by August, we could have Tropicana Field pretty much all to ourselves."
Obscure Reference: The Rays have yet to post a winning season nor make the playoffs.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bishop Blair Issues Fatwa On Silence
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
Look! It's non-sequitur Thursday!
What He Wrote: "... in the parallel universe of the Hillsborough County Commission ..."
Obscure Reference: The many-worlds interpretation or MWI (also known as relative state formulation, theory of the universal wavefunction, or parallel universes), is an interpretation of quantum mechanics. MWI denies the objective reality of wavefunction collapse. MWI explains the subjective appearance of wavefunction collapse with the mechanism of quantum decoherence. Consequently, MWI claims this resolves all the "paradoxes" of quantum theory since every possible outcome to every event defines or exists in its own "history" or "world". In layman's terms, this means that there are an infinite number of universes and that everything that could possibly happen in our universe (but doesn't) does happen in another.
What He Wrote: "... the Canon of Kennedy Boulevard..."
Obscure Reference: A Canon is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule (canon). Originally, a Canon was a cleric living with others in a clergyhouse or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct or close of a cathedral and ordering his life according to the order or rule of the church. Kennedy Boulevard is a major east-west corridor in Tampa. It carries the State Road 60 designation through its entire route. Prior to the construction of the Interstate Highway system, which began in the early 1960's in Tampa, what became known as Kennedy Blvd. was the main artery for heavy westbound traffic emptying from downtown Tampa and points eastward during the rush hour.
What He Wrote: "... issuing his own good ol' boy fatwa..."
Obscure Reference: A fatwā in the Islamic faith, is a religious edict or a ruling on Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In the early days of Islam, fatwa were pronounced by distinguished scholars to provide guidance to other scholars, judges and citizens on how subtle points of Islamic law should be understood, interpreted or applied. There were strict rules on who is eligible to issue a valid fatwa and who could not, as well as on the conditions the fatwa must satisfy to be valid. 'Good ol' boy' is a slang term used, either to self-identify as or to refer to a male, usually Caucasian and of Northern/Western-European descent, who lives in a rural area and/or subscribes to a traditionally "rural" lifestyle.
What He Wrote: "... the commission's archbishop of bumpkins..."
Obscure Reference: In America, bumpkin is a derogatory term to refer to the stereotype of poor, un-sophisticated country people; in the rural South, synonymous with 'yokel', or 'hick'. The title of 'Archbishop' is used by several Christian denominations (Catholic, Episcopalian, Orthodox, among others) to designate a senior or elevated Bishop.
What He Wrote: "... the commission's Pope of Podunk..."
Obscure Reference: Podunk, or Podunk Junction has come to denote a place (or sometimes something else) of small size, and is often used, upper-cased, as a placeholder name in a context of dismissing significance or importance. The word is of Algonquian origin; it denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations. The Pope is the supreme Pontiff of the Roman Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
What He Wrote: "The AFA poppycock ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Poppycock' refers to an interjection meaning balderdash or nonsense. It is also a brand of tasty clusters of caramel-coated popcorn, pecans and almonds made by the Lincoln Snacks company.
What He Wrote: "... ham-handed ideological ignorance ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Ham-handed' refers to those lacking social grace or tact, clumsy, inept, or heavy-handed.
What He Wrote: "... I've yet to receive my copy of the homosexual agenda."
Obscure Reference: The homosexual agenda (or the gay agenda) is a term used by some social conservatives in the U.S. to describe the goal of increasing the acceptance and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transexual (LGBT) people through public policies, media exposure, and cultural change. The term is most often employed by social conservatives in debates over LGBT rights in the U.S. Some believe that this agenda is a secret one. The term is offensive to many, particularly those who view the goals of the movement to be equal rights. Sometimes those who would be offended by a serious reference to this term still use it satirically or sarcastically.
Look! It's non-sequitur Thursday!
What He Wrote: "... in the parallel universe of the Hillsborough County Commission ..."
Obscure Reference: The many-worlds interpretation or MWI (also known as relative state formulation, theory of the universal wavefunction, or parallel universes), is an interpretation of quantum mechanics. MWI denies the objective reality of wavefunction collapse. MWI explains the subjective appearance of wavefunction collapse with the mechanism of quantum decoherence. Consequently, MWI claims this resolves all the "paradoxes" of quantum theory since every possible outcome to every event defines or exists in its own "history" or "world". In layman's terms, this means that there are an infinite number of universes and that everything that could possibly happen in our universe (but doesn't) does happen in another.
What He Wrote: "... the Canon of Kennedy Boulevard..."
Obscure Reference: A Canon is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule (canon). Originally, a Canon was a cleric living with others in a clergyhouse or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct or close of a cathedral and ordering his life according to the order or rule of the church. Kennedy Boulevard is a major east-west corridor in Tampa. It carries the State Road 60 designation through its entire route. Prior to the construction of the Interstate Highway system, which began in the early 1960's in Tampa, what became known as Kennedy Blvd. was the main artery for heavy westbound traffic emptying from downtown Tampa and points eastward during the rush hour.
What He Wrote: "... issuing his own good ol' boy fatwa..."
Obscure Reference: A fatwā in the Islamic faith, is a religious edict or a ruling on Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In the early days of Islam, fatwa were pronounced by distinguished scholars to provide guidance to other scholars, judges and citizens on how subtle points of Islamic law should be understood, interpreted or applied. There were strict rules on who is eligible to issue a valid fatwa and who could not, as well as on the conditions the fatwa must satisfy to be valid. 'Good ol' boy' is a slang term used, either to self-identify as or to refer to a male, usually Caucasian and of Northern/Western-European descent, who lives in a rural area and/or subscribes to a traditionally "rural" lifestyle.
What He Wrote: "... the commission's archbishop of bumpkins..."
Obscure Reference: In America, bumpkin is a derogatory term to refer to the stereotype of poor, un-sophisticated country people; in the rural South, synonymous with 'yokel', or 'hick'. The title of 'Archbishop' is used by several Christian denominations (Catholic, Episcopalian, Orthodox, among others) to designate a senior or elevated Bishop.
What He Wrote: "... the commission's Pope of Podunk..."
Obscure Reference: Podunk, or Podunk Junction has come to denote a place (or sometimes something else) of small size, and is often used, upper-cased, as a placeholder name in a context of dismissing significance or importance. The word is of Algonquian origin; it denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations. The Pope is the supreme Pontiff of the Roman Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
What He Wrote: "The AFA poppycock ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Poppycock' refers to an interjection meaning balderdash or nonsense. It is also a brand of tasty clusters of caramel-coated popcorn, pecans and almonds made by the Lincoln Snacks company.
What He Wrote: "... ham-handed ideological ignorance ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Ham-handed' refers to those lacking social grace or tact, clumsy, inept, or heavy-handed.
What He Wrote: "... I've yet to receive my copy of the homosexual agenda."
Obscure Reference: The homosexual agenda (or the gay agenda) is a term used by some social conservatives in the U.S. to describe the goal of increasing the acceptance and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transexual (LGBT) people through public policies, media exposure, and cultural change. The term is most often employed by social conservatives in debates over LGBT rights in the U.S. Some believe that this agenda is a secret one. The term is offensive to many, particularly those who view the goals of the movement to be equal rights. Sometimes those who would be offended by a serious reference to this term still use it satirically or sarcastically.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Making A Federal Case Of A Boo-Boo
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
What He Wrote: "... hit the wheel of fortune..."
Obscure Reference: The Wheel of Fortune, or Rota Fortuna, is a concept in medieval and ancient philosophy referring to the capricious nature of Fate. The wheel belongs to the goddess Fortuna, who spins it at random, changing the positions of those on the wheel - some suffer great misfortune, others gain windfalls.
What He Wrote: "... of fate's fickle finger..."
Obscure Reference: 'The Fickle Finger of Fate' (also known as El Dedo del destino) is a 1967 comedy film directed by Richard Rush, starring Tab Hunter. Hunter is a clumsy businessman who accidentally gets wrapped up in a plot of intrigue while on a trip to Spain. It was also the name of an award given on Rowan & Martin's television series "Laugh-In" (1968-73), saluting actual dubious achievements by the government or famous people.
What He Wrote: "... of bad judicial karma."
Obscure Reference: Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect, described in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies. The philosophical explanation of karma can differ slightly between traditions, but the general concept is basically the same. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.
What He Wrote: "...Megahed, which is Arabic for complete moron,..."
Obscure Reference: 'Megahed' is not Arabic for 'complete moron'.
What He Wrote: "...before you could say, 'Book 'em, Dano,' ..."
Obscure Reference: "Book 'em, Danno" was a catch phrase used often by fictional detective Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord), head of the Hawaiian State Police squad in the television series 'Hawaii Five-O'. McGarrett would often utter the phrase at the completion of a succesfull aprehension or arrest to second-in-command Dan 'Danno' Williams (played by James MacArthur).
What He Wrote: "... another pint of Guinness..."
Obscure Reference: Pint is the standard UK measure of beer - apparently equivalent to 0.568 litres in new money, or 20 fluid ounces in American money. Guinness is a popular dry stout ale that originated in Arthur Guinness's St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The beer is based on the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century. It is extremely popular with the Irish and is the best-selling alcoholic drink of all time in Ireland.
What He Wrote: "...Four Green Fields pub..."
Obscure Reference: 'Four Green Fields' was a record album released under the GEM label by Irish traditional musicians 'The Flying Column', who formed a folk band in Belfast around 1967/68. They took their name from the small tight cells that comprised the Irish Republican Army active service units during the Anglo-Irish war of 1916-1921. This album became popular for nationalist households in Northern Ireland after it was released in 1971. It recounted in song the various rebellions from 1798 right through to the IRA border campaign which ended in 1962.
What He Wrote: "... hit the wheel of fortune..."
Obscure Reference: The Wheel of Fortune, or Rota Fortuna, is a concept in medieval and ancient philosophy referring to the capricious nature of Fate. The wheel belongs to the goddess Fortuna, who spins it at random, changing the positions of those on the wheel - some suffer great misfortune, others gain windfalls.
What He Wrote: "... of fate's fickle finger..."
Obscure Reference: 'The Fickle Finger of Fate' (also known as El Dedo del destino) is a 1967 comedy film directed by Richard Rush, starring Tab Hunter. Hunter is a clumsy businessman who accidentally gets wrapped up in a plot of intrigue while on a trip to Spain. It was also the name of an award given on Rowan & Martin's television series "Laugh-In" (1968-73), saluting actual dubious achievements by the government or famous people.
What He Wrote: "... of bad judicial karma."
Obscure Reference: Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect, described in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies. The philosophical explanation of karma can differ slightly between traditions, but the general concept is basically the same. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.
What He Wrote: "...Megahed, which is Arabic for complete moron,..."
Obscure Reference: 'Megahed' is not Arabic for 'complete moron'.
What He Wrote: "...before you could say, 'Book 'em, Dano,' ..."
Obscure Reference: "Book 'em, Danno" was a catch phrase used often by fictional detective Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord), head of the Hawaiian State Police squad in the television series 'Hawaii Five-O'. McGarrett would often utter the phrase at the completion of a succesfull aprehension or arrest to second-in-command Dan 'Danno' Williams (played by James MacArthur).
What He Wrote: "... another pint of Guinness..."
Obscure Reference: Pint is the standard UK measure of beer - apparently equivalent to 0.568 litres in new money, or 20 fluid ounces in American money. Guinness is a popular dry stout ale that originated in Arthur Guinness's St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The beer is based on the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century. It is extremely popular with the Irish and is the best-selling alcoholic drink of all time in Ireland.
What He Wrote: "...Four Green Fields pub..."
Obscure Reference: 'Four Green Fields' was a record album released under the GEM label by Irish traditional musicians 'The Flying Column', who formed a folk band in Belfast around 1967/68. They took their name from the small tight cells that comprised the Irish Republican Army active service units during the Anglo-Irish war of 1916-1921. This album became popular for nationalist households in Northern Ireland after it was released in 1971. It recounted in song the various rebellions from 1798 right through to the IRA border campaign which ended in 1962.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Alligator Bob Has New Job In Gooberville
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
What He Wrote: "... once again it's "Alllllllllll aboard for Gooberville!"
Obscure Reference: 'Gooberville' may be a corruption of 'Hooterville' which was a fictional town populated by rubes that was the setting of the American television sitcoms 'Petticoat Junction' and 'Green Acres'. The name 'Hooterville' is actually first used in episode No. 6 of The Beverly Hillbillies.
What He Wrote: "... the Area 51 of government."
Obscure Reference: Area 51 is a remote tract of land in the southwestern portion of Lincoln County in southern Nevada. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of a dry lakebed, is a large military airfield, one of the most secretive places in the world. The base's primary purpose is to support development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems.
What He Wrote: "... Hamlet-esque, Thomas Becket-like struggle ..."
Obscure Reference: Saint Thomas Becket, St. Thomas of Canterbury, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. He engaged in conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father, the King, and then taken the throne and married Hamlet's mother. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness—from overwhelming grief to seething rage—and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
What He Wrote: "... a used car dealer in Fort Lonesome with four jalopies on the lot."
Obscure Reference: 'Fort Lonesome' is an unincorporated rural ghost town located in southeastern Hillsborough County, 36 miles southeast of Tampa and east of the Little Manatee River State Park. A sawmill plant briefly revived the area with a few houses and three stores in the early 1930s. It was short-lived. A fire destroyed the mill and eventually the "town" disappeared. A 'Jalopy' also known as a 'Rat Rod' is a style of Hot Rod or Custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Most appear with just the bare essentials to be driven. It is the visualization of the idea of function over form. Many appear unfinished with primer paint jobs being common. Other finishes may include “natural patina” (the original paint with rust and blemishes intact), a patchwork of original paint and primer, or bare metal with no finish at all in rusty or oiled varieties. Contrary to tastes of many car builders, rust is often acceptable and appreciated by a Rat Rodder.
What He Wrote: "... precious little to do with anyone confusing him with Jacques Cousteau."
Obscure Reference: Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, scientist, photographer and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He co-developed with Emile Gagnan the SCUBA aqualung, pioneered marine conservation and was a member of the Académie Française.
What He Wrote: "... most important credential of all - he's a hotsy-totsy member of ..."
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".
What He Wrote: "... Next stop, Dogpatch Heights! ..."
Obscure Reference: Dogpatch is the fictional setting of most of Al Capp's Li'l Abner comic strip. The inhabitants of Dogpatch were mostly lazy hillbillies, who wanted nothing to do with progress, were extremely patriotic and devastatingly poor.
What He Wrote: "... once again it's "Alllllllllll aboard for Gooberville!"
Obscure Reference: 'Gooberville' may be a corruption of 'Hooterville' which was a fictional town populated by rubes that was the setting of the American television sitcoms 'Petticoat Junction' and 'Green Acres'. The name 'Hooterville' is actually first used in episode No. 6 of The Beverly Hillbillies.
What He Wrote: "... the Area 51 of government."
Obscure Reference: Area 51 is a remote tract of land in the southwestern portion of Lincoln County in southern Nevada. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of a dry lakebed, is a large military airfield, one of the most secretive places in the world. The base's primary purpose is to support development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems.
What He Wrote: "... Hamlet-esque, Thomas Becket-like struggle ..."
Obscure Reference: Saint Thomas Becket, St. Thomas of Canterbury, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. He engaged in conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father, the King, and then taken the throne and married Hamlet's mother. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness—from overwhelming grief to seething rage—and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
What He Wrote: "... a used car dealer in Fort Lonesome with four jalopies on the lot."
Obscure Reference: 'Fort Lonesome' is an unincorporated rural ghost town located in southeastern Hillsborough County, 36 miles southeast of Tampa and east of the Little Manatee River State Park. A sawmill plant briefly revived the area with a few houses and three stores in the early 1930s. It was short-lived. A fire destroyed the mill and eventually the "town" disappeared. A 'Jalopy' also known as a 'Rat Rod' is a style of Hot Rod or Custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Most appear with just the bare essentials to be driven. It is the visualization of the idea of function over form. Many appear unfinished with primer paint jobs being common. Other finishes may include “natural patina” (the original paint with rust and blemishes intact), a patchwork of original paint and primer, or bare metal with no finish at all in rusty or oiled varieties. Contrary to tastes of many car builders, rust is often acceptable and appreciated by a Rat Rodder.
What He Wrote: "... precious little to do with anyone confusing him with Jacques Cousteau."
Obscure Reference: Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, scientist, photographer and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He co-developed with Emile Gagnan the SCUBA aqualung, pioneered marine conservation and was a member of the Académie Française.
What He Wrote: "... most important credential of all - he's a hotsy-totsy member of ..."
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".
What He Wrote: "... Next stop, Dogpatch Heights! ..."
Obscure Reference: Dogpatch is the fictional setting of most of Al Capp's Li'l Abner comic strip. The inhabitants of Dogpatch were mostly lazy hillbillies, who wanted nothing to do with progress, were extremely patriotic and devastatingly poor.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Her 'Academic Freedom'? Not Free, Just Dumb
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
What He Wrote "... state Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Tammy Faye Bakker Only Without The Sense Of Whimsy ..."
Obscure Reference: Tammy Faye Bakker was the former wife of televangelist and later convicted felon Jim Bakker, who co-hosted with him on The PTL Club from 1976 to 1987. Her over use of make-up, particularly mascara, gave her a clown-like appearance.
What He Wrote: "... the wizard in the sky mumbo jumbo argument for creationism."
Obscure Reference: Mumbo Jumbo, or mumbojumbo is an English phrase or expression that denotes a confusing or meaningless subject. One of the sources for the English usage is the Vachel Lindsay poem 'The Congo', which contains the phrase "Mumbo-Jumbo, God of the Congo". Even long after the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, the term continues to be used derisively of Roman Catholicism.
What He Wrote: "... denials that made Baghdad Bob look like Winston Churchill ..."
Obscure Reference: Mohammed Saeed is a former Iraqi diplomat and politician. He came to wide prominence around the world during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, during which he was the Information Minister of Iraq. Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as" "Hanoi Hannah" and "Seoul City Sue") by commentators in the United States. The dispatches by al-Sahhaf described the utterly fictional world of Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. On the other hand, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of Great Britain during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted eloquent statesman and orator, Churchill was also known a historical writer, and an artist.
What He Wrote: "... fundamentalist Christian madrassas ..."
Obscure Reference: Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of school, secular or religious (of any religion).
What He Wrote: "... her silly ... fiddle-faddle would get the bum's rush ..."
Obscure Reference: Fiddle Faddle is candy-coated popcorn produced by the Lincoln Snacks Company, similar to Crackerjack or Poppycock. "Bum's Rush" is an example of 'Wobbly lingo', a collection of technical language, jargon, and historic slang used by the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies). For several decades, many hobos in the U.S. were members of, or were sympathetic to, the IWW. Because of this, some of the terms describe the life of a hobo such as "riding the rails", living in "jungles", dodging the "bulls". "Bum's rush" refers to an innkeeper abruptly shoving a person of destitution (bum) to the door.
What He Wrote: "... Storms, R-The Madame Defarge of Genesis, ..."
Obscure Reference: Madame Thérèse Defarge is a fictional character in the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She is a tireless worker for the French Revolution, and embodies the chaos of the Revolution. As the revolution breaks into full force, Madame Defarge reveals her true viciousness. Defarge ultimately fails to see the evil in herself that her thirst for revenge has unleashed. Genesis is the name of the first chapter in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament, otherwise known as 'The First Book of Moses'.
What He Wrote: "... the senator's "Academic Fiefdom Act."
Obscure Reference: Florida state senator Ronda Storms co-sponsored a bill titled the "Academic Freedom Act. Under the political system of feudalism, a fiefdom often consisted of inheritable lands or revenue-producing property granted by a liege lord, generally to a vassal, in return for a form of allegiance, originally to give him the means to fulfill his military duties when called upon. However anything of value could be held in fief, such as an office, a right of exploitation such as hunting fishing, farming, or any other type of revenue, rather than the land it comes from.
What He Wrote: "... their own version of pseudo-hocus-pocus science ..."
Obscure Reference: Hocus Pocus is a generic term used by magicians, usually the magic words spoken when bringing about some sort of change. In British English, its most prevalent modern meaning is "contrived nonsense", as in, "It was all a load of hocus pocus". The origins of the term remain obscure. Some believe it originates from a parody of the Roman Catholic liturgy of the eucharist, which contains the phrase "Hoc est enim corpus meum". This explanation goes back to speculations by the Anglican prelate John Tillotson, who wrote in 1694: "In all probability those common juggling words of hocus pocus are nothing else but a corruption of hoc est corpus, by way of ridiculous imitation of the priests of the Church of Rome in their trick of Transubstantiation." 'Hocus Pocus' is also the name of a 1971 song by progressive rock band Focus.
What He Wrote: "... Storms got her sackcloth and ashes in a wad ..."
Obscure Reference: Sackcloth, or Burlap, is a coarse woven fabric usually made from jute or hemp and used primarily to make sacks to ship cargo or produce. Its coarse texture makes it unsuitable for use in modern apparel. This roughness gave it a use in a religious context, for self-mortification, where individuals may wear an abrasive shirt called a cilice. In the first centuries of the Christian Church, groups of penitents were established by the Church for those Christians who fell into grave sin and sought reconciliation with the Church. Public penance consisted of acts of mortification such as wearing a cilice, covering the head with ashes, fasting and prayers.
What He Wrote: "... it might be a really crackerjack idea ..."
Obscure Reference: Cracker Jack is a US brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts. Legend has it that an early taster commented "That's Cracker, Jack!" hence the name. "Crackajack", a variation on the word, and denoting something exceptionally good (as in the old saying, "Crackerjack baseball player") was used for a brand of comic books featuring characters such as Red Ryder.
What He Wrote: "... Stay tuned for "The Earth is round? What's up with that?"
Obscure Reference: The idea of a flat Earth is that the surface of the Earth is flat (a plane), rather than the view that it is a very close approximation of the surface of a sphere. The belief was strongly held up until the 4th and 5th centuries, when scholars started discussing the circumference of the earth. The modern belief that especially medieval Christianity believed in a flat earth has been referred to as The Myth of the Flat Earth. Several scholars have argued that with extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat and that the prevailing view was of a spherical earth.
What He Wrote: "... crazy teachers to teach their own parallel universe reality ..."
Obscure Reference: The many-worlds interpretation or MWI (also known as relative state formulation, theory of the universal wavefunction, or parallel universes), is an interpretation of quantum mechanics. MWI denies the objective reality of wavefunction collapse. MWI then explains the subjective appearance of wavefunction collapse with the mechanism of quantum decoherence. Consequently, MWI claims this resolves all the "paradoxes" of quantum theory since every possible outcome to every event defines or exists in its own "history" or "world". In layman's terms, this means that there are an infinite number of universes and that everything that could possibly happen in our universe (but doesn't) does happen in another.
What He Wrote "... state Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Tammy Faye Bakker Only Without The Sense Of Whimsy ..."
Obscure Reference: Tammy Faye Bakker was the former wife of televangelist and later convicted felon Jim Bakker, who co-hosted with him on The PTL Club from 1976 to 1987. Her over use of make-up, particularly mascara, gave her a clown-like appearance.
What He Wrote: "... the wizard in the sky mumbo jumbo argument for creationism."
Obscure Reference: Mumbo Jumbo, or mumbojumbo is an English phrase or expression that denotes a confusing or meaningless subject. One of the sources for the English usage is the Vachel Lindsay poem 'The Congo', which contains the phrase "Mumbo-Jumbo, God of the Congo". Even long after the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, the term continues to be used derisively of Roman Catholicism.
What He Wrote: "... denials that made Baghdad Bob look like Winston Churchill ..."
Obscure Reference: Mohammed Saeed is a former Iraqi diplomat and politician. He came to wide prominence around the world during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, during which he was the Information Minister of Iraq. Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as" "Hanoi Hannah" and "Seoul City Sue") by commentators in the United States. The dispatches by al-Sahhaf described the utterly fictional world of Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. On the other hand, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of Great Britain during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted eloquent statesman and orator, Churchill was also known a historical writer, and an artist.
What He Wrote: "... fundamentalist Christian madrassas ..."
Obscure Reference: Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of school, secular or religious (of any religion).
What He Wrote: "... her silly ... fiddle-faddle would get the bum's rush ..."
Obscure Reference: Fiddle Faddle is candy-coated popcorn produced by the Lincoln Snacks Company, similar to Crackerjack or Poppycock. "Bum's Rush" is an example of 'Wobbly lingo', a collection of technical language, jargon, and historic slang used by the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies). For several decades, many hobos in the U.S. were members of, or were sympathetic to, the IWW. Because of this, some of the terms describe the life of a hobo such as "riding the rails", living in "jungles", dodging the "bulls". "Bum's rush" refers to an innkeeper abruptly shoving a person of destitution (bum) to the door.
What He Wrote: "... Storms, R-The Madame Defarge of Genesis, ..."
Obscure Reference: Madame Thérèse Defarge is a fictional character in the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She is a tireless worker for the French Revolution, and embodies the chaos of the Revolution. As the revolution breaks into full force, Madame Defarge reveals her true viciousness. Defarge ultimately fails to see the evil in herself that her thirst for revenge has unleashed. Genesis is the name of the first chapter in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament, otherwise known as 'The First Book of Moses'.
What He Wrote: "... the senator's "Academic Fiefdom Act."
Obscure Reference: Florida state senator Ronda Storms co-sponsored a bill titled the "Academic Freedom Act. Under the political system of feudalism, a fiefdom often consisted of inheritable lands or revenue-producing property granted by a liege lord, generally to a vassal, in return for a form of allegiance, originally to give him the means to fulfill his military duties when called upon. However anything of value could be held in fief, such as an office, a right of exploitation such as hunting fishing, farming, or any other type of revenue, rather than the land it comes from.
What He Wrote: "... their own version of pseudo-hocus-pocus science ..."
Obscure Reference: Hocus Pocus is a generic term used by magicians, usually the magic words spoken when bringing about some sort of change. In British English, its most prevalent modern meaning is "contrived nonsense", as in, "It was all a load of hocus pocus". The origins of the term remain obscure. Some believe it originates from a parody of the Roman Catholic liturgy of the eucharist, which contains the phrase "Hoc est enim corpus meum". This explanation goes back to speculations by the Anglican prelate John Tillotson, who wrote in 1694: "In all probability those common juggling words of hocus pocus are nothing else but a corruption of hoc est corpus, by way of ridiculous imitation of the priests of the Church of Rome in their trick of Transubstantiation." 'Hocus Pocus' is also the name of a 1971 song by progressive rock band Focus.
What He Wrote: "... Storms got her sackcloth and ashes in a wad ..."
Obscure Reference: Sackcloth, or Burlap, is a coarse woven fabric usually made from jute or hemp and used primarily to make sacks to ship cargo or produce. Its coarse texture makes it unsuitable for use in modern apparel. This roughness gave it a use in a religious context, for self-mortification, where individuals may wear an abrasive shirt called a cilice. In the first centuries of the Christian Church, groups of penitents were established by the Church for those Christians who fell into grave sin and sought reconciliation with the Church. Public penance consisted of acts of mortification such as wearing a cilice, covering the head with ashes, fasting and prayers.
What He Wrote: "... it might be a really crackerjack idea ..."
Obscure Reference: Cracker Jack is a US brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts. Legend has it that an early taster commented "That's Cracker, Jack!" hence the name. "Crackajack", a variation on the word, and denoting something exceptionally good (as in the old saying, "Crackerjack baseball player") was used for a brand of comic books featuring characters such as Red Ryder.
What He Wrote: "... Stay tuned for "The Earth is round? What's up with that?"
Obscure Reference: The idea of a flat Earth is that the surface of the Earth is flat (a plane), rather than the view that it is a very close approximation of the surface of a sphere. The belief was strongly held up until the 4th and 5th centuries, when scholars started discussing the circumference of the earth. The modern belief that especially medieval Christianity believed in a flat earth has been referred to as The Myth of the Flat Earth. Several scholars have argued that with extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat and that the prevailing view was of a spherical earth.
What He Wrote: "... crazy teachers to teach their own parallel universe reality ..."
Obscure Reference: The many-worlds interpretation or MWI (also known as relative state formulation, theory of the universal wavefunction, or parallel universes), is an interpretation of quantum mechanics. MWI denies the objective reality of wavefunction collapse. MWI then explains the subjective appearance of wavefunction collapse with the mechanism of quantum decoherence. Consequently, MWI claims this resolves all the "paradoxes" of quantum theory since every possible outcome to every event defines or exists in its own "history" or "world". In layman's terms, this means that there are an infinite number of universes and that everything that could possibly happen in our universe (but doesn't) does happen in another.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Any Time Now, The Peeps' Gov Will Save Us
Original column by Daniel Ruth, The Tampa Tribune
What He Wrote: "... stinky a piece of political poo-poo-pa-doo ..."
Obscure Reference: A pun, 'boo boop-a-doo' was the catch phrase used by Betty Boop, an animated cartoon character appearing in the 'Talkartoon' and 'Betty Boop' series of films produced released by Paramount Pictures ('Betty Boop, with Bimbo and Koko'). With her overt sexual appeal, Betty was a hit with theater-goers, and despite having been toned down in the mid-1930s, she remains popular today.
What He Wrote: "... secret, backroom, in the heart of darkness ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Heart of Darkness' is a novel by Joseph Conrad published in 1902. The story details an incident when Marlow, an Englishman, took a foreign assignment as a ferry-boat captain, employed by a Belgian trading company, on the Congo River, in dark, mysterious Africa. Marlow is employed to transport ivory downriver; however, his more pressing assignment is to return the character Kurtz to civilization in a cover up. The most famous reading of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 movie 'Apocalypse Now', which translates the context of the narrative from the Congo into Vietnam of the Sixties.
What He Wrote: "... approving the CSX brass pole ..."
Obscure Reference: A brass pole is a fixture in a burlesque house or strip club, which allows the dancer support while doing erotic or enticing moves. It involves dancing sensually, although more recently artistic pole dancing is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment. Pole dancing is also regarded by many as a performing art.
What He Wrote: "... would be turned into a sort of subtropical version of 'Blade Runner', ..."
Obscure Reference: Blade Runner is a 1982 futuristic, cyperpunk film directed by Ridley Scott. The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically manufactured beings called replicants – visually indistinguishable from adult humans – are used for dangerous and degrading work in Earth's "off-world colonies". Despite the box office failure of the film, it has since become a cult classic.
What He Wrote: "... hatched up out of the sunshine during the Jeb Bush Junta years ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Out of the Sunshine' refers to purported violations of Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' laws, or open meetings legislation, which mandates access to government meetings, not just to the records of them. Privacy or data protection laws are part of the legislation; the concepts are often closely tied together in political discourse. A junta is government by a committee of military leaders. It is usually the result of a 'coup d’état', the sudden, illegal overthrowing of a government.
What He Wrote: "... mere lousy, stinking $491 million air kiss ..."
Obscure Reference: The air kiss is a social gesture whose meaning is basically the same as that of many forms of kissing. The air kiss is a pretence of kissing: the lips are pursed as if kissing, but without actually touching the other person's body. Air kisses are often associated with glamor models and celebrities: a tongue-in-cheek explanation is that unlike regular kisses, air kisses don't disturb their makeup.
What He Wrote: "... version of Eliot Spitzer's love life."
Obscure Reference: Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democrat Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008. According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was Attorney General, and later as Governor.
What He Wrote: "... the sub rosa rail door prize ..."
Obscure Reference: The Latin phrase "sub rosa" means "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy or confidentiality. In Christian symbology the phrase has a special place in confessions, as pictures of file-leaved roses were often carved on confessionals, indicating that the conversations will remain secret. In current times, the term is actually used by the Scottish Government for a specific type of "off the record" meetings.
What He Wrote: "... who normally get the vapors ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Vapours' is an archaic term for certain mental and/or physical states, such as hysteria, mania, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, fainting, mood swings or PMS, ascribed primarily to women and thought to be caused by internal emanations.
What He Wrote: "... might be living high on the hog ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Living (or eating) high on the hog' is an American expression dating to the 17th century and meaning impressive, superlative, or attractive. It refers to the choice meat portions of a butchered hog, high on the back in the tenderloin region where the meat is most tender (and expensive), as opposed to the inexpensive lower, tougher cuts, or organ meats.
What He Wrote: "... the out-of-the-sunshine footsie-wootsie ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Out of the Sunshine' refers to meetings held in violation of Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' laws. "Playing footsie' is a practice in which people use their feet to play with each other's feet. This generally involves slipping their shoes off under a table and rubbing their bare feet and soles against one another or up their partner's leg. Footsies generally is used to flirt with sexual partners. "Playing footsies" can also mean that two people favor each other over others, such as in politics or other group activity in which people are not technically paired off. Doing so tends to give an unfair advantage to the two individuals over the rest of the group.
What He Wrote: "... treated as little more than lawn jockeys ..."
Obscure Reference: A lawn jockey, is a small statue of a negro man intended to be placed in yards. The lawn ornament, popular in certain parts of the United States in years past, was a cast replica, usually about half-scale, dressed in jockey's clothing and holding up one hand as though taking the reins of a horse. The hand sometimes carried a lantern or a metal ring. The jockeys often had exaggerated features, such as big eyes with the whites painted in, large red lips, large, flat nose and curly hair. These pieces were typically painted in gaudy colors for the uniform, with the flesh of the statue a gloss black. These statues are widely considered offensive and racially insensitive. Despite being controversial, lawn jockeys are still in demand.
What He Wrote: "... stinky a piece of political poo-poo-pa-doo ..."
Obscure Reference: A pun, 'boo boop-a-doo' was the catch phrase used by Betty Boop, an animated cartoon character appearing in the 'Talkartoon' and 'Betty Boop' series of films produced released by Paramount Pictures ('Betty Boop, with Bimbo and Koko'). With her overt sexual appeal, Betty was a hit with theater-goers, and despite having been toned down in the mid-1930s, she remains popular today.
What He Wrote: "... secret, backroom, in the heart of darkness ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Heart of Darkness' is a novel by Joseph Conrad published in 1902. The story details an incident when Marlow, an Englishman, took a foreign assignment as a ferry-boat captain, employed by a Belgian trading company, on the Congo River, in dark, mysterious Africa. Marlow is employed to transport ivory downriver; however, his more pressing assignment is to return the character Kurtz to civilization in a cover up. The most famous reading of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 movie 'Apocalypse Now', which translates the context of the narrative from the Congo into Vietnam of the Sixties.
What He Wrote: "... approving the CSX brass pole ..."
Obscure Reference: A brass pole is a fixture in a burlesque house or strip club, which allows the dancer support while doing erotic or enticing moves. It involves dancing sensually, although more recently artistic pole dancing is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment. Pole dancing is also regarded by many as a performing art.
What He Wrote: "... would be turned into a sort of subtropical version of 'Blade Runner', ..."
Obscure Reference: Blade Runner is a 1982 futuristic, cyperpunk film directed by Ridley Scott. The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically manufactured beings called replicants – visually indistinguishable from adult humans – are used for dangerous and degrading work in Earth's "off-world colonies". Despite the box office failure of the film, it has since become a cult classic.
What He Wrote: "... hatched up out of the sunshine during the Jeb Bush Junta years ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Out of the Sunshine' refers to purported violations of Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' laws, or open meetings legislation, which mandates access to government meetings, not just to the records of them. Privacy or data protection laws are part of the legislation; the concepts are often closely tied together in political discourse. A junta is government by a committee of military leaders. It is usually the result of a 'coup d’état', the sudden, illegal overthrowing of a government.
What He Wrote: "... mere lousy, stinking $491 million air kiss ..."
Obscure Reference: The air kiss is a social gesture whose meaning is basically the same as that of many forms of kissing. The air kiss is a pretence of kissing: the lips are pursed as if kissing, but without actually touching the other person's body. Air kisses are often associated with glamor models and celebrities: a tongue-in-cheek explanation is that unlike regular kisses, air kisses don't disturb their makeup.
What He Wrote: "... version of Eliot Spitzer's love life."
Obscure Reference: Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democrat Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008. According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was Attorney General, and later as Governor.
What He Wrote: "... the sub rosa rail door prize ..."
Obscure Reference: The Latin phrase "sub rosa" means "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy or confidentiality. In Christian symbology the phrase has a special place in confessions, as pictures of file-leaved roses were often carved on confessionals, indicating that the conversations will remain secret. In current times, the term is actually used by the Scottish Government for a specific type of "off the record" meetings.
What He Wrote: "... who normally get the vapors ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Vapours' is an archaic term for certain mental and/or physical states, such as hysteria, mania, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, fainting, mood swings or PMS, ascribed primarily to women and thought to be caused by internal emanations.
What He Wrote: "... might be living high on the hog ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Living (or eating) high on the hog' is an American expression dating to the 17th century and meaning impressive, superlative, or attractive. It refers to the choice meat portions of a butchered hog, high on the back in the tenderloin region where the meat is most tender (and expensive), as opposed to the inexpensive lower, tougher cuts, or organ meats.
What He Wrote: "... the out-of-the-sunshine footsie-wootsie ..."
Obscure Reference: 'Out of the Sunshine' refers to meetings held in violation of Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' laws. "Playing footsie' is a practice in which people use their feet to play with each other's feet. This generally involves slipping their shoes off under a table and rubbing their bare feet and soles against one another or up their partner's leg. Footsies generally is used to flirt with sexual partners. "Playing footsies" can also mean that two people favor each other over others, such as in politics or other group activity in which people are not technically paired off. Doing so tends to give an unfair advantage to the two individuals over the rest of the group.
What He Wrote: "... treated as little more than lawn jockeys ..."
Obscure Reference: A lawn jockey, is a small statue of a negro man intended to be placed in yards. The lawn ornament, popular in certain parts of the United States in years past, was a cast replica, usually about half-scale, dressed in jockey's clothing and holding up one hand as though taking the reins of a horse. The hand sometimes carried a lantern or a metal ring. The jockeys often had exaggerated features, such as big eyes with the whites painted in, large red lips, large, flat nose and curly hair. These pieces were typically painted in gaudy colors for the uniform, with the flesh of the statue a gloss black. These statues are widely considered offensive and racially insensitive. Despite being controversial, lawn jockeys are still in demand.
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