phrase roots

I've got two interesting phrase roots for you.

Both involve British sailors and ships of the line.

First, they were all allocated one glass of rum and water (called "grog") and their own square plate, to fit the crowded tables between the cannons. That's why they called it a "square meal".

Second, and more interestingly, often times when the ships came to port, they didn't let the sailors off, because it was so common to abandon your ship and not return. So while they were in port, the wives and women would often come up and live on the decks for extended periods of time, until they shipped out again.

If a woman went into labor, and it was a difficult labor, sometimes they would take her down below, and fire a cannon right next to her, which they believed would aid in the childbirth, kind of pushing the baby along. If they did this and the child was born, they would call it a "son of a gun."

deadwood

If you get HBO, and you aren't watching Deadwood, you're missing what is probably the best television I've seen in years.

If you don't get HBO, you should get it, and watch Deadwood.

where's waldo?

hacker-jeopardy-freebies-2 photo -- declan mccullagh photograph

word trends

Has anyone read any good lingustics books?

Specifically, right now I'm interested in word trends. I think it's fascinating to watch words evolve. Like how "sexy" has basically become synonymous with "interesting". That fast new computer? Sexy. Murder stories get more viewers than stories about taxes because they're "sexy". The word has been almost completely disengaged from sex itself, but it's still powerful because of its connotations.

There has to be a good book out there on the evolution of language, and the wax and wane of words in popular culture. Let me know if you've read any good ones.

That'd be sexy.

stupid people reproducing

"A German couple who went to a fertility clinic after eight years of marriage have found out why they are still childless - they weren't having sex."

These people should not be taught to have sex, we should be grateful that they aren't!

Come on now, people. Evolution isn't going to continue working if we keep helping out mental rejects like this.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_957945.html

They should have both been sterilized on the spot.

Tobin's Gallery - Cherry Blossom Festival

I went up to the cherry blossom festival in SF with some friends, and saw some amazing drumming.

I just put pictures up in my gallery.

Tobin's Gallery - Cherry Blossom Festival

I also did one of those cool panoramic shots where you stitch together like 7 pictures into one. It came out well.

Panoramic shot

Video of American Contractor Being Decapitated in Iraq

Kevin found this.

It's not for the weak of heart.

Say what you will about our servicemen putting leashes on Iraqi prisoners, but at least we're not fucking savages like these wastes of flesh.

The Memory Hole > Video of American Contractor Being Decapitated in Iraq

Kerry's bizarre hypocrisy

Does anyone else find it strange that Kerry is calling for Rumsfeld's resignation because he was theoretically responsible for the actions of the soldiers who humiliated Iraqi soldiers?

This is the same Kerry who admitted on national television that he participated in "atrocities" during the Vietnam war. The Nuremberg trials against against German soldiers have pretty much destroyed the whole "I was just following orders" defense in situations like this.

It's just stunning to me to turn on the TV and hear him calling for resignation from a man who wasn't even directly involved in any of the incidents, when he's admitted to conducting "shootings in free fire zones" and "the burning of villages".

It seems like a dangerously hypocritical stance to take. I haven't heard anyone call him on it yet, though. I bet if I turn on some conservative radio stations tomorrow I will. Probably not so much on NPR.