How remarkably worked up some people seem to get about beer. Apparently it's not enough to enjoy a GOOD beer (regardless of brewing method). One has to belong to some side or other, like Catholic or Protestant, Shi'a or Sunni, dry ribs or wet, regular or decaf. Personally, I'm fond of TASTY. I've ha...

uh, Sunny, "cop out" is slang but perhaps since it's been legitimized by age it just no longer seems like slang. Maybe you just don't like the current slang? Language is always in flux it's always evolving and adjusting itself to our changing ideas and needs. If you went back to the early...

... Global warming isn't all bad. ... Hence the dilemma. If I understand the apocalyptic predictions correctly, I'm reasonably assured (here in the Rockies) of being on the right side of catastrophic coastline changes. OTOH, I'm perfectly situated for entombment in the subsequent glaciers. Talk abo...

No, but that sort of society wouldn't apply to the circles I go around in...

Sorry to hear you're going around in circles, Sluggo. I know the feeling very well.


-- PW

For all you Asheville fans, I'm currently reading a great book which, among other things, deals with the blackface minstrel shows in Asheville (and elsewhere) in the mid 20's. Yes, I have strange reading habits, I know. Anyway, Asheville really was quite the hub of cultural and entertainment activit...

For half my life I've threatened to tie a snow shovel to the roof of my car and drive south until they ask me what it is. For some reason, the opposite keeps happening. Maybe hell really is freezing over... -gailr longs for the brain-melting heat of childhood vacations in Texas... My spouse (a Texa...

At least you don't have to get up at 6am in sub-zero temperatures to shovel tornadoes. Unless you happen to live in the middle of the plains in a little wooden home with a tin roof, tornadoes aren't generally all that bad. At least down in this part of Tornado Alley. Speaking as one who has had way ...

Soliciting thoughts on this (I could set up a poll but have never figured out how): I'm working on setting up a page for a band on MySpace.com [awaits and acknowledges waves of sympathy from audience] and in their template they have a box listing your Friends on that site: ("Name's Friends&quo...

I have heard F-word-all from a couple of USians, though usage of bugger- and sod- seem to stay reserved for the UK. Diddley , Squat and Jack (or jack-**** ) are more synonyms in North America. How many others might we think of? Sweet Fanny Adams is an expression that used to be in vogue. Strictly o...

Yes, this is from the Yiddish for beans. A wonderful opposite expression for someone that does know what he/she is talking about or doing, "really knows his onions". I have know idea what the origin is. Here's the skinny on "know your onions", from the excellent World Wide Words...

Can't take much for granite round here.

-- PW

damn fool [100] proof

mark yeah-that'd-be-me Bailey

I think someone else said it:

Make something foolproof and someone will build a better fool.


-- PW

wassail A timely word to be sure. According to the Online Etymological Dictionary: c.1140, from O.N. ves heill "be healthy," a salutation, from ves , imperative of vesa "to be" (see was) + heill "healthy" (see health). Use as a drinking phrase appears to have arisen am...

I can't quite get used to the term ED. When I was a lad, we called it BD - Brewer's Droop.

-- PW

Shame Bailey couldn't find a picture of a newer uwer. At least a pitcher is worth a thousand words, I guess.

-- PW