“When in doubt, do right” (“When in doubt, do the right thing”)
Claude A. Swanson (1862-1939), Virginia's U.S. Senator from 1910-1933, had a rule for new Congressmen that was published in Current Opinion in 1923: "When in doubt, do right."…
Archive for 12/2010
“A bureaucrat is a Democrat who holds an office that some Republican wants”
Alben W. Barkley (1877-1956), the vice president under President Harry Truman from 1949 to 1953, was the keynote speaker at the July 1948 Democratic National Convention. "What is a bureaucrat?…
“When the water reaches the upper decks, follow the rats”
Claude A. Swanson (1862-1939), Virginia's U.S. Senator from 1910-1933, had a rule for new Congressmen that was published in Current Opinion in 1923: "When the water rises to the second…
Calzone
Entry in progress -- B.P. Italian foods similar and often confused with the calzone include the stromboli, hippie roll/eppie roll and panzarotti/panzerotti. Wikipedia: CalzoneA calzone (Italian…
“Dinner is ready when the smoke alarm goes off”
"Dinner is ready when the smoke alarm goes off" is a joke that means the cook always burns the meal. The joke has been cited in print from at least 1983 and has been printed on many…
Treasure Island of America (Galveston nickname)
Galveston boasts the ruins of pirate Jean Lafitte's La Maison Rouge (1417 Avenue A near the Galveston wharf), destroyed in 1821 or 1822. In 1912, an enormous electric sign declared:…
Playground of the Southwest (Galveston nickname)
Galveston has been called the "Playground of the Southwest" since at least 1911, A 1918 newspaper explained the nickname: "An excellent beach, fishing, hunting, motoring and boating…
Free State of Galveston (Galveston nickname)
Galveston was nicknamed the "Free State of Galveston" during the Prohibition because of its illegal liquor, gambling and prostitution. The end of Prohibition and criminal investigations…
“Where there’s smoke, there’s toast”
"Where there's smoke, there's fire" is an old proverb. A popular variant is "where there's smoke, there's toast" -- meaning something was burnt. In the…
Derivatives Dealers’ Club
Robert E. Litan of The Brookings Institution coined the nickname "derivatives dealers' club" in his April 7, 2010 paper: "The Derivatives Dealers’ Club and Derivatives Markets…
“You can’t fire a cannon from a canoe”
The phrase "you can't fire/shoot a cannon from a canoe" seemingly dates to naval warfare from the 1800s, but there's no evidence of the phrase until the late 20th century. The…
“They eat anything with legs except a table and anything with wings except an airplane”
Cantonese cuisine (from the Guangdong Province in southern China) has been joked about by northern Chinese for the Cantonese variety that seemingly includes every living thing. The French writer…
“Porn in a cup” (10-shot espresso drink)
The Pulp & The Bean, a Crown Heights coffee shop, in November 2010 offered "The Dieci" (Italian for "ten") -- ten shots of espresso in one cup (20 ounces). "It just…
Military-Industrial Complex
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) delivered his presidential farewell address on January 17, 1961: "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of…
Second Chance U. (TSU nickname)
ESPN Magazine called Texas Southern University "Second Chance U." in its October 5, 2009 issue. A school such as the University of Texas recruits the top athletes in the state; TSU get…
“A politician who’s poor is a poor politician”
"A politician who is poor is a poor politician" ("Un político pobre es un pobre político") was the well-known political aphorism of Carlos Hank González (1927-2001), a…
“Long live cowboys”
"Long Live Cowboys" is a slogan that Wrangler Jeans has used since 2008. The slogan is also sometimes used by sports teams called "Cowboys" (such as the Dallas Cowboys).…
Sawdust Pie
A recipe for "sawdust pie' was published in the May 1983 issue of Bon Appetit, from Patti's 1880's Settlement of Grand Rivers, KY. The pie contains graham cracker crumbs (the…
Pizzadilla (pizza + quesadilla)
A "pizzadilla" (pizza + quesadilla) usually has circular bread covered with toppings (like pizza), but also had a layer of bread on top. Recipes vary; one website says the cut pizzadilla…
Prison Spread
"Prison spread" is an inexpensive meal that developed in California prisons. Ramen noodles, Cheetos, hot sauce, and other ingredients are put into a garbage bag and mixed together. The…