Archive for 12/2011

Oldest Profession (prostitution)

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) wrote in the short story "On the City Wall" (1888): "Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world." In the 1890s, Kipling was being…

Glass Ceiling

The "glass ceiling" is an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising higher up the corporate ladder; thosethat do are said to "shatter the glass ceiling."…

“Swish!” (basketball term)

Marty Glickman (1917-2001) was the first radio announcer for basketball's New York Knickerbockers in 1946. Glickman heard the Knicks players say "Swish!" as a basketball went…

Three-Day Town (Three-Day City)

British journalist James Cameron (1911-1985) was asked if he could come to New York City for an interview. He wrote in 1966: "Naturally I jumped at it: I love short trips to New York; to me it…

“Do not adjust your set”

In the early days of television, both the transmission and the television sets performed poorly. A broadcast frequently announced "Please do not adjust your receiver/set" to explain a…

Poop (three-point shot in basketball)

New York Knicks basketball player Shawne Williams was known for his three-point accuracy during the 2010-11 NBA season. On the Knicks blog Posting and Toasting on December 5, 2010, Thelonious Dunk…

French Silk Chocolate Pie

"French Silk Chocolate Pie" by Mrs. Kendall (Betty) Cooper of Silver Spring, MD, won the $1,000 "best in class - pie" award at the 1951 Pillsbury Bake-Off, held at New…