Texas Shuffle (jury selection)
The "Texas shuffle" (also called the "Texas jury shuffle" or "jury shuffle") was made illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller-El v. Dretke (2005). Texas had…
Archive for 07/2013
Rock Steady Park or The Goat Courts (Happy Warrior Playground)
Manhattan's "Happy Warrior Playground," at Amsterdam Avenue between 98th and 99th streets, is officially named after New York Governor Al Smith (1873-1944), who was nicknamed…
Reporterette (female reporter)
A "reporterette" is a female reporter. The term "reporterette" was possibly coined in the book A Yellow Journalist (1905), by Miriam Michelson (a former newspaper reporter).…
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom”
General George Smith Patton, Jr. (1995-1945) was known as "America's Fightingest General" for his role in World War II. The movie Patton (1970) brought attention to his life and his…
“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working”
"Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working" has been cited in print and credited to Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) since 2007. There is no documentary evidence that…
“Dear Math, Please grow up and solve your own problems. Sincerely, Students”
"Dear Math, Please grow up and solve your own problems" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many T-shirts. "Dear Math, Grow up and solve your own problems" was cited on…
“Welcome to the Karma Cafe. There are no menus ...”
"Welcome to the Karma Café. There are no menus here. You will get served what you deserve" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many posters. "Karma Cafe We have no menus…
“A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty”
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands/pockets are empty" is a popular saying about fathers. "FRESHLY MINTED -- A truly rich man is one who can get…
“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t”
"Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t" is a business saying that has been…
“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible”
Rock musician Frank Zappa (1940-1993) said in a February 1971 interview (available on YouTube): "Well I think that progress is not possible without deviation. And I think that it's…
“Dreams don’t work unless you do”
"Dreams don't work unless you do" is a popular motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1998 and is of unknown…
Corzined
Jon Corzine was chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, United States Senator from New Jersey (2001-2006), Governor of New Jersey (2006-2010), and CEO of MF Global (2010-2011). MF Global collapsed at…
Skin in the Game
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Skin in the game (phrase)To have "skin in the game" is to have incurred monetary risk by being invested in achieving a goal. In the phrase,…
“Pick your poison” (“Choose your poison”)
Liquor was jocularly called "poison" in the 19th century. Bar patrons would select their "poison." "Nominate your poison" was cited in March 1864. "Name your…
“The hardest thing to raise in my garden is my knees”
"The hardest things for me to raise in my garden are my knees" is a joke about old age and gardening. "The hardest thing to raise in my garden is my knees" was cited in print in…
“Support your right to arm bears”
The U. S. Constitution's Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms. Newspaper columnist and humorist Bill Vaughan (1915-1977) was credited in 1966 with turning the words around:…
“Mud is a great leveller” (sports adage)
Mud has been called a "great leveller" because a muddy playing field makes it difficult to run up and down, thus preventing much scoring. "Mud, like death, is a great leveller"…
BTFATH (Buy The Fucking All Time High)
"BTFD" (Buy The Fucking Dip) dates from 2010; investors should buy stocks when the price dips because it will go back up. "BTFATH" (Buy The Fucking All Time High) means that…
“No man is an island. Manhattan is an island. Therefore, Manhattan is not a man.”
The English poet John Donne (1572-1631) is credited with the line, "no man is an island." Manhattan -- which starts with "man" -- is an island. A silly syllogism has been cited…
“What seems to be the officer, problem?” (“What’s the officer problem?”)
"What seems to be the problem, officer?" is what a driver might ask whose vehicle is being pulled over to the side of the road by the police. "What seems to be the officer,…