“If it came in a bottle, everyone would have a great body”
American singer and actress Cher did 1980s television commercials for Jack LaLanne health spas. The message was that good health doesn't come in the form of a pill -- you have to work out:…
Archive for 08/2013
“Interest on debt grows without rain”
"Interest on debt grows without rain" is often stated to be a Yiddish proverb. "Interest grows without rain, stupid" was cited in The Nightingale, or, The saga of Yosele Solovey…
“Bodybuilding—When your mission in life is to be shaped like a uterus”
"Bodybuilding -- When your mission in life is to be shaped like a uterus" is a jocular poster that shows a man flexing muscles, but posing as if in a uterus-like position. The…
“More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin”
"More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin" is a saying that has been printed on posters. "More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin" has been…
“What are you doing out of jail?” (Thoreau’s reply to Emerson?)
American author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) refused to pay poll taxes for six years because he objected to any money going to support the Mexican-American War or slavery. In July…
Boots on the Ground
"Boots on the ground" means "ground troops." Modern warfare often involves missiles and air support first, followed by "boots on the ground." "Boots on the…
“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life”
"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life" is a very popular quotation on Twitter. The quotation has been credited to American author Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) since 2005, but…
Wine Pawning
Pawn shops usually accept gold and silver jewelry, but, after the financial crisis in 2008, some pawn shops began accepting high quality wines. "Pawning Wine: Paris Hock Shops Accept…
Blue Velvet Cake
A blue velvet cake is a different-colored version of the popular red velvet cake. The velvet cakes are layer cakes with cream cheese icing. The song "Blue Velvet" (1950) and the movie…
Black Budget
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Black budget A black budget is a budget that is secretly collected from the overall income of a nation, a corporation, a society of any form, a national…
“You’ll have a whole eternity to think inside the box”
Businesses sometimes encourage people to "think outside the box" (think unconventionally) to find solutions. "You'll have a whole eternity to think inside the box" is a…
“A professor must have a theory, as a dog must have fleas”
Newspaper columnist and author H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) disliked The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910 (1911) by Joel Elias Spingarn (1876-1939). Mencken…
“You’ve got to make contacts to make contracts”
"You've got to make contacts to make contracts" is a one-line saying that has been credited to Cavett Robert (1907-1997), co-founder of the National Speakers Association. "It…
Stage Mother
A "stage mother" is the mother of a stage performer -- usually a daughter. The stereotypical stage mother does everything to make her child a star. A classic description is of the mothers…
Bespoke Vegetables
"Bespoke" usually refers to an item of clothing made to a customer's specifications, such as "bespoke tailoring." A news article on Bloomberg.com in August 2013, "How…
Guacward (guacamole + awkward); Awkward Guacamole
"Guacward" (guacamole + awkward) is a jocular word about the awkwardness in eating or making guacamole. The term "guacward" has been cited in print since at least 2010, when it…
McStrike (labor strike of fast food workers)
A "McStrike" is a labor strike by fast food workers. The term "McStrike" (McDonald's + strike) sometimes indicates a strike specifically at McDonald's (the leading…
“Your network is your net worth”
"Your network builds/creates/determines/is your net worth" is a business saying that states that who you know (your network) can determine what you have (your net worth). "Your…
Boobus Americanus
The newspaper columnist and American language scholar H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) wrote in 1927 about the words he created: "Of my inventions I am vainest of Bible Belt, booboisie, smut hound…
Peace Dividend
The term "peace dividend" means the extra money that becomes available to a country with a reduced military budget during peacetime. The term was popularized in May 1968, when people…