Sweetie, we're crooks. If everything were right, we'd be in jail.

Wash ,'Serenity'


Natter 70: Hookers and Blow  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


meara - Nov 03, 2012 5:37:11 pm PDT #28453 of 30001

But racist, right?

About Germans? I'm having vague memories. I suppose that's what the internet is for.


meara - Nov 03, 2012 5:38:37 pm PDT #28454 of 30001

Hmm, one source I found says:

"Jerry-built", which the OED defines as "built unsubstantially of bad materials; built to sell but not last" is attested since 1869, and is said to have arisen in Liverpool. It has been fancifully derived from the Biblical city of Jericho, whose walls came tumbling down; from the prophet Jeremiah, because he foretold decay; from the name of a building firm on the Mersey; from "jelly", signifying instability; from French _jour_="day" (workers paid day-by-day considered less likely to do a good job); and from the Romany _gerry_="excrement". More likely, it is linked to earlier pejorative uses of the name Jerry ("jerrymumble", to knock about, 1721; "Jerry Sneak", a henpecked husband, 1764; "jerry", a cheap beer house, 1861); and it may have been influenced by "jury-rigged".

"Jerry" as British slang for "a German, especially a German soldier" is not attested until 1898 and is unconnected with "jerry-built".


Zenkitty - Nov 03, 2012 5:48:13 pm PDT #28455 of 30001
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

I hope that means I can still say jerry-built and jerry-rigged, which are useful terms in my vocabulary. It had never occurred to me before now that it might be a slur against Germans.


le nubian - Nov 03, 2012 5:53:25 pm PDT #28456 of 30001
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."

the whole concept of interstellar porn is giving me the giggles.


tommyrot - Nov 03, 2012 5:55:30 pm PDT #28457 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Well, I'm half-German and I don't give a fuck. Or maybe that's the Finn in me.


SuziQ - Nov 03, 2012 5:55:41 pm PDT #28458 of 30001
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame

The pissy is downgraded to seriously annoyed. Eating dinner seems to have helped.


aurelia - Nov 03, 2012 6:01:48 pm PDT #28459 of 30001
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

Shrift (and other Chicago types), have you seen Slightly Insulting Chicago Posters new River North design? [link]


tommyrot - Nov 03, 2012 6:08:25 pm PDT #28460 of 30001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

The Rogers Park one is mostly true. Although I will say that in the three years I've lived here, I don't think there have been any murders within a two-block radius of my place (not counting Howard St.). I definitely could not say that about my three years in Minneapolis.


Zenkitty - Nov 03, 2012 6:13:24 pm PDT #28461 of 30001
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

the whole concept of interstellar porn is giving me the giggles.

Joe and Tina Do the Galaxy


Laura - Nov 03, 2012 6:19:21 pm PDT #28462 of 30001
Our wings are not tired.

Laura, did you hear about the Florida polling place that lost/miscounted 1000 votes? link

That is the community center where both my sons registered to vote, just a few blocks away from the HS where my husband coaches basketball. I was very upset when I read the report. (massive understatement)

The day in question was the day that Al Sharpton was there for a Souls to the Polls drive. I am fairly confident that it was just human error, and I am sure that it is being looked at closely. Still, on top of a very long string of attempts to suppress the vote in Florida, and it hitting so close to home, I was freaked out. I even emailed Rev. Sharpton since I knew he was there that day.