In the 17th Century colonial courts of Holland's Vereenigde Oost-Indische
Compagnie, a legal term derived from a Malay word meaning, roughly, "state
of frenzy" was used to define certain actions by native slaves which would
result in whipping or imprisonment.
This word has passed down into modern English, in the form of a commonly
used phrase. What is the word?
First correct answer posted to comments wins a copy of James Huston's SECRET JUSTICE*. Tainting your participation with Googled results or the use of your Roget's will have consequences for your eternal soul. One guess per comment, but post as many comments as you like. This quiz may be monitored for quality assurance.
Jacket copy: "In the dead of night, Lieutenant Kent 'Rat' Ratham and his secret Navy counterterrorism team parachute into the Sudanese desert where an arms merchant is delivering weapons to Wahamad Duar, the world's most wanted terrorist..."
The Right Way to Publishing Success, or 'Why Let Regnery Have All the Fun?'.
Hilariously, Penguin is referring to their new line as featuring "books of political opinion and dissent with a conservative perspective." Ah, yes, freethinking dissenters, the lot of them.
In related news, apparently our town is also their town. I suppose this is what happens when you clean the graffitti off of the subways -- let that be a lesson to all meddling mayors who want to tipping-point the city into loveliness. You make the joint too pretty, and look who sets up shop.
Today's Times features a below-the-fold page one story on the recent developments in the rise of spam; what's most interesting is the inclusion of actual pictures and a bit of profile of two young spammavens:
Albert Ahdoot, for example, started a part-time business using e-mail to sell printer-ink refill systems while he was in college. When he dropped out of medical school, he hooked up with Ms. Sachs, a former producer with Geraldo Rivera who later worked in marketing at several Internet companies. With her client contacts, his technology and some e-mail lists they acquired, they started their business about a year ago.
My question -- is the move from Geraldo producer to spam-marketer a step up or a step down on the karmic ladder?
A little science history for a grey and brow-wrinkled Friday.
In 1878, one of the pre-eminent national powers experienced one of its greatest economic disasters ever; the solution was discovered 1882 through in a mixture of copper sulfate, quicklime, and water, which had been initially used as a kind of ad-hoc theft deterrent. This mixture became the first commercial example of a now-common category of chemical.
What category of commercial chemical was invented with this mixture?
First correct answer posted to comments wins an annotated copy of Mary Pope Osborne's High Tide in Hawaii (No. 4,036 in the Magic Tree House series). No Googlery or bothering Marilyn Vos Savant at home. The woman has a Parade column to write, for pete's sake!
I've been meaning (and forgetting) to note the commendable persistence with which Angela Gunn in the pages of Time Out New York has been using her space as a Technology columnist to keep the spotlight on the demolition job being done to civil liberties. Considering that this is a magazine dedicated to publishing the movie clock and a rundown of what band's playing where (along with tips on where, for example, one might go for a Sacred Herb-Encrusted Lava Rock Massage and Pedicure*), it's rather astonishing to see, smuggled into a column space I suspect was originally meant to provide consumers on the latest trends in text messaging among Finnish teens, such incredibly necessary reporting.
That sad, I agree (this time), with Mr. Hentoff: the deafening silence on this issue can't be blamed entirely on the war. The press is maddeningly out to lunch, followed by drinks, a heavy dinner, and a long, sound, sleep.
*Not that I'm complaining. Hell, how else am I gonna know where to go get all naturally exfoliated and beautiful?
(Sorry, couldn't resist).
This morning I heard about the mililary's playing-card version of a "most wanted Iraqis" list. But I didn't think they'd put it on an actual deck of playing cards.
Here's one I came across doing some research for my actual paid job.
Of the nonfiction bestsellers of 1975, a recent study by the National Arts Journalism Program found that all were now out of print, except the top two. #2 was the classic bullying-for-success manual, Winning through Intimidation by Robert Ringer. The other was reprinted in 1995, when it fit in perfectly to a major 1900s trend of books and TV shows on its subject. It was a smash hit by a man not primarily famous for his literary output, but whose name is recognizable around the world -- although perhaps a smidgen more so in 1975 than now. He's now 83 and still quite active in his chosen field.
Who is the author in question?
The first correct answer posted to comments wins an uncorrected proof of Mike Nelson's Death Rat!, by MST3K alumnus Nelson. No Googling (though it might not help you much with this one anyway) or calling the good folks at the NAJP.
In the course of endless poking-about re an upcoming trip, I needlessly ventured into customer reviews of a place I had no intention of staying, and found out what David Foster Wallace might have been like if he'd been born a straight-laced, resort-hopping Canadian.
History time again. Ahem...
The current territory of the U.S.A. was acquired, at various times, by occupation, conquest or purchase from other ruling powers. The most familiar among these have been Britain, France, Spain, Mexico, and Russia, to say nothing of the indigenous societies who were displaced, disposed or destroyed. There is at least one other colonizing nation from which the U.S. made a significant land purchase, in 1917. Interestingly, this same country was one of the first to recognize an American flag from foreign soil – during the War of Independence, soldiers from a fortress of this nation would exchange salutes with merchant ships flying the Grand Union flag, a first in U.S.-international relations.
What is this country?
First correct answer posted to comments wins the extra jar of cornichons I bought by mistake this week. No Googling! No consulting that Univac you bought on Ebay! Just put yer thinkin' cap on and post one guess per comment.
U.S. security was compromised today when it was discovered that through a simple Internet search, hostile forces may be able to determine the location of Cheney.