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Industry Jargon: Development Mule

2018 Ford Mustang test mule
A 2018 Ford Mustang test mule, replete with razzle-dazzle camouflage, and Velcroed front grill and rear end disguise. Photo: AutoMotorBlog / Spy Photographs.

I recently came across the term “development mule” in an article at Jalopnik, and several Ford Mustang “mules” were featured in director David Gelb’s A Faster Horse, which documents the design, production, and development of the 2015 Mustang. I was fascinated with the term, so I did a little research, and according to Wikipedia, a development mule, test mule, or (simply) mule in the automotive industry is,

a testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation. They are often camouflaged to deceive competitors and thwart a curious automotive press.

So what is the difference between a “prototype” and a “development mule?” The “GM Guide To Terms Used In Auto Body Design” defines a prototype as,

The original model during the evaluation stage in automotive engineering.

An automotive forum at eng-tips.com offers this definition for prototype,

A pre-mass production vehicle of new design that is used for testing and development purposes.

The following explanation from Wikipedia does a great job of defining the unique purpose and specific characteristic of an automotive development mule, test mule, or (simply) a mule:

Mules may also have advanced chassis and powertrain designs from a prospective vehicle that need testing, which can be effectively concealed in the body and interior of a similarly sized production model.

If no comparable vehicle is available in-house or an external benchmark is being used mules may be based on another manufacturer’s model. For example, in the 1970s the new powertrain package of first-generation Ford Fiesta was developed using mules based on the then class-leading Fiat 127, as Ford had no comparable compact model of similar size to utilize.

Mules are also used to conceal styling changes and visible telltales of performance alterations in near-production vehicles, receiving varying degrees of camouflage to deceive rival makers and thwart a curious automotive press. Such alterations can span from distracting shrinkwrap designs to substituting crude cylindric shapes for taillights, non-standard wheels, or assemblages of plastic and tape to hide a vehicle’s shape and design elements.

Perhaps the key to the meaning and use of the term mule in this context, is the vehicles purpose of “carrying” various “hybrid parts” for testing its “handling, roadloads, and powertrain” characteristics. After all an actual Equus mulus by definition is a “hybrid” of a male donkey and a female horse, and is valued for its sure-footedness, strength, and endurance. Mules also tend to be more independent than most domesticated equines, and can be effectively packed with various loads.

Etymology

Mule – I discovered several origin stories for the term at Stack Exchange:

In French or Italian, car racing teams were/are called “écurie (de course)” or “scuderia”, literally racing stable: the race cars are the horses and the replacement car is called in French “le mulet” (the mule) and in Italian “il muletto”.

Both in French and in English, the sense of mule/mulet later extended to development cars (testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation).

Chevrolet’s practice car had fiberglass body, was called ‘the mule’ – 1956 Road & Track

…while the SS in both “Mule” and “show” variants ran they went like stink. The officially released lap time set by Fangio at Sebring in the prototype Mule was 3:27.2, a very respectable figure. – 1957 Car and Drive

With a rough fiberglass body this became the “Mule”, which went down to Sebring for on-the-spot trials while the actual race car was completed… the Mule was revised and cleaned up in detail to be exactly like the race SS, but the ax fell on the project before the ex-Mule could be assembled … this car, the Mule… – 1960 Car & Driver

…had built a pair of muletti — “mules” — whose design had been hastily roughed out by the same internal talent that had drawn up the Dischi Volanti and many other “house” designs. The workmanship of these muletti also was rough as they were never intended to be seen by the public. – 1964 Road and Track

In the comments section of the same post at Stack Exchange a reader contributed this observation,

My understanding is that a “mule” is a crude vehicle used to test engines and other components. Likely from its resemblance to a mechanical “mule” on a canal — basically a small locomotive with no cab, just frame, engine, and wheels. And that term, of course, comes from the animal it replaces. (I first read the term ca 1965. Likely it goes back at least 20 years. prior to that.

Charles Darwin, who knew a thing or two about the Origin of Species, wrote: “The mule always appears to me a most surprising animal. That a hybrid should possess more reason, memory, obstinacy, social affection, powers of muscular endurance, and length of life, than either of its parents, seems to indicate that art has here outdone nature.”

Automotive Industry Jargon: Bonus Glossary

Audi TT GT1 full-size seating buck
Audi TT GT1, full-size seating buck. Photo: Peter Stevens / Fourtitude.com.

Beltline: the line going from the hood which usually follows the bottom edge of the windows and continues to the trunk. The beltline is a major component of the vehicle’s overall appearance, as well as the safety aspect of blind spots.

Bubble Up: a preproduction stage of design. Also know as the theme stage or concept stage.

Brightwork: anything reflective added to a car to enhance appearance. May also be called chrome.

Buck: a full size model of a vehicle used to evaluate comfort, entrance, egress, vision; usually made of wood, metal, foam and/or fiberglass.

Clay Buck: a full size mock up of a vehicle made from a clay covered armature to show vehicle shape.

Down the Road Graphics: the styling of the front end of the car, which people will instantly recognize and associate with a manufacturer.

Concept Car: A Full size vehicle made to illustrate a design concept or idea, usually with futuristic components and faetures; often shown at auto exhibitions and shows.

Greenhouse: the glassed-in upper section of the car’s body.

Oscar: a mannequin representing the 95th percentile male and used in packaging a vehicle.

Proveout Model: a clay model developed to verify surface drawing conformation with the appearance of the model originally approved by management from which a recorded fiberglass cast is subsequently made.

Show Car: a car having features or shapes not offered in production cars, and designed for display.

Trim Buck: a fullsize model showing interior design finishes of a specific model of automobile.

Tumblehome: refers to the way the sides of a car rounds inward toward the roof, specifically of the greenhouse above the beltline.

Tangents

A Faster Horse: the title for David Gelb’s documentary was derived from the adage “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” which is often attributed to Henry Ford. (For more on that story see our “Debunking Henry Ford’s ‘faster horse’ quote” blog post.

Giuseppe Mulè: was an Italian composer and conductor.

Headless Mule: is a character in Brazilian folklore. In most tales, it is the ghost of a woman that has been cursed by God for her sins… and condemned to turn into a fire-spewing headless mule, galloping through the countryside from Thursday’s sundown to Friday’s sunrise.

Hinny: is a domestic equine hybrid that is the offspring of a male horse, a stallion, and a female donkey, a jenny. It is the reciprocal cross to the more common mule, which is the product of a male donkey and a female horse.

Mule: is a small electric tractor used for hauling over short distances.

Spinning Mule: is a machine that makes thread or yarn from fibers.

Twenty-Mule Teams: were actually teams of eighteen mules and two horses attached to large wagons that ferried borax out of Death Valley, California.

Sources

A Brief History of X (1895-2014)

A group of U.S. experimental aircraft (X-Planes). In the center, the Douglas X-3 Stiletto; around it, clockwise from bottom left: Bell X-1A, Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Convair XF-92A, Bell X-5, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, Northrop X-4 Bantam.
A group of U.S. experimental aircraft (X-Planes). In the center, the Douglas X-3 Stiletto; around it, clockwise from bottom left: Bell X-1A, Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Convair XF-92A, Bell X-5, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, Northrop X-4 Bantam.

Patient X

I first encountered the X modifier in my youth. As an aviation enthusiast I was introduced to the radical X-3 Stiletto. The X-3 Stiletto was an experimental jet aircraft designed and manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The NACA was the precursor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The X-3 looks like a personification of the beaked-nose white spy from Mad magazine’s Spy vs. Spy, with its a slender fuselage, a long tapered nose, and ultra-modern white-on-white paint scheme. The X-3 was part of a series of experimental United States airplanes, helicopters and rockets used to test and evaluate new technologies and aerodynamic concepts, referred to as “X-Planes”:

The majority of X-Plane testing has occurred at Edwards Air Force Base. Some of the X-planes have been well publicized, while others, such as the X-16, have been developed in secrecy. The first, the Bell X-1, became well known after it became, in 1947, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. Later X-planes supported important research in a multitude of aerodynamic and technical fields, but only the North American X-15 rocket plane of the early 1960s achieved comparable fame to that of the X-1. X-planes 7 through 12 were actually missiles(used to test new types of engines), and some other vehicles were un-piloted (some were remotely flown, some were full-on drones). (Wikipedia: X-Plane)

X has many other uses in addition to designating an experimental aircraft: it is a common variable for unknown or changing concepts in mathematics; in astronomy, X stands for a comet of unknown origin; X is a symbol on a treasure map to mark the spot where the treasure is buried; in bowling X signifies a strike; and X is a placeholder for the legal signature of an illiterate person. On a more romantic note, Xs symbolize the kisses paired with the Os of hugs in warmhearted salutations.

Besides these common uses, the X modifier is often deployed as branding shorthand to differentiate some person, product, or service as being advanced, audacious, bleeding-edge, bold, contemporary, daring, earth-shattering, forward-looking, fresh, game-changing, genuine, ground-breaking, gutsy, innovative, modern, newfangled, novel, original, pioneering, rejuvenated, sophisticated or unique. The use of X is everywhere, and seems to be the gift the keeps on giving. So I decided to look into the origins of the X that so often marks the spot. Here is a brief summary of my findings.

A Brief History of X (1895 -2014)

1895 | X-Rays: Physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovers X-rays. Röntgen named it X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation. [Read more…] about A Brief History of X (1895-2014)

James Lipton is an Exaltation of Collective Nouns

Vincent Gallo & Christina Ricci form A Vintage Of Hipsters or possibly A Festival Of Indie Filmmakers or perhaps An Enigma Of Conceptual Artists.
Vincent Gallo & Christina Ricci form A Vintage Of Hipsters, A Ring of Opera Goers, A Rave of DJs, A Salutation of Yoga Instructors, A Festival Of Indie Filmmakers or perhaps just a run-of-the-mill Enigma Of Conceptual Artists.

Last week NPR’s Studio 360 announced the winners of its 2014 Collective Nouns contest. Host Kurt Andersen challenged listeners to create collective nouns for this group of people: Conceptual Artists, Critics, Djs, Hipsters, Indie Filmmakers, IT Guys, Opera Goers, Trekkies, Venture Capitalists, and Yoga Instructors. James Lipton, perhaps best known as the host of Inside the Actors Studio, served as the judge. Turns out James Lipton actually wrote the definitive book on the subject:

Generations of word lovers have been turned on by James Lipton’s An Exaltation of Larks. The book details the provenance of more than 1,100 “nouns of venery,” as they are were called in the 15th century, including a pride of lions, a smack of jellyfish, an ostentation of peacocks, and many more.

In his research for the book, Lipton discovered that linguists in 1486 delighted in making up names for people, as well: a superfluity of nuns, an eloquence of lawyers, an incredulity of cuckolds. “And that’s when I began to play the game,” he says. He would invite his friends over to invent new ones — the playwright Neil Simon suggested “a mews of cathouses.”

Here is the audio clip of the Studio 360 segment:

And here, dear reader, is the list of winners selected by Mr. Lipton:

  • An Enigma Of Conceptual Artists
  • A Deck Of Trekkies
  • A Rave Of Djs
  • A Hedge Of Venture Capitalists
  • An Altcommandcontrolshift Of IT Guys
  • A Pan Of Critics
  • A Festival Of Indie Filmmakers
  • A Vintage Of Hipsters
  • A Salutation Of Yoga Instructors
  • A Ring Of Opera Goers

Presidential Nicknames 1789 to Present

His_Little_Majesty_James_Madison

Villains, Steeds, Studs, Mobsters and Zeroes

Presidential Nicknames 1789 to Present is our follow-up to last week’s post, United States Presidential Pet Names 1789 to Present. With the election over we thought it would be a good time to get back to work on a long overdue project. That being finding an alternative to President Obama’s current nickname. Because, let’s face it, “No Drama Obama” is not really serving him or the country very well. So we spent an evening rooting around in the musty-dusty-attic of history in our favorite burgundy silk smoking jacket searching for the proper inspiration, direction and guidance to move this Obama brand forward to the next level of data-driven-win-win-best-of-breed-boots-on-the-ground-viral-customer-focused-next-gen-turn-key-plug-n-play-right-sized-piece of creative destruction.

After our research was complete we realized that most of the existing Presidential Nicknames fall into five conceptual buckets. They are:

  1. Less-Than-Convincing Superhero Names: Cautious Cal, Honest Abe, Mr. Nice Guy, No Drama Obama,The Liberator, The Trust Buster and The Phrasemaker.
  2. Less-Than-Awe-Inspiring Comic Book Villain Names: The Big Lub, Landslide Lyndon, Martin Van Ruin, The Rutherfraud, The Ancient One, The Decider, The Enchanter, The Gipper, The Human Iceberg, The Schoolmaster and The Walrus.
  3. Less-Than-A-Sure-Bet-Sounding Racehorse Names: Boatman Jim, Cool Cal, General Mum, Give ‘Em Hell Harry, His Fraudulency, Napoleon of the Stump, Stuffed Prophet, The Comeback Kid, Tennessee Tailor, Tycoon, Tippecanoe, Unconditional Surrender, Old Man Eloquent, Old Rough and Ready, Old Sink or Swim, and Poppy.
  4. Less-Than-Fear-Inspiring Gangster Names: Big Chief, Bullshit Johnson, Dutch, Gentleman Boss Arthur, Handsome Frank, Teddy, and The Rail-Splitter.
  5. Less-Than-Savory-Adult-Film-Stars-of-Yesteryear Names: Slick Willie, Tricky Dick, Uncle Jumbo, His Little Majesty, The Dude, The Era of Good Feelings, The Careful Dutchman, Young Hickory, and of course Old Hickory.

Here now is the full list of Presidential nicknames. Enjoy.

Nicknames of United States Presidents 1789 to Present

41 — President George Herbert Walker Bush.

43 — President George Walker Bush. Used to differentiate him from his father.

Accidency — President John Tyler, Jr. Tyler was the first president to be elevated to the Presidency by the death of his predecessor.

Big Chief — President William Howard Taft.

Big Lub — President William Howard Taft. Boyhood nickname.

Boatman Jim — President James Abram Garfield, Referencing his work on the Ohio canals in his youth.

Bubba — President William Jefferson Clinton. Common nickname in the Southern US.

Bullshit Johnson — President Lyndon Baines Johnson (Bull Johnson in public) Lyndon Johnson had a reputation for boasting at San Marcos College.

Cautious Cal — President John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.

Chet — President Chester Alan Arthur shortened version of his name used by publications of that era.

Cool Cal — President John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. His reelection campaign used the slogan, “Keep It Cool With Coolidge”.

Dubya — President George Walker Bush. Based on a Texas pronunciation of “W”

Dutch — President Ronald Wilson Reagan Shortly after his birth, his father said he looked like a “fat little Dutchman”.

Father of the Constitution — President James Madison.

FDR — President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

General Mum — President William Henry Harrison. As in the expression, “keep it mum”. Because of his avoidance of speaking out on controversial issues.

Gentleman Boss Arthur— President Chester Alan. The dapper leader of New York State’s Republican party.

Give ‘Em Hell Harry — President Harry S. Truman (also a campaign slogan)

Handsome Frank — President Franklin Pierce

His Fraudulency — President Rutherford Birchard Hayes. Because after the disputed results of the 1876 Election.

His Little Majesty — President James Madison. At only 5′ 4″, he is the shortest person to serve as president.

His Obstinacy — President Stephen Grover Cleveland. He vetoed more bills than the first 21 presidents combined

His Rotundity — President John Adams.

Honest Abe — President Abraham Lincoln.

Ike –– President Dwight David Eisenhower. Known for being in his campaign slogan “I like Ike”

Jack — President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Kennedy was usually referred to as either “John F. Kennedy” or “Jack Kennedy”, only very rarely as “John Kennedy”

Jerry — President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr.

JFK — President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Most prominent nickname and abbreviation of his full name.

Jimmy — President James Earl Carter, Jr. He was the first President to use his nickname in an official capacity.

Landslide Lyndon — President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Sarcastic reference to the hotly-disputed 87-vote win that took him to the Senate in 1949.

LBJ — President Lyndon Baines Johnson. He liked to be known by this abbreviation, which was used in the slogan, “All the way with LBJ”

Light-Bulb Lyndon — President Lyndon Baines Johnson. He hated wasting electricity, and would often storm around the White House shutting off unnecessary lights.

Martin Van Ruin — President Martin Van Buren.

Matty Van — President Martin Van Buren.  From “Tippecanoe Songs of 1840”

Mr. Nice Guy — President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. Because of his clean-cut and non-partisan image.

Napoleon of the Stump — President James Knox Polk. Because of his potent oratory during his campaign for the Tennessee state legislature.

No Drama Obama — President Barack Hussein Obama II. For his perceived cool demeanor.

Old Hickory –President Andrew Jackson. Allegedly given to him by his soldiers for being as “tough as old hickory.”

Old Kinderhook — President Martin Van Buren. A reference to his hometown.

Old Man Eloquent — President James Monroe

Old Public Functionary — President James Buchanan, Jr.

Old Rough and Ready — President Zachary Taylor

Old Sink or Swim — President John Adams. For the speech in which he vowed “To sink or swim; to live or die; survive or perish with my country”

Papa Bush — President George Herbert Walker Bush. Used after his son George Walker Bush became the 43rd president, to differentiate between the two.

Poppy — President George Herbert Walker Bush. A nickname used from childhood on.

Prince Arthur — President Chester Alan Arthur. For his indulgence in extravagant luxury.

Rutherfraud — President Rutherford Birchard Hayes. Many Democrats did not consider him to legitimately to be president.

Silent Cal — President John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.

Slick Willie — President William Jefferson Clinton.

Teddy — President Theodore Roosevelt. In the New York Times at least as early as 1900.

The Abolitionist — President James Monroe, For routinely bringing up the slavery issue against Congressional rules.

The American Cincinnatus — President George Washington. Like the famous Roman, he won a war, became a private citizen instead of seeking power or riches.

The American Fabius — President George Washington. For his Fabian military strategy during the Revolutionary War.

The American Louis Philippe — President Millard Fillmore

The American Talleyrand — President Martin Van Buren.

The Ancient One — President Abraham Lincoln. A nickname favored by White House insiders because of his “ancient wisdom”

The Apostle of Democracy — President Thomas Jefferson.

The Careful Dutchman — President Martin Van Buren. Van Buren’s first language was Dutch.

The Chief — President Herbert Clark Hoover This was a nickname picked up at 23 as a geologist surveying in the Australian Outback, but it stuck for the rest of his life.

The Colossus of Independence — President John Adams. Given to him by Thomas Jefferson for his leadership in Congress in 1776.

The Comeback Kid — President William Jefferson Clinton. Coined by press after strong second place showing in 1992 New Hampshire primary, following polling slump.

The Decider — President George Walker Bush

The Dude President — President Chester Alan Arthur He was renowned for his fancy attire.

The Elephantine Economist — President Stephen Grover Cleveland. Given to him by hostile newspapers during the 1892 race, by which time his weight had gone up to 250 pounds

The Enchanter — President Martin Van Buren.

The Era of Good Feelings President — President James Monroe. “The Era of Good Feelings” was the period following the War of 1812.

The First Black President –– President William Jefferson Clinton. Used by Toni Morrison in reference to the African Americans tropes surrounding Clinton’s candidacy.

The Front Porch Campaigner –– President of the United States Benjamin Harrison. During the 1888 election, he gave nearly ninety speeches from his front porch.

The Gipper –– President Ronald Wilson Reagan. After his role as George “The Gipper” Gipp in the film Knute Rockne, All American. “Win one for the Gipper”.

The Great Communicator — President Ronald Wilson ReaganIn reference to Reagan’s ability to communicate.

The Great Emancipator — President Abraham Lincoln. For the emancipation of the slaves.

The Great Engineer — President Herbert Clark HooverHe was a civil engineer of some distinction

The Great Humanitarian — President Herbert Clark Hoover. When the Mississippi flooded in 1927, he volunteered his services and did extensive flood control work.

The Great Manager — President Martin Van Buren.

The Hero of New Orleans — President Andrew Jackson. For his military victory in the Battle of New Orleans

The Hero of San Juan Hill — President Theodore Roosevelt. He led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898.

The Human Iceberg — President of the United States Benjamin Harrison. He was cold and detached when speaking with people on an individual basis.

The Last Cocked Hat — President James Monroe. Because of his favour of the old-fashioned style of the 18th century.

The Liberator — President Abraham Lincoln. For the emancipation of the slaves.

The Lion — President Theodore Roosevelt

The Man of the People — President Thomas Jefferson.

The Master Spirit — President Martin Van Buren.

The Mistletoe Politician — President Martin Van Buren.

The Napoleon of Protection — President William McKinley, Jr. “Protection” meant high tariffs, like the one McKinley wrote in 1890.

The Peanut Farmer — President James Earl Carter, Jr. He owned a peanut farm and fostered this image in his early campaigns, as a contrast to elite Washington insiders.

The Phrasemaker — President Thomas Woodrow Wilson. Wilson had no need of speech-writers to supply his oratorical eloquence.

The Rail-Splitter — President Abraham Lincoln.

The Sage of Monticello — President Thomas Jefferson.

The Schoolmaster — President Thomas Woodrow Wilson. He was a bespectacled academic who lectured his visitors.

The Stuffed Prophet — President Stephen Grover Cleveland.

The Tennessee Tailor — President Andrew Johnson. He worked as a tailor before going into politics.

The Trust Buster — President Theodore Roosevelt. So called as a pioneer of busting business trusts.

The Tycoon — President Abraham Lincoln. For the energetic and ambitious conduct of his Civil War administration.

Tippecanoe — President William Henry Harrison. A reference to Harrison’s victory at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.

TR — President Theodore Roosevelt. He liked to sign communications this way. The first president to be known by his initials.

Tricky Dick — President Richard Milhous Nixon. From a Democratic Party ad leading up to the 1950 U.S. Senate election in California saying “Look at ‘Tricky Dick‘ Nixon’s Republican Record.”

Uncle Abe — President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a kind and friendly man who in his later years came across as avuncular

Uncle Jumbo — President Stephen Grover Cleveland.

Unconditional Surrender Grant — President Ulysses Simpson Grant. For his uncompromising demand for unconditional surrender during the Battle of Fort Donelson

Walrus — President Chester Alan Arthur. For having strange looking facial hair (mostly used or teased by children).

Washington of the West — President William Henry Harrison. A reference to Harrison’s victories at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe and 1813 Battle of the Thames.

Young Hickory of the Granite Hills — President Franklin Pierce. “Young Hickory” compared his military deeds (in the Mexican-American War) with those of Andrew Jackson.

Young Hickory— President James Knox Polk. Because he was a particular protégé of “Old Hickory” – Andrew Jackson

Sources / Resources

Video: The PBS / American Exprience Presidents Collection

 

United States Presidential Pet Names 1789 to Present

President Gerald Ford and Liberty in the Oval Office in 1974

Silkworms, Tiger Cubs and Fighting Cocks 1789 to Present

With the 2012 presidential campaign winding down and election eve looming, we are all by now (save perhaps those mysterious remaining undecided voters) acquainted with the issues facing our country: jobs (the wonks suggest we need more of them), balancing the budget, foreign policy, immigration reform, healthcare reform, marriage (the pundits suggest we need less of them), Supreme Court appointments, energy policy, education and the very role of government.

But there has been one very important issue that has not received as much as attention as it deserves in either the “liberal-biased media” or “the right wing echo chamber” AKA “the friends of Fox & Friends,” and that is the all-important issue of which direction this country will go in selecting its next Presidential Pet. Will it be another four years of freewheeling “Bo the Portuguese Water Dog”? Or will we “Take A New Path Of Bold, Aggressive Change” and consider an American Bison, Boar, Bush Baby, Chimpanzee, Cobra, Cormorant, Dolphin, Echidna, Emu, Flamingo, Gnat, Hedgehog, Hyena, Jackal, Jellyfish, Lapwing, Lemur, Llama, Loris, Mallard, Narwhal, Oryx, Ostrich, Partridge, Platypus, Reindeer, Sand Dollar, Sardine, Shrew, Stinkbug, Termite, Vulture, Walrus, Woodpecker, Wren or perhaps a Yak for our nation’s new “First Pet.”

Such strangeness has happened before. Surfing the historical record, I discovered John Quincy Adams’ “First Silkworm,” Martin Van Buren’s “First Tiger Cub,” Andrew Jackson’s “First Fighting Cock,” Andrew Johnson’s “First White Mouse,” Grover Cleveland’s “First Mockingbirds,” Benjamin Harrison’s “First Opossum,” Theodore Roosevelt’s “First Garter Snake,” Woodrow Wilson’s “First Ram,” Calvin Coolidge’s “First Pygmy Hippo,” Herbert Hoover’s “First Crocodile” and George W. Bush’s “First Longhorn.”

And once our leadership has decided on a creature worthy of such a station, there will always be the name to consider. So, we have taken this opportunity to provide the next President with some historical context. Happy naming. [Read more…] about United States Presidential Pet Names 1789 to Present

Nicknames and slang of the Detroit Tigers

Detroit_Tiger_Paul_Dizzy_Trout.
Paul Howard “Dizzy” Trout (June 29, 1915 – February 28, 1972) played for the Detroit Tigers for fourteen seasons, appearing in two World Series, in 1940 and 1945 (in which he had an ERA of 0.66 in the Series).

I heard on the radio this morning an appropriate turn of phrase in lieu of  Justin Verlander’s (“The Monarch”) performance in yesterday’s Game 1 of the World Series, and it goes something like this: The are two types of ball players. Humble ones and those preparing themselves to be humbled.

Origins of the Detroit Tigers name:

There are various legends about how the Tigers got their nickname. One involves the orange stripes they wore on their black stockings. Tigers manager George Stallings took credit for the name; however, the name appeared in newspapers before Stallings was manager. Another legend concerns a sportswriter equating the 1901 team’s opening day victory with the ferocity of his alma mater, the Princeton Tigers. The earliest known use of the name “Tigers” in the news was in the Detroit Free Press on April 16, 1895.

The truth is revealed in Richard Bak’s 1998 book, A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium. In the 19th century, the city of Detroit had a military unit called the Detroit Light Guard, who were known as “The Tigers”. They had played significant roles in certain Civil War battles and in the 1899 Spanish-American War. The baseball team was still informally called both “Wolverines” and “Tigers” in the news. Upon entry into the majors the ballclub sought and received formal permission from the Light Guard to use its trademark and from that day forth it is officially the Tigers. In short, the Tigers most likely wore stripes because they were already Tigers, rather than the other way around which is the conventional story.

The “Tigers” name originates from the 19th century military unit that was based in the city and held the same name. They are nicknamed “the Motor City Kitties”, “the Bengals”, and “the Tigs.” (Via Answers.com)

Nicknames, slang and mottoes of the Detroit Tigers

AJax — Austin Jackson

“Always a Tiger” — Team motto

Babe — Woodrow Wilson Davis

Battleship — Lorenzo Edward Gremminger

Bennett Park — Tigers ballpark (1896–1911)

Big Daddy — Cecil Fielder (1st base, 1990–1996)

Big Sam — Sam Thompson (outfilder 1885-1906)

Big Wheel — Lance Parrish (catcher, 1977–1986)

Bip — Leon Joseph Roberts (1998)

Birdie — George Robert Tebbetts

Blackie — James Francis O’Rourke

Black Mike — Gordon Stanley “Mickey” Cochrane (catcher 1937)

“Bless You Boys” — Rally cry coined (in sarcasm) by Al Ackerman, a Detroit sports anchor legend.

Bobo — Lewis Norman Newsom

Boob  — Donald Eric McNair

Boomer — David Wells (pitcher, 1993–1995)

Boots — Cletus Poffenberger

Boulevard Park — Tigers ballpark (1901–1902)

Briggs Stadium — Tigers ballpark (1938–1960) named after plumbing fixture manufacturer Walter Briggs, Sr.

Bucketfoot  — Al Aloysius Harry Simmons

Bumpus  — Elijah Albert Jones

Burns Park  — Tigers ballpark (1901–1902)

Butch  — Donald Martin Kolloway

Chick— Charles King (outfield, 1954–1956)

Chief — Elon Chester Hogsett (pitcher, 1929–1936)

Corktown — is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan

“Deee-troit Base-ball!” — A popular rally cry for the Detroit Pistons has also been adapted for the Tigers

Denny — Dennis Dale McLain (the last pitcher in Major League Baseball to win 30 or more games during a season)

Dingle  — Frank Donald Croucher

Dizzy — Paul Howard Trout (pitcher)

“Eat ‘Em Up Tigers! Eat ‘Em Up!” — 1968 rally cry when the Tigers won their third World Series

“Ee-Yah”  — Third base coach Hughie Jennings’ famous saying/shout

Fire Trucks  — Virgil Trucks (pitcher, 1941–1943, 1945–1952, 1956)

Firpo — Frederick Marberry (pitcher, 1933–1935)

Flea — Herman Clifton (infield, 1934–1937)

Gates — William James Brown (outfielder, 1963–1975)

Gee — Gerald Holmes Walker (outfield)

Gonzo — Luis Gonzalez (outfield, 1998)

Goose — Leon Allen Goslin (left field, 1934–1937)

Grandy — Curtis Granderson (outfielder 2005–2009)

Hammerin’ Hank — Hank Greenberg (1st base, outfiled, 1930–1946)

Happy  — Archie Richard McKain

Heini — Henry Emmett Manush (outfield, 1923–1927)

Heinie — George Schuble

Hippity  — John Leonard Hopp

Honolulu  — Johnnie John Brodie Williams

Hook —  Kenneth Wandersee Johnson

Hoot — Walter Evers (outfield, 1941–1952, 1954)

Horse Belly  — Joseph Alexander Sargent

Hotshot  — Edward Joseph Mayo

Hub — Harry Walker

Hurricane  —  Robert Sidney Hazle

Icehouse — George Peacock Wilson

“It’s Gum Time” — 1996 season late-innings rally cry

Jack — John Scott Morris (pitcher)

Jeep  — Donald Henry Heffner

Jo-Jo — Joyner Clifford White

Juan Gone — Juan González (outfield, 2000)

Kickapoo Ed  — Oron Edgar Summers

Kid Rick  —  Rick Porcello

King Kong  — Charles Ernest Keller

King Tut  — Guy Isbell Tutwiler

Legs — Richard Henry Weik

Lima Time — Jose Lima (pitcher, 1994–1996, 2001–2002)

Liz — Elias Funk (infielder, 1930)

Mad Max — Max Scherzer

Miggy, Cabby and or the Big Cat — Miguel Cabrera (infielder, 2007-present)

Mr. Tiger, The Line, 6, Big Al, Mr Perfect, Salty — Al Kaline (outfield, 1953-1974)

Navin Field — Tigers ballpark (1912–1938) named after Francis Joseph Navin principal owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball for 27 years, from 1909 to 1935. He also served as vice president and acting president of the American League.

Nook— Exavier Prente Logan (outfield, 2004–2005)

Nubbin — Wayne Gaffney McLeland

Papa Grande (Spanish for Big Potato) — José Valverde (relief pitcher 2010-present)

Paws — The Tigers mascot

Phoenix  — Joaquin Benoit

Piano Legs — Charles Taylor Hickman

Pichardo — Osvaldo José Virgil (1958, 1960–61)

Pinky — Michael Franklin Higgins (3rd base, 1939–1946)

Plowboy — Tom Stephen Morgan

Prince — Henry Oana (pitcher, 1943–45)

Prince Hal — Hal Newhouser (pitcher 1939-1955)

Pudg or I-Rod — Iván Rodríguez (catcher, 2004–2008)

Red — Jerome Downs

Red — Robert James Wilson

Rip — Raymond Allen Radcliff

Rocky — Everett Lamar Bridges (infield (1959–1960)

Rocky Rocco —  Domenico Colavito (outfield, 1960–1963)

Rowdy Richard — Richard William Bartell

Roxie — Alfred Lawson (pitcher, 1933, 1935–1939)

Rufe — James Ruffus Gentry (pitcher, 1943–48)

Rusty — Daniel Joseph Staub

Sassafras — George Lovington Winter

Satchelfoot — Edwin Lee Wells

Scat — Frank Joseph Metha

Schoolboy — Lynnwood Rowe (pitcher)

Señor Smoke — Aurelio Lopez (pitcher, 1978-1985)

Shoddy — Alfred Shaw

Shotgun — John William Peters

Silver Fox  — Jim Northrup (outfielder, 1964–1974)

Skeeter — William Henry Barnes (infield, outfield, 1983–1994)

Skids — John Joseph Lipon

Sleepy Bill — William Thomas Burns

Slick — George Coffman (pitcher)

Slug — Harry Heilmann (outfielder, 1914, 1916–1929)

Sniper  — Doug Fister

“Sock It To ‘Em, Tigers!” — Rally cry used during the 1968 season

Sparky  — George Lee Anderson (manager, 1979–1995)

Stinky — Harry Albert Davis

Storm — George Earl Davis (pitcher, 1993–1994)

Stormin Norman — Norm Cash

Stubby — Frank Overmire

Submarine — Elden Le Roy Auker

Sweet Lou — Lou Whitaker

The Barranquilla Baby  — Edgar Rentería (2008)

The Bird — Mark Fidrych (pitcher, 1976–1980)

The Chosen One — Drew Smyly

The D-Train — Dontrelle Willis (2008–2010)

The Earl Of Snohomish — Clifford Earl Torgeson

The Georgia Peach  — Tyrus Raymond “Ty” Cobb (outfielder, 1905-1928)

The Mayor — Sean Casey (1st base, 2006–2007)

The Mechanical Man — Charles Leonard Gehringer (second baseman (1924–1942)

The Monarch —  Justin Verlander

The Monster — Richard Raymond Radatz

The Pig — Henry Franklin House

The Roar Of 84 — 1984 World Series Champions

The Tabasco Kid — Norman Arthur Elberfeld

Tiger Stadium — Tigers ballpark (1912–1999)

Tigers — Established in 1894. They are the oldest continuous one-name, one-city franchise in the American League

Tigertown — was the first made-for-TV movie produced for the Disney Channel, produced in 1983 staring Roy Scheider as an aging baseball player for the Detroit Tigers

Tram — Alan Trammell (shortstop, manager, 1977-1996)

Tubby — Frank Bernard Reiber

Twilight Ed — Edwin Henry Killian

UUU — Ugueth Urtaín Urbina Villarreal (2004–2005)

V-Mart — Víctor Martínez (designated hitter, 2011-present)

Whit — John Witlow Wyatt

Wheels — Frank Willis Carswell

“Who’s your Tiger?” — Rally cry (2006–2008)

Wolverines — The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888

Yats — George Wuestling (shortstop, 1929–30)

 

 

Nicknames and slang of the San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants logo

In honor of our local team, the San Francisco Giants, and their amazing run to 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series victories, I’ve put together an extensive list of Giants team nicknames, player nicknames and slang, past and present.

UPDATED 8/17/15:

  • Ancient Mariner — Gaylord Perry (1962–1971)
  • Angel In The Outfield — Angel Pagan (2012–Present)
  • Baby Giraffe — Brandon Belt (2011–Present); Giant first baseman who sports a long neck.
  • “Beat LA” — “As common a term as you’ll hear at AT&T park when the Dodgers are in town, the statement refers to the long standing rivalry between the Giants & Dodgers.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Beauty — Dave Bancroft (1920–1923, 1930)
  • Big Daddy — Rick Reuschel (1987–1991)
  • Big Jawn — Johnny Mize (1942, 1946–1949)
  • Big Mac — Willie McCovey (1959–80)
  • Big Six — Christopher “Christy” Mathewson (1900-1916)
  • Big Sugar — Matt Cain (2005–present)
  • Big Time Timmy Jim — Tim Lincecum (2006–Present)
  • Blackbeard — Brian Wilson (2006–2012)
  • Blockbuster — Marco Scutaro (2012–Present)
  • Bochy Ball — “Term associated with Giants Manager Bruce Bochy’s style of managing a team.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Boogie Bear — Kevin Mitchell (1987–1991)
  • Buster — Gerald Dempsey Posey III (2009–Present)
  • “Bye Bye, Baby” — “The home run call of famous Giants announcer, Russ Hodges. Also referenced in the Giants fight song of the 60s, ‘BYE BYE BABY'”. ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Candy — Candido Maldonado Guadarrama (1986–1989)
  • Captain Quirk — Barry Zito (2007–2013)
  • Chief — John Tortes Meyers (1909-1915)
  • Chili — Charles Theodore Davis (1981–99)
  • Crawdaddy — Brandon Crawford (2011–Present)
  • Crazy Crab — “During the early 80’s a mascot craze swept the world of professional sports. In 1984 The Giants joined in with a unique “anti-mascot”, Crazy Crab, whose presence was meant to mock the mascot craze by encouraging fans to boo every time Crazy Crab appeared. Although Crazy Crab only lasted for one year, he is infamous among Giants fans.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Croix De Candlestick — “Pins that were given out only to fans who stayed for extra-inning night games in Candlestick Park. Pins were seen as proof of being a die-hard fan.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Drama — Brian Wilson (2006-2012)
  • Duffman — Matt Duffy (2014–Present)
  • El Caballo Loco — Angel Pagan (2012–Present); Crazy Horse!
  • El Divino Loco (“The Divine Madman”) — Ruben Gomez (1953–1958)
  • El Gran Gato (“The Big Cat”) — Andrés Galarraga (2003)
  • El Tiburón Blanco (The White Shark) — Gregor Blanco (2012–present)
  • “Eliminate me” — “The term used when Kruk & Kuip use the tele-strator to scratch out a fan or something they disapprove of on Giants telecasts.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Fadeaway — A new pitch invented by Christy Mathewson (1900-1916), which later became known as the screwball.
  • Fear the Beard — Brian Wilson (2006-2012)
  • Flakey / Flake — Jackie Brandt (1956, 1958-1959)
  • Gamer Babe — “The [controversial] ‘Gamer Babe’ meme appears to have started during the 2011 season, when the Giants broadcast showed four women sitting together and Krukow referred to them as Gamer Babes from Half Moon Bay, a seaside town about 30 minutes south of San Francisco.” Read all about it here: The “Gamer Babe” Problem
  • “Got Heeem'” — An expression coined by Giants pitcher Brian Wilson, employed, for instance, when an opposing baserunner is caught stealing.
  • “Grab Some Pine, Meat” — “Popularized by Giants announcer and former Giants starting pitcher, Mike Krukow. It is used as a way of telling a player to go sit on the bench after striking out.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • HacMan / Hackman — Jeffrey Leonard (1977–90)
  • Hendu — Dave Henderson (1981–94)
  • “Hey, Meat” — “A term for a ballplayer, shortened from ‘Grab some pine, meat’ [above].” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Hillbilly Machiavelli — Roger Craig (1985–1992)
  • Huff Daddy — Aubrey Huff (2010–2012)
  • “Humm Baby” — “The Rally cry of former Giants Manger Roger Craig, originated in the 1987 season, leading the Giants to a NL West Division Crown.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Iron Man — Joe McGinnity (1902–1908)
  • Joe Baseball — Joe Panik (2014–present)
  • King Carl — Carl Hubbell (1928-193)
  • Kobe — Joaquín Árias (2012–Present); he has a resemblance to Kobe Bryant, so lots of fans call him that
  • Kung Fu Panda — Pablo Sandoval (2008–2014); named by teammate Barry Zito for his rotund build and loveable nature.
  • Los Gigantes — Spanish for Giants. Used on the team’s uniform on Cinco de Mayo of 2007.
  • Mac — Willie McCovey (1959–80)
  • Mad Bum — Madison Bumgarner (2009–present)
  • Mandrake the Magician — Don Mueller (1948–1957)
  • Master Melvin — Melvin Thomas Ott (1926–1947)
  • Matt the Bat — Matt Williams (1987–1996)
  • McCovey Cove — The unofficial name of “the body of water beyond the right field wall of AT&T Park. Named after Giants Hall of Fame 1st Baseman, Willie McCovey, who was one of the most feared left-handed power hitters of all time.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • McCovey Point — At the northeastern portion of the China Basin Park, San Francisco, overlooking McCovey Cove.
  • Moon Man — Greg Minton (1975–1987)
  • Nenth Inning — When closer Robb “The Terminator” Nen (1998–2002) entered the game
  • Old Country — Madison Bumgarner (2009–present)
  • One Flap Down — “Nickname for former Giant Jeffrey Leonard originating from his home run trot where he would leave one arm hanging downward as if motionless.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • One Hunter Percent — Hunter Pence (2012–present)
  • Orange Friday — “Giants fans wear orange on Fridays during the season to show support for their Giants. You can see orange throughout the city of San Francisco on Friday, whether the team is home or away.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Orator Jim — James Henry O’Rourke (1885 – 1892, 1904)
  • Panda — Pablo Sandoval (2008–2014); named by teammate Barry Zito for his rotund build and loveable nature.
  • Pandoval — Pablo Sandoval (2008–2014)
  • Panik Attack — Joe Panik (2014–present); this is Zinzin’s creation and recommended nickname for a truly amazing young player.
  • Pat The Bat — Pat Burrell (2010–2011)
  • Patty Baseball — Pat Burrell (2010–2011)
  • Penitentiary Face — Jeffrey Leonard (1977–90)
  • Planet Zito — Barry Zito (2007–2013)
  • Pocket Full of Posies — Buster Posey (2009–Present); when clears the bases with a home run
  • Rags — Dave Righetti (1979–95, coach 2000–present)
  • Red Ass — Gaylord Perry (1962–1971)
  • REDACTED — All slang related to disgraced performance-enhancing drug-using Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera: “Got Melk?” has become “Got Juice?,” “Bad Melk” or “Spoiled Melk.”
  • Rube — Richard William Marquard (1908-1915)
  • Sarge — Gary Matthews (1972–87)
  • Shooter — Rodney Roy “Rod” Beck (1991–1997)
  • Shotgun — Matt Cain (2005–present)
  • Silent Mike — Mike Tiernan (1887–1899)
  • Smiling Mickey — Michael Francis Welch (1883-1892)
  • Snotrocket — Madison Bumgarner (2009–present)
  • Splash Hit — “Name for a home run that lands into McCovey Cove.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Stamos — Brandon Crawford (2011–Present)
  • Stonewall — Travis Jackson (1922–1936)
  • Stretch — “Nickname for Giants Willie McCovey [1959–80] earned because of his ability to catch hide and wide throws to first baseman.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • The Baby Bull — Orlando Cepeda (1958–1966)
  • The Barry Shift — “A common sight when Barry Bonds [was] at bat, it is when the opposing team shifts its defensive allingment so that the shortstop and center fielder are playing on the right half of the field, the third baseman is playing near shortstop and the left fielder is almost in center field.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • The Bay Bombers — A geographic nickname, alluding to San Francisco, which is situated by the SF Bay.
  • The Bays — Short version of The Bay Bombers.
  • The Bulldozers / The Dozers – In reference to winning all six elimination games on the way to the 2012 World Series Championship, especially in the NLDS when they lost first two games at home and won all three elimination games in Cincinnati. Nobody in San Francisco actually calls them this. Perhaps Detroit, St. Louis, and/or Cincinnati fans did.
  • The Count of Montefusco — John Montefusco (1974–1980)
  • The Fordham Flash — Frankie Frisch (1919–1926)
  • The Franchise — Tim Lincecum (2006–Present)
  • The Freak — Tim Lincecum (2006–Present)
  • The G-Men — A Giants team nickname and reference to nickname for a government agent.
  • The Gnats — Used by Giants detractors, especially Dodgers and Athletics fans.
  • The Gyros — A Giants team nickname
  • The Hembreenator — Heath Hembree (2013)
  • The Horse — Matt Cain (2005–present)
  • The Jints (rhymes with “pints”, not “mints”) — Slang version of “Giants”
  • The Kid — Roger Kieschnick (2013)
  • The Lord / The Lord Voldemort — Barry Bonds (1993-2007)
  • The Machine — Pat Burrell (2010–2011) and Brian Wilson (2006–2012)
  • The Meal Ticket — Carl Hubbell (1928-193)
  • The Misfits – Nickname for the 2010 Giants team that won the world series with a group of players that were not considered super stars… Also a play on the “SF” in “miSFits”, as seen on many bootleg shirts bearing the band logo of the same name.
  • The Old Flash — Frankie Frisch (1919–1926)
  • The Orange and Black — Reference to the team’s colors.
  • The Orange Giants — Reference to the team’s colors.
  • The Orange Nation — Reference to the team’s colors.
  • The Pacific Sock Exchange — The nickname for Will Clark (1986–1993) and Kevin Mitchell (1987–1991)
  • The Rajah — Rogers Hornsby (1927)
  • The Reverend — Hunter Pence (2012–present)
  • The Riot – Ryan Theriot (2012)
  • The Say Hey Kid — “Nickname for Giants legend Willie Mays [1951–73] originated because when he first came up to the Majors he didn’t know everyone’s name so he always used to call out ‘say hey’ to everyone.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • The Staten Island Scot — Bobby Thomson (1957) (Hitter of “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” the most famous single hit in Baseball history)
  • The Stick — Candlestick, in San Francisco, home of the SF 49ers and Giants.
  • The Terminator — Robb Nen (1998–2002)
  • The Willie — “Nickname for the statue of Willie Mays found in Willie Mays Plaza. A popular meeting destination before and after Giants games.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • The Year of the Fox — “The nickname refers to the 1971 team that, after finishing in 3rd place the year before, surprised the baseball world and unexpectedly captured the Western Division Title. Led by manager Charlie Fox, the mix of aging stars and rising youngsters snuck up on the baseball world, much like a fox.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Tito — Rigoberto (Peat) Fuentes (1965–78)
  • Triples Alley — “The large gap in right center field as formed by the sharp deepening of the fence wall. When a ball is hit in this area it usually results in a triple for the batter.” ~Giants Speakipedia
  • Ugly Finder — When a ball is hit Into the dugout, coined by Giants announcer and former Giants starting pitcher, Mike Krukow
  • “UUUU – RIBE!” — Chant by Giants fans for Jose Uribe (1985-1992)
  • VogelSTRONG — Ryan Vogelsong (2000-2001, 2011-present); for when he’s in a slump or injured or when he’s on a roll
  • Vogie — Ryan Vogelsong (2000-2001, 2011-present)
  • Will The Thrill | The Thrill — Will Clark (1986–1993)
  • Woody — Kirk Rueter (1996–2005)
  • Zeets — Barry Zito (2007–2013)

Lemay, Hound Dogs and Buff

Sterling Hayden as Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper
Sterling Hayden as Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper. From Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, commonly known as Dr. Strangelove. Directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick.

When I was in grade school I would occasionally present my father opportunities to practice parental discipline, typically as a result of my poor behavior at school. My father never used a probation, curfew or belt in any effort to correct my conduct. Instead, his Red Right Hand would point to the array of thick ivory, green and gold volumes of The World Book Encyclopedia and request a three-page-single-spaced-to-be-reviewed-prior-to-bedtime “book report.” The topic of this report would be of my own choosing. I think my father preferred that I develop a skill for self-administered discipline / self-flagellation, and this way he could never be called-out as the bad guy, and I recall learning a great deal about everything from flesh-preserving mummification to the flesh-eating Piranha as a result of these reports.

One report was administered for forging my mother’s signature on a note to her from my teacher requiring her acknowledgement that I had been a disturbance in class. My mother, I reasoned, had no time to waste on such trivial matters, so I took it upon my self to deal with this on my own. This second grade forgery was less than convincing, and as a result I needed to face the family magistrate.

Not a lot of thought usually went into picking a topic for such reports. I was a curious kid and everything was pretty much a mystery. But I had a particular fascination with flight and aviation at that stage of my life. My father was in the Air Force during the tail end of Korean War and I recall him spinning tales about his exploits serving as a hydraulic mechanic at Wheelus Air Base in Libya and later at Castle Air Force Base in California. At Castle, according to my father, he was personally picked off the flight line by the commander of The 93d Bombardment Wing to work on a classified top-secret Strategic Air Command (SAC) project involving the Boeing B-52 bomber.

The following is a dramatic re-enactment: Cut to long shot of an USAF airfield. A VIP Jeep adorned with four-star flags comes racing toward a group of airman working on a parked jet. The Jeep slams on its breaks in-front of saluting airmen. From the backseat of the Jeep a cigar-chomping general barks, “Which one of you knows how to draw pretty pictures?” My father drops a greasy rag and steps forward, “That would be me sir.” “Fine” snorts the general. (Casting suggestion/note: see attached photo of General Curtis E. LeMay, father of the Strategic Air Command, for reference. I think Stanley Kubrick did a great job of casting Sterling Hayden as Lemay’s stand-in in Dr.Strangelove.) “I guess you will do, jump in….” The jeep lunges forward and races across the tarmac as a gaggle of fighter jets climb sharply on takeoff overhead.

More accurately I believe my father was reassigned to the air force equivalent of the AV Dept (audio visual department). His “classified” assignment was to render overhead slide presentations for public relations purposes. The Boeing B-52 bomber was first deployed to Castle AFB in 1956. Ten years later it was supporting ground combat operations in Vietnam, appearing as a graphic for the nightly news, and serving as a convenient topic for a three-page-single-spaced-to-be-reviewed-prior-to-bedtime “book report.”

I still can recall a few facts from that report. Official USAF nickname: Stratofortress. Role: Strategic bomber. Engine type: Pratt & Whitney JT3D. Flyway cost: 10 Million each. Armament: 500 lb. bombs or Hound Dog missiles. Produced from 1952 to 1962. But what is truly amazing is that in age when technology has a shelf life of months or weeks, here is an exemplary airframe that has been soldiering-on for over sixty years. In fact, after planned upgrades for the current fleet, the USAF intends to keep the B-52H in service until 2045, which is nearly 90 years of military service! How may Model T’s do you see on the road today?

Something I learned today about the B-52: “Its Stratofortress name is rarely used outside of official contexts; it has been referred to by Air Force personnel as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat/Flying Fucker/Fellow)” (Wikipedia B-52 page).

Readymade Nomenclature: Proposed Descriptions for a Cutaway Diagram of The Future

Found Fragment Of A Discarded Cutaway Diagram of The Future
Found fragment of the Proposed Descriptions for a Cutaway Diagram of The Future.

Inscribed on the backside of this found diagram (7 in. x 5 in.): Polite dinner conversation! / Proposed Descriptions for a Cutaway Diagram of The Future / For discussion purposes only? Wasn’t this to be rendered in the manor of Arthur Garfield Dove / 194_ (indecipherable). 

  1. OXYGEN RACK
  2. AMPLIFIER OF MICROPHONES AT OUTSIDE VANTAGE POINTS CONVEYING SIGNALS
  3. RACKS FOR WATER BOTTLE SUPPLY
  4. (truncated) CONCRETE SHOCK ROOF
  5. RADIO
  6. CONTROL BOX
  7. (truncated) ACCUMULATOR STORE
  8. TELEPHONE
  9. BUNKS
  10. (truncated)S
  11. PARAFFIN TANK
  12. STORE FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING & GAS MASKS
  13. SAND
  14. W.C. & WASH BASIN.
  15. STORE CUPBOARD
  16. PASSAGE THROUGH TO SERVANTS QUARTERS
  17. (truncated)Y
  18. RECESS FOR STOVE
  19. CONVERTIBLE BUNKS
  20. (truncated)ICH KEEPS ATMOSPHERE CLEAR

Underutilized Nomenclature: Bob Club

underutilized_nomenclature_bob_club
Bob Club.

The great Bob Club, an exquisite example of Underutilized Nomenclature, another treasure from one of our favorite websites, Yugodrom. A large part of the magic of this name is the extreme commonness of its constituent words, “bob” and “club.” How can two ordinary words combine to make something so strange? One likely reason is something that both names have in common: a variety of different definitions. Let’s take a quick look.

Quick definitions of “bob” from WordNet:

Noun Form
  • A short abrupt inclination (as of the head) (“He gave me a short bob of acknowledgement”)
  • A small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line
  • A hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string
  • A hair style for women and children; a short haircut all around
  • A short or shortened tail of certain animals
  • A long racing sled (for 2 or more people) with a steering mechanism
  • A former monetary unit in Great Britain
Verb Form
  • Cut hair in the style of a bob (“Bernice bobs her hair these days!”)
  • Move up and down repeatedly (“Her rucksack bobbed gently on her back”)
  • Make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect
  • Ride a bobsled (“The boys bobbed down the hill screaming with pleasure”)
  • Remove or shorten the tail of an animal

Quick definitions of “club” from WordNet:

Noun Form
  • Stout stick that is larger at one end (“He carried a club in self defense”)
  • A playing card in the minor suit of clubs (having one or more black trefoils on it) (“He led a small club”)
  • A formal association of people with similar interests (“He joined a golf club”)
  • A building occupied by a club (“The clubhouse needed a new roof”)
  • A spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink (“The gossip columnist got his information by visiting nightclubs every night”)
  • Golf equipment used by a golfer to hit a golf ball
  • A team of professional baseball players who play and travel together (“Each club played six home games with teams in its own division”)
Verb Form
  • Gather and spend time together (“They always club together”)
  • Unite with a common purpose (“The two men clubbed together”)
  • Strike with a club or a bludgeon

Such is the rich ore that the strange beauty of Bob Club is smelted from. Join the Bob Club today, or pick one up in your hands, or dance the night away in one while bobbing up and down to the Bob Marley beat.

Time for us to hop into our bobsled and swoosh off to the next adventure in found nomenclature. Have a plumb, Bob.