Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 06:31:05 -0700
Title: Garlic tears, self pity!

Right now I'm sitting in my office at Bikers, looking
through a pile of bills and  notices and I'm  not sure how or
 for how  long I have been here. The fragrances of Jake's
cooking are wafting throughout Bikers.  The special for this
evening is 40-garlic-clove-chicken stuffed with giblets and
wild rice.  As I look out into Bikers I can see that there is not a
dry eye in the place. Over the piano Oscar has swagged dark
drapes around  a banner with a picture of Yates to mourn his passing.
*swag vb swagged ; swag.ging [prob. of Scand origin; akin to
  ON sveggja to cause to sway; akin to OHG swingan to swing] vi
  (1530) 1: sway, lurch 2: sag ~ vt 1: to adorn with swags 2: to
  arrange (as drapery) in swags.

He, Oscar, is playing very well tonight.  He has the crowd up and in
fact, he is up, playing the piano and at the same time sparring with --
 yes, it's Vern, with his cowboy boots that jingle-jangle-jingle.
*spar vi sparred ; spar.ring [prob. alter. of spur] (1537) 1 a:
  box; esp: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's
  opponent or create an opening b: to engage in a practice or
  exhibition bout of boxing 2: skirmish, wrangle 3: to strike or
  fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock.

The metal walls, tables,  and floor, bouncing the music
of metal piano jazz and blues are reboant with late night Bikers crowd joy.
*reb.o.ant adj [L reboant-, reboans, prp. of reboare to resound, fr. re-
  + boare to cry aloud, roar, fr. Gk boan, of imit. origin] (1830):
  marked by reverberation.

It's difficult to concentrate on bills and fun-at-Bikers with the
problems at the Center facing me.  Yates is dead.  The main
computer has sealed itself shut and has become very particular
about who it will allow login.   Ginger was heard to say, "No, I don't
own SOME of the Center, I own ALL the Center - including that
computer which seems to think for itself."
Henry and Ron are cowering  about, following Ms. Yates
everywhere she goes.
*subaltern n (1605) 1: a person holding a subordinate position;
specif: a junior officer (as in the British army)
2: a particular proposition that follows immediately from a universal.
*sub.al.tern adj [LL subalternus, fr. L sub- + alternus alternate,
fr.  alter other (of two)--more at alter] (1570) 1: particular with reference
to a related universal proposition <"some S is P" is a ~ proposition to
"all S is P">
 2: subordinate.


Catch up with the week?  It's hump day, time to slide into a
long weekend?  Slide away!

d.








----------------------------------************----------------------------
Dick Ellis, Librarian
San Diego Supercomputer Center
(619)534-5171 (voice)
(619)534-5117 (fax)
dellis@sdsc.edu

        "Go Moan for Mankind..."
            J. Kerouac