non’trée n.— «Bay Area waiters have a nickname for many of their customers these days: the non’trée. Non’trée (pronounced “non-tray”) refers to the folks who order appetizers rather than a pricier entree—a popular practice in...
bliss point n.— «Faced with insistent demands to lower the salt, food companies employ three strategies. Strategy No. 1 is to try to reduce sodium. Manufacturers say they can’t do this easily. Unless products are salty enough—reaching...
fertigation n.— «Professor Michael Delwiche, chairman of biological and cultural engineering at UC Davis, has experimented with wireless sensing systems that precisely apply water—sometimes mixed with chemical fertilizers in a process...
quiet title n.— «If, in fact, the railroad company is willing to state in writing that it has abandoned the property, you may also be able to file what is known as a “quiet title” action, asking a judge to review the facts and...
decimal dust n.— «The thin wires that could carry the world’s information system directly and cheaply to every house in the city is on the order of what Sup. Ross Mirkarimi likes to call “decimal dust.” Electrical conduit...
sunshine market n.— «Most property managers will be happy to share this information with you, as well as to give you tips on farmers’ markets (often called “sunshine markets”), island seafood vendors and other affordable...