Do you answer the phone with a word or phrase that’s a little out of the ordinary? Readers of our email newsletter had some surprising answers to that question. One says that just for fun, he likes to answer with a cheery Front desk! A reader in...
coconut telegraph n.— «SSB networks are simply an organized meeting place on a particular radio frequency at an established time, where an unlimited number of boaters can meet and share the latest weather forecasts and local news. Nets are usually...
cooping n.— «In the end, Officer Bacon, Shield No. 1627, accidentally locked himself in the back seat of a patrol car while napping—known as “cooping”—during an overnight security shift at 1 Police Plaza. The 911 operator he called for help on his...
spud n.— «When working in deep water, the hull of the dredge is held in place by two forward spuds (large steel poles) and one aft spud. Each of these spuds has “power down” capability. Using the spud’s winch system, the operator forces the spud...
red mushroom n.— «A preliminary investigation also found that the train’s braking system was not defective and that the operator did not press the “red mushroom”—Muni parlance for the bright red button on the operator’s console that activates an...
jump v.— «The bodies of four construction workers—a crane operator and three riggers who were helping to “jump” the crane, or increase its height—were uncovered shortly after the collapse.…The disaster occurred at 2:22 p.m. on Saturday, a day...