Today's Daily Dispatch

SO WHAT’S NOOP?

Posted January 26, 2010

On the definition of “noop"… Every computer programmer who hears your show will be screaming at their stereos (or computers) that a “noop” is a useless piece of code that pretty much does nothing (derivative of Linux “no-op” for “no operation").

Over time, the word has expanded to include co-workers who are beyond clueless. The idea is that a clueless person can be taught, but a noop is useless and beyond help.

With a bit of searching I did find references for the “point of the elbow” definition.  Sir Water Scott used it 200 years ago in “Heart of the Mid-Lothian.”

Brian Wagner of Ashland City, TN

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‘RAMP’ PARSE

Posted December 12, 2011

I listened to today’s show and the question about ‘ramp up.’ But the correct answer isn’t the one anyone gave: The word ‘ramp’ comes from the French verb ‘ramper’--to crawl. When you see a lion ‘rampant’, he is ‘crawling’ in the air with his feet. A ramp for someone who crawls rather than walks. A ramp rises gradually and gave us the word for raising or ‘stepping up’ an effort.

Deborah Warren of Andover, MA

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WE RUE OUR ANSWER

Posted November 15, 2011

I love “Says You,” so it pains me to say that you got an answer slightly wrong on the November 13 broadcast. The murderer in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is not a gorilla, as you would have it, but an orangutan, or “Ourang-Outang” Poe refers to the animal. The species of the offending creature is essential to the story, so I hope you will revisit and correct this question in a future show.

Thanks for your wonderful show!

Deborah Robbins of San Francisco, CA

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