Skip to main content

All for JACK

Got to thinking about the use of popular Christian names that are associated with other words to form new words. One of them that to me seems ahead of the pack in terms of widespread use is Jack.

Carjack (and there are 2 kinds - one that props the car and the other that explains what happens when you are taken against your will)

Pepper Jack (as in the cheese)

Magic Jack (as in the cheap alternative to talk to all the Jacks using the Jack and a phone)

Jack in the Box (that needs to be taken out of the box to be eaten)

Blackjack (a novel way to get rid of your money or conversely depending on which side of the table you are on - of making easy money)

Jackrabbit (why so many in the animal kingdom also got affiliated with human names beats me) while Jackfruit actually gets into the fruits too,

Jackass (if you have not figured out what this blog is about)

I wonder if Jill (since tumbling down the hill with him no less), Mike, Rob, Dave feel slighted?

Btw - Jack of all trades really sums it up!

Comments

  1. RajendraJuly 20, 2011 at 1:34 AM

    Wonder if there is an Indian equivalent?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diamond HeadJuly 20, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    I did think about it.

    Ram might be closest - given anything with a Ram added lends it more credibility in local market.

    Ram Ram (as in greetings) to Ram ban (best fit) to Aram (chill)...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Presumptive Society

Today's world is hyper connected.  I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot.  It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is.  Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy.  It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff?  Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality.  So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing?  Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...
2 comments
Read more

Of Jims and Johns

Here is another essay on the subject of first names. As in birth names. Or names provided to an offspring at birth. While the developed world tends to shy away from the exotic like Refrigerator or Coca Cola for their new production there is a plethora of Jims and Johns and Bobs or Robs. Speaking of which I do not think there is a categoric decision point at the time of birth if a child will be hereafter called as Bob. I mean have not yet met a toddler called Bob or Rob for that matter. At some point though the parental instinct to mouth out multiple syllables runs out and they switch from calling the crawler Robert to simply Robbie to Rob. Now speaking of - it is strange that the name sounds like something you would not want Rob to do - i.e. Rob anyone. Then why call someone that? After all Rob Peter to Pay Paul is not exactly a maxim to live a young life? Is it? Perhaps Peter or Paul might want to have a say in it? Then there is this matter of going to the John. Why degrad...
2 comments
Read more

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...
Post a Comment
Read more