Happy Birthday, softpaw!

[the_gneech]

For your present, here's today's Forgotten English (© Jeffrey Kacirk):

shamocrat

One who pretends to be possessed of wealth, influence, rank, or indeed any quality which is only conspicuous by its absence.

—John Farmer's Americanisms Old and New, 1889

Death of "Emperor" Joshua Norton (c. 1815–1880),

an eccentric San Franciscan who corresponded with Queen Victoria and became know as "His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton." His portrayal of royalty — which included a plumed top hat, pseudomilitary getup, and a sword he brandished for effect — earned him a reputation for lunacy. But he received the royal treatment in San Francisco and even had currency bearing his name issued which was accepted in his favorite saloons and eateries. In the mid-1850s he bankrupted himself buying up existing rice supplies in an attempt to corner the market. In 1859 he appointed himself emperor — first of California and later of the United States — before "ordering" the dissolution of Congress. He was also the first to decree that San Francisco not be called "Frisco." Norton died on the streets, largely abandoned by his former friends and business associates. But shamocrat or not, 30,000 people attended his funeral. The "king" in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn was reportedly modeled after him.

I am the king of the beasts, and I approve this message!

-The Gneech

PS: "I am LORD Garth!"

Comments

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

Three cheers to Emperor Norton for disapproving of "Frisco"! I've always thought it was bad form to cut out half the core of a word like that. It'd be like calling Washington, D.C. "Wington", or Massachusetts "Musetts".

[bigtig.livejournal.com]

You aren't "Lord Garth" ... you're secretly Sam from Sam & Max.

[bigtig.livejournal.com]

It seems to be something that infects people from San Francisco. It is a point that they like to make as a mark of false superiority.

If they catch you saying something they disapprove of like "San Fran" or such, you'll often get a snotty comment that it may be called "San Francisco" or, if you must use a colloquialism, "The City."

Usually, I'll politely point out that the only city in the US worth of being called "The City" is New York City as its likely that more decisions controlling their life will be made on Wall Street and Madison Avenue than about anywhere else.

And then I'll often insist that if we must use the full name, that we should properly call it "Mission San Francisco de Asís" as that is its full name.

For some reason, they don't like it when I do that.

[softpaw.livejournal.com]

Oh wow..I didn't know he died on the same day I was born.! Thank you!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

You crack me up, little buddy!

-TG

[susandeer.livejournal.com]

Wait...does that make Max Mopsy's 5th cousin twice removed by the jaws of life?

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

I think if someone said "The City" to me, my immediate response would be to quote a bit of "Dragnet".

"This is The City." *DUMMM DA DUM DUM*

[hossblacksilver.livejournal.com]

I am the king of the beasts, and I approve this message!

*Dennis*King? I didn't vote for you.*/Dennis*