Friday, May 30, 2025

Wow, it's almost June already. What's next? July?

Item 1: a link

Have I already linked to this amazing New York Times story about the, uh... vintage machinery used to operate almost all of the New York City subway system? I'm pretty sure I haven't - but even if I have, my site metrics indicate that you probably didn't actually read it anyway. But you should, if only for the great photos of some very old equipment.

They're trying to get all of this stuff finally modernized, which should improve service and reduce maintenance costs, and that's good, but in the meantime it is pretty impressive that a system designed almost a century ago is still (sort of) functional today. I wonder how much Gorton is kicking around down there.

Item 2: a list

Root Vegetables and Tubers, Ranked:

1. Potato – Tuber
2. Carrot – Taproot
3. Daikon – Taproot
4. Sweet Potato – Tuberous root
5. Beet – Taproot
6. Cassava (Yuca) – Tuberous root
7. Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke) – Tuber
8. Horseradish – Taproot
9. Yam – Tuberous root
10. Taro – Tuber (or corm)
11. Parsnip – Taproot
12. Radish – Taproot
13. Rutabaga – Taproot
14. Turnip – Taproot

Item 3: a media recommendation

Item 4: word of the week

Obtrude

You are so annoying. Just say "intrude"!

Item 5: a photograph

See ya!

Thanks for reading - you're an absolute gem. See you again next week.