Re: [TML] Blue mud, or pie with a fork
Mark Urbin 31 Jul 2021 15:09 UTC
On 7/31/2021 6:16 AM, Andrew Long - andrew.long at me.com (via tml list)
wrote:
> ‘Blue mud’ - that is from the Senior in (I think) ‘Time enough for Love’
> ‘Pie with a fork’ - that *sounds* like another Heinleinism, but I can’t place it.
> Although personally I’d use a fork *or* a spoon (whichever was available) unless there was something extremely liquid involved (like custard over apple pie).
> But I think the American custom of swapping the fork between hands to be a bit bizarre, so what do I know?
> Regards, Andy
One of my favorites, which I don't remember where I read it, but it was
for Traveller, was a planet with no taxes what so ever.
They did have a very extensive government run lottery system. Purchasing
lottery tickets on a regular basis was a sign of being a good citizen.
Locals would wear their daily lottery tickets pinned to their jackets,
or on a lanyard, to show they were contributing members of society.
More wealthy citizens would display more expensive tickets. Not
displaying your daily lottery ticket, or wearing one out of date, or one
that was a lower value than your status, was considered in extremely
poor taste, and would result in a variety of social snubs.
Travellers flashing a lot of cash, but no lottery tickets would have a
problem getting a table at an empty restaurant, as well as not having
respectable merchants being willing to do business with them.