Schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated

Laverne & Shirley on the cover of TV Guide in August 1982

I learned only recently what "schlemiel, schlimazel" means, which, if you are of a certain age, was permanently ingrained between your ears by weekly viewings of the 70's TV sitcom Laverne & Shirley.

schlemiel: an inept clumsy person (Yiddish shlemil from Hebrew שלא מועיל "ineffective")

schlimazel: a chronically unlucky person (Hebrew שלימזל and מזל mazzāl 'luck')

And "hasenpfeffer incorporated"? Just nonsensical words that together with schlemiel and schlimazel make up a children's hopscotch rhyme.

(Sound silly? Try explaining "hickory dickory dock" to someone who's first language isn't English.)

Source >

Laverne & Shirley Show Opening

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Did you know that if you're working with Hebrew text in Google docs and cursor through it left-to-right, the direction of the cursor reverses over the Hebrew word and moves right to left, the way Hebrew is read?

Is that cool or what.

[2014-05-20]

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