‘Smithereens’ is a good word and a better band name

Today’s question: Where did the term “smashed to smithereens” originate? It sounds like a good name for an English punk rock band: “The Smithereens.” It does indeed sound like a good name for a band. Or perhaps the name of a family in the demolition business.

Or a really hard-nosed bunch of rugby players.

Smithereens came to the English language around 1810 as “smiddereens,” from the Irish word “smidirin,” which is the diminutive form of “smiodar,” which means “fragment.”

There now, that didn’t take long, did it?

Let’s see what else you people are wondering about these days.

Why is it you so often see photographs of young people posing while making strange signs with their fingers? Are they supposed to be gang signs? Those kids never look like what I think of as gang members.

Gee, I don’t know, l guess it’s sort of a fad, something to make you look cool, like wearing your cap backward or getting a tattoo.

Let’s think for a minute. Didn’t you do or wear any dumb stuff when you were young? Do bellbottom jeans or granny glasses or tie-dye Tshirts ring any bells?

Try not to worry about it. This too shall pass. Why is it called Russian roulette? As far as I know it’s because Russian soldiers had a reputation for being careless while loading and handling their weapons.

Last, some of you people have me confused with our circulation department. Their number is 602-4441000.