Whatev, man.
November 17, 2005

Los Angelenos are a busy people.
They don't have time to be all pronouncing every syllable of every word.

One of the more delightful and hilarious things I've seen out here are the ritual shortenings of everything from common phrases to obscure references.
I suppose it's part of its heritage.
"Los Angeles" is actually an abbrev itself.
The actual name of the city is something ridiculously long and Spanish that I don't feel like looking up right now, because time and syllables are money.
Then, of course, Los Angeles is abbreviated to L.A., or, as the more trendy hipsters call it, "LLL."

But everything is abbreviated here.
The San Fernando Valley is The Valley.
My bank, Washington Mutual is WaMu (pronouced, literally "Wah-Mew").
The local liquor store is called Bev Mo.
Granted "Beverages and More" is a mouthful anytime, but Bev Mo?

I'm sure there are more examples, but my personal favorite abbrev was when my L.A. boss told me to take the 'vator to the top floor. I tried to keep a straight face as I imagined riding on the back of Darth Vader flying Superman-style to our top floor, then I realized that he was probably just saying "elevator," which is much less fun, and much more wussy light-side Jedi.

Well, I've got to get to sleep, as I work early, and unlike magical flying Darth Vader, I have to drive to work like a loser. Or maybe I can hitch a ride with Vader's good buddy, Emp Palp. I will need to grab my gate pass out of my car, though, because I'm afraid the gate will be quite operational when we arrive.

Posted by Kitsune at November 17, 2005 12:21 AM | digg this



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To save other readers the trouble, in Spanish it's "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula", English: "The Village of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciuncula River". Don't believe me? Fine. Or go here for proof: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles

Posted by: Kev
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To save other readers the trouble, in Spanish it's "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula", English: "The Village of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciuncula River". Don't believe me? Fine. Or go here for proof: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles

Posted by: Kev
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Ah man I hated it when people call Washington Mutual 'WaMu'. Its a bank, banks should never be abbreviated. And if they do they should at least sound respectable. I sure as heck don't want to a place called 'WaMu' watching over MY money.

Course its the banks own fault, thier website IS www.wamu.com

I should state that I actually loved Washington Mutual when I had an account with them, also I got the cutest little piggy bank ever there. (It is grey and has little reading glasses on)

Posted by: Kerjack
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BevMo, for all your fine booze and liquor and booze needs. Now alls we needs is a discussion on whether it's "the 5" or "5 freeway".

It's "the 5", by the way. Anything else is just plain UPPITY.

Posted by: Tu
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We have no abbreviations up here in Canada, mainly because if we abbreviated the coffee shops name it'd be "T-ho's" and that's not a place I'd like to get my coffee from. Nor my cream.

Posted by: likwidflame
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Emperor Palpatine! I get it!!

Posted by: Felicia
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Never have I had an urge so strong to turn on a faucet as I felt when browsing the LinkFest this evening.

Posted by: K80K
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"The 5"!!?? Come on down further south and you'll see that in O'Side (Or "O" if you go by the signs the Chamber of Commerce has been putting up) it's just plain "5". We don't believe in "the" down here. Just "76" or "78" or "15" or "5".

Posted by: Gisch
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that's funny

Posted by: jr
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Tha fu!

Posted by: Lachrymose
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ur ga

Posted by: brett
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