The Shallot : In or On?
December 8, 2008
What is “The Shallot”? It is our version of “The Onion“… smaller but just as stinky. We’ve been knee-deep in spreadsheets lately, so it’s time we had a little fun.
In or On?
It happens all the time to people that live on San Francisco’s hills. Someone asks where you live and you reply, with a little stutter and hesitation in your voice as your brain fumbles around for the correct preposition to use, “I live in Nob Hill.” Really? You live in Nob Hill? How interesting. What, do you have a Hobbit as your next door neighbor? How are home prices doing in the Underworld?
Here's what it looks like IN Nob Hill
...and IN Potrero Hill
Problem is, saying you live on a hill sounds just as stupid. “So, where do you live?”
“I live on Russian Hill.” Technically correct, but just sounds really awkward. So how does one get around this little issue? We’ve tried a few different techniques. One is to just break into an all out sprint when someone asks you where you live. You completely dodge the question and get a little exercise while you’re at it. The other, and this is much less exciting, is to say “I live in the Russian Hill Neighborhood“. This is lame. Last but not least, is the business card method. This is where you print out specialty business cards with a picture of the hill on which you live. When someone asks you where you live, you just whip one out without saying a word and pass them the business card. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? It’s the simplest way to explain and works with everyone, right up to the lowest common denominator. Matter of fact, marketing geniuses at IHOP and Waffle House figured this out long ago. Their menus are just pictures of stuff… no real verbiage. When the waiter asks you what you want, you just point to the picture. Brilliant!
If you need a lead on where to get these business cards, just drop us a line. We like the two-sided glossies the best.
What would you like sir? "That."
Read other ridiculous Shallot entries HERE.
