Tom,
I think the only things I associate the word "ghetto" with regarding bicycles would be the following:
1. Remember back in the 70's when all of those losers use to rotate their handle bars 180 degrees back toward themselves in the stem? Those were called "ghetto" bars. And 9 of 10 of those STOLEN bicycles of resided in East Palo Alto; the other 1 was most likely being held in the police cage downtown.
2. The same hoodlums who crept into our backyard at night and stole a total of 26--yes, count 'em 26 bicycles over a 10-year span would promptly ride their new found toys over the bridge into the ghetto and give the bicycles "ghetto paint jobs." A ghetto paint job is one wherein the thief takes a can of spray paint (95% of the time black paint) and sprays THE ENTIRE BICYCLE BLACK. Yep--chain, freewheel, spokes, hubs, all chrome, etc.
3. Ghetto bikes always had a set of vise-grips clamped to the seat binder bolt. And upon closer inspection of a ghetto bike, one would usually find that the majority of the nuts on these bicycles were completely stripped.
4. Guys on ghetto bikes were easy to spot. They would ride their (MY) bicycles at about 2mph behind a female with a big "ghetto booty."
5. Decades later I ran into some of the guys I suspect stole my bicycles as a kid--in a friendly environment. I asked, "Dude, why did you guys snag all of the bicycles out of my back yard?" I received the most bizarre answer: "Man, we didn't want to walk (home.) We stole those bikes and then ditched 'em."
On a different note, regarding the keyed washers: When my brother and I were young there was this hardware store on El Camino in Palo Alto. (They are now out of business as all they had for sale were useless items like toilets, sinks, and kitchen-ware. They were not a REAL hardware store.) Anyway, they had these gumball machines that took nickels. We were too young to have any coinage, but we soon figured out that the washers in aisle 7 fit perfectly in those machines. We spent all of their washers to buy boatloads of gumballs. That may have been the same sorry outfit that had the Coke machine wherein we would stick our arms up inside the machine and pull them all out. Monkey see--monkey do.
Ted Baer Ordering an XL Meat Lover's Pizza from Round Table and Hoping Tom Brady gets CRUSHED today! Palo Alto, CA
> Okay, I admit that I have too much time on my hands.
> Between sick 9-month old twins, work, a dying cat,
> I guess I just don't know what to do with my time.
>
> Or maybe I sent the post because I thought it was
> important.
>
> Clearly I should have done this differently,
> because you seem confident that your choice of words
> is entirely appropriate. So, I won't attempt to
> convince you that you're wrong. Rather, I'll appeal
> to your good character.
>
> Please don't use the word ghetto, or any
> contemporary misspelling of that word, on this list
> to connote, slipshod, cheap, less than great, lame,
> or whatever. It offends my sensibilities and I
> sincerly believe that it offends the sensibilities
> of those people who actually think about the
> derivation of words. Ultimately, and contrary to
> your assertion, race, as well as class, has
> everything to do with it.
>
> You never hear anyone use "ghetto" to describe
> making do with less, finding creative solutions
> using minimal resources, or taking care of what you
> have. Interestingly, one phrase closely associated
> with these virtues is Yankee inginuity. If you
> don't know, Yankees are New Englanders; it's an
> unspoken assuption that they are white Protestants.
>
>
> So, it's on you. It's a free country and you can
> use the words you want. Please just be aware that
> you will be offending my sensibilities if, in the
> future, you continue to use ghetto as you do.
>
> Tom Dalton
> Bethlehem, PA, USA
>
> Joe wrote:
>
> You guys have too much time.....
> Ghetto does not equal geto.
> Geto is correct tool deprivation
> in this case. Has nothing to do
> with some historical ghettos
> from the past. Campy and Snap-On
> tools are the anti ghetto.
> Not using a toothed washer is geto.
> There is a tooth and a slot for a reason.
> To keep headset adjusted correctly.
> Otherwise the locknut/top screwed race
> will remain tight together but back off
> as a unit as to go out of adjustment.
> Race does not enter into this. Except headset
> races. You may of course assemble your headset
> as you wish but don't be surprised when it rattles
> loose.
> Joe Hughes
> Denver
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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>
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