1. A very unique term to New Orleans for the median of a street. The Spanish and French, who inhabited the older part of town, could do business on the "neutral" part of Canal Street with the Americans, who inhabited the newer part of town that started on the other side of the street. By extension, all strips of land in the middle of New Orleans streets have become "neutral ground".
2. A part of Western Louisiana that was temporarily made neutral after the Louisiana Purchase. Texas (Spanish) and the United States laid claim to the strip of land, but ended up tabling the issue until later. It is also know as Sabine Free State.
3. Neutral Ground Coffeehouse is New Orleans' oldest coffeehouse, surviving a kitchen fire and Hurricane Katrina over the years. It started out as the Penny Post, but later was called Neutral Ground.
4. Also the name of a coffee shop on Danneel Street.
Was posted on a billboard in the 70's (I think). Initially referred to all of the layoffs from Boeing in the 60's and 70's since Boeing was the major employer in the area, but has since been used whenever a major employer has done layoffs (i.e., Boeing, Microsoft, etc.).
1. The Waffle House chain of restaurants. Also known as the Awful Waffle.
2. The best place in Atlanta to get late night waffles and hashbrowns- smothered, covered, and diced.
1. To out of state folks "TYME machine" sounds like a "time machine". If you leave the state and ask for a TYME machine you will likely be given a blank stare. To us it is the generic term for a cash machine, to everyone else it is a futuristic machine that doesn't exist.
2. This is Madison speak for ATM. Many newcomers are puzzled when an old-school Wisconsinite asks them for a "Tyme machine."
The Polar Plunge is an event for the benefit of the Special Olympics during which participants jump into a swimming hole in Lake Monona. Since the event takes place in late February (February 21st, 2009 at Olin Park), the lake is always frozen solid. Only the bravest (craziest) of souls dare jump. For many, sponsoring a "plunger" is the best way to participate in this very Wisconsinesque activity.
