The Online Etymology Dictionary (pretty much my one-stop shopping place for period slang) has this to say about dick:

"fellow, lad, man," 1553, rhyming nickname for Rick, short for Richard, one of the commonest Eng. names, it has long been a synonym for "fellow," and so most of the slang senses are probably very old, but naturally hard to find in the surviving records. The meaning "penis" is attested from 1891 in British army slang. Meaning "detective" is recorded from 1908, perhaps as a shortened variant of detective.

That takes it back a little bit farther, but it doesn't give a reason why or any history behind it.

I've only been in genre-type places reading Sherlock Holmes reviews, but they've been more positive than I was expecting, and many are defending the canonicity of Ritchie's interpretations and not slamming the slashy overtones.

Watching "Up" on DVD. I started crying the instant Ellie comes on the scene, and freaked out my kids I was crying so hard during the life review. Ugh.

Joe and I both cry at that part every time we watch.

Eta: Joe would like to add that he does *not* cry during that part. It's allergies.

Eta: Joe would like to add that he does *not* cry during that part. It's allergies.

Joe lies. Joe lies when he cries.

Speaking of crying, or not crying, I'm trying to compile a list of my favourite couples of the oughties, and so far I have:

• Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien
• Zoe and Wash (okay, cheating, because TV first, but still)
• Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist

Canonically, I can't think of any happy ever after couples I like. Uncanonically I totally throw Holmes and Watson up on that list, for instance, but I'm trying to play conventionally.

Can I really be that tragic? Anyone remember me liking a couple that both live through the end credits, preferably together?

Eta: Joe would like to add that he does *not* cry during that part. It's allergies.

Joe lies. Joe lies when he cries.

Man. That one was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Well, I think maybe Zoe and Wash are favorites despite the dying, not because of?

I think maybe Zoe and Wash are favorites despite the dying, not because of?

They're kinda cheating because I liked them going in. But at least the narrative never pointed to them being doomed. It's a debate as to whether Twist/Del Mar or Li Mu Bai/Yu Shu Lien can be separated from their tragic ends.

I really dug Spock/Uhura from the NuTrek after I got over the initial "...wah?" reaction. Can't quite recall if you liked them as well, ita.

Erm. WALL-E and Eve?