Black Ops; Harper's Weekly full text

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BLACK OPS

   I've been hearing a lot about "black ops" and "sleeper cells."  We talked about the latter.  The former means "black operations."
   It seems a bit clumsy, like military trying to be hip-hop.  But it should be recorded.

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HARPER'S WEEKLY FULL TEXT

   Fred Shapiro recently told me that Harper's Weekly is available in full text searches.  I'd gone through the microfilm reels, and I'd checked the HW index.
   Nevertheless, I found some surprises.

STEVE BRODIE
   David Shulman is researching a biography of Brooklyn Bridge jumper Steve Brodie ("do a brodie").  Every single item on Brodie has been from his 1886 jump until his death in 1901.  Until now.
1871-04-15, pg. 335:  The hand belonged to a ragged little urchin only nine years old, who darted off with a five-dollar bill in his hand.  Having been arrested, the child told his story.  "My name's Steve Brodie, an' my mudder lives up in Madison Street.  I tuk five dollars out uv a man's pocket; but I only done it three times afore, mister."

DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS
   The RHHDAS, under "doughnut," has 1893.
1891-09-12
1891-11-14

IN THE SWIM
   OED has 1869.
1867-09-21

ICED TEA
   Newspapers believe it started at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.  You try to correct them.
1879-06-21

ICED COFFEE
1879-05-10

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
1864-12-24, pg. 826:  It is a common saying, "Tell me what you eat, and how you eat, and I will tell you what you are."