April 13, 2004
Knowledge Boys
Taxi drivers in London need to acquire The Knowledge: an encylopoedic knowledge of every alley and turning in the intestinal innards of London's streets. A common way to train for this is to ride a delivery motorcycle around the streets for several years. On a visit to London last year, I heard a black cab driver talking on his mobile, referring to these deliverators as "Knowledge Boys" -- that is, lads apprenticed to The Knowledge.
Posted by Cory Doctorow at 01:04 PM
Blitz Services
What are Blitz Services? They're advertised (under "Heath Care Services") in the window of this employment agency near Old Street tube. Loosemore told me that it was post-traumatic stress counselling, idiom from WWII, but then admitted he was bullshitting and said that it probably refers to "blitzing" all the cruft out of your gran's flat after she kicks off. Which sounds plausible, but is that really a "health care service?"