These are historic New York bodega colors!!!! And the awning is the correct
era, too!! Most of the bodegas of the 1950s (plus or minus) that were once
adorned with this style sunshade and paint have been "updated" with
bronze-anodized aluminium storefronts and what a friend once called
"building condoms" -- vinyl sheets stretched over bent conduit.

Not exactly the colors I would choose for the front of my business. But what
was the reg supposed to do? Promote harmony with the big brick pile to the
left in the photo?

Will leave this one to the experts...with better dictionaries than mine.
And, without a history of having lived in a basement room partially painted
purple and adjacent to a hallway painted bright orange and a deep green. Hey
-- mom was just trying to liven up the place....

Dr. Munsell

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Becker [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 6:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bibliophiles thumbing through the BP Dictionary Contest


Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition -
Unabridged (1987):

"earth tone: any of various warm, muted colors ranging basically from
neutral to deep brown. [1970-75]"

The bracketed dates indicate when the term is believed to have entered the
language; surprisingly recent, and squares with Deb's kitchen theory of
hue-making.

None of the older dictionaries I've checked have the term.

Anybody see primary red or yellow as muted colors in that definition?  Put
on your "I'm a judge that has never given a moment's thought about color
in my entire life because my nose has been stuck in dusty tracts of legal
mumbo-jumbo" hat.  It seems pretty weak to me, as far as being a
descriptor...I think you could have a full-fledged tea party with that
definition, Jim.

Attached is some porn for Ralph to enjoy.
_________________________________________________
Dan Becker,  Executive Director      "Oh joy!  Rapture!  Now
Raleigh Historic                               I have a brain!"
Districts Commission                                   - Scarecrow
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