|
} Common sources would have you believe that it originally started as a
} humorous abbreviation for "Oll Korrect". It was popularized by
} presidential candidate Martin Van Beuren, aka "Old Kinderhook".
}
} Sheer nonsense. Let me tell you the story of how "OK" actually
} originated.
}
} * * *
}
} SCENE: Five thousand years ago; two proto-humans are hunched in front
} of a cave, with a third, subadult, proto-human.
}
} "Ugh, hello, Og," says one.
}
} "Hello, Thag!" Og replies. "Thag, meet Og Kid. Og Kid, Thag."
}
} "Thag glad meet Og Kid."
}
} "I am charmed to make your acquaintance, Thag," responds the son of Og.
}
} "Og Kid very smart! Og Kid do all kinds of smart things!" gushes his
} father.
}
} "What kind smart thing?"
}
} "Og Kid make thing tell time by sun!"
}
} "Oh, you mean the sundial? That was merely an elementary exercise in
} triangulation."
}
} * * *
}
} Some time later, Og was hunting. Suddenly, a sabre-toothed tiger leapt
} from behind some bushes, and lunged for Og.
}
} "D'oh!" shouted the started caveman.
}
} Just as suddenly, Og Kid swept by on a primitive wheeled device,
} grabbed his father, and dashed out of harm's way.
}
} "Og Kid save Og! Good boy!"
}
} "It was nothing, Father."
}
} "What this thing you on?"
}
} "A simple device I built this morning. I took the wheel that I
} invented yesterday, connected two of them to a simple frame, added a
} steering mechanism, and a padded seat. I power it using pedals, and a
} chain delivers the motion to the rear wheel, providing forward
} locomotion. I then use the gyroscopic force from the anterior wheel to
} provide balance."
}
} "Amazing, Og Kid!"
}
} * * *
}
} Some time later, Og wandered into a cave and became lost in the
} darkness.
}
} "D'oh!"
}
} Then, he saw a glimmer of light. It grew, and soon Og could make out
} Og Kid carrying a torch.
}
} "O.K.!" shouted Og, as he had, over the years grown tired of saying
} "Og Kid" and had abbreviated it.
}
} "Hello, Father."
}
} "You save Og again! What this thing that make light?"
}
} "It was nothing, Father. I rubbed two pieces of wood together until
} the friction built up enough heat to cause the carbon in the wood to
} interact with atmospheric oxygen in a redox reaction; the combustion
} of the wood releases heat and light. I'm thinking of calling it
} 'fire'."
}
} "Amazing, O.K.!"
}
} * * *
}
} Over time, it seemed that every time there was a problem, O.K. would
} show up and make things right again. Soon, the cavemen began to talk
} of making a bad situation be all right again as being "Og Kid", or
} O.K.
}
} O.K. became a catch-all phrase for things that worked out well.
}
} * * *
}
} One day, Og was out hunting again, and he was attacked by a pack of
} dire wolves. He shouted "D'oh!", then called for help, and his son
} heard him.
}
} "Is everything in order, Father?" he shouted back.
}
} His father yelled, "O.K.! O.K.! O.K.!"
}
} Og Kid replied, "If everything is alright, then, I will return to work
} on 'electricity'."
}
} Og yelled, "O.K.!"
}
} Presently, he was eaten by the wolves.
}
} The End.
|
![[IO]](https://kinzler.com/picons/db/domains/org/internetoracle/unknown/face.gif){kind=small}
