The word tulip is from the turkish tulbent--the turkish word for turban..

so now, faldage-- let me know: is Taliban from turban too, or is from an entirely different root, and related to talisman.. ( from greek for consecrated?) since some weeks past you pointed out "some of us even know what taliban means..." i suspect the latter...

and while we are in the general neighborhood.. Jerusalem Artichokes any one?


my other obsession