DAILY DIRT: Just call me Teflon, or maybe Running Water

Daily Dirt for Thursday, July 17, 2025

I think we have an “Alexa” as a friend, right? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,345 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Sometimes inspiration can come from the strangest things.

I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago when he referenced a mutual acquaintance as “Alexa,” which, of course, made my mind try and figure out who he was talking about. With a smile, my friend quickly added, “You know, (name being withheld due to professional courtesy) … we call him Alexa because he thinks he knows everything.”

I laughed out loud. The perfect nickname.

For the rest of that day, I could not get “Alexa” out of my mind, which prompted to me research the following list of potential nicknames for co-workers and friends. I’m pretty sure we have all worked with or know at least one of each of the following:

• KitKat: The one that is always a taking a break.
• Cordless: They only work for two hours.
• Houdini: Always escapes doing work.
• E.T.: They always want to go home.

• Teflon: No matter how many times you tell them something, it never sticks.
• Butter Knife: Not the sharpest tool in the office.

• Seaweed: Just floats around all day.
• 007: 0 motivation, 0 skills, 7 bathroom breaks.
• Noodles: Thinks all jobs take two minutes.
• Wheelbarrow: Only works when pushed.

• Motion Light: They only seem to be working if someone walks past.
• Speed Bump: Always slowing everyone down.

• Deck Chair: Always folds under pressure.
• SAM: Self-appointed manager.
• Boomerang: Every problem seems to lead back to them.
• Running Water: They couldn’t keep a secret if you paid them.
• Pothole: Everyone tries to avoid them.

• Mr. Friday Night Lights: They always find a way to bring up high school.
• Lava Lamp: Looks good, but not very bright.

2. Did you know (Part 428)

• That Oreos are referred to as “chocolate sandwich biscuits” by most British. Now we know why the Revolutionary War had to happen.
• hat back in the 1980s, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album was No. 1 for 37 weeks, but they weren’t 37 consecutive weeks. Albums that temporarily knocked him off the No. 1 perch during that run were: “Metal Health” by Quiet Riot, “Flashdance” soundtrack, “Penny Lover” by Lionel Richie and “Synchronicity” by the Police. The album that eventually knocked “Thriller” our of No. 1 for good was the soundtrack to “Footloose”.
• That 1980s remakes of two 1960s Tommy James and the Shondells songs reached No. 1 in the 1980s: Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” and Billy Idol’s “Mony, Mony”.
• That a pumpkin is classified as a fruit, and not a vegetable.
• That Taiwan was formerly known as Formosa, Sri Lanka as Ceylon and Iran as Persia? (Well, if you’re a boomer, there’s a good chance you probably did.)

3. The Daily Dirt’s weekly birthday wishes go to:

• Singer Luke Bryan, who is 49 today.
• Singer Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, who turns 84 on Friday. And she’s still “Dancing In The Streets”.
• Actor Vin Diesel, who will be 58, also on Friday.
• Singer Kim Carnes, who turns 80 on Sunday. And she’s still got “Bette Davis Eyes”.
• Singer Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), who will be 77 on Monday. And he’s still being followed by a “Moonshadow”.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — One more comment on that “Thriller” reference in Thought No. 2. When “Synchronicity” took over No. 1 from Michael Jackson, it held the top spot for 17 weeks (more than four months!) before “Thriller” returned to the throne.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. You should see him moon walk.