Chrysti The Wordsmith: Bells & Whistles

Greetings This is Christie the wordsmith. In computing jargon the expression bells and whistles refers to features added to programs and software systems that render them more superficially versatile. Automotive bells and whistles such as GP s Devices and heated seats contribute nothing to your car's transportational function but do add dollars to the sticker price. Bells and whistles are attractive but non essential embellishments attached to any product. The source of this expression is unclear but one theory derives it from an earlier American tradition of announcing a red letter of event such as a presidential inauguration or midnight on New Year's Eve with the peeling of church bells and the sounding a factory or ship's whistles. In this scenario the clamor of bells and whistles that once announced an important event are inspiration for the metaphorical bells and whistles that draw attention to a product. Another more likely theory associates the phrase with the bells and whistles included in the extravagant acoustic toolkits of silent movie organists

together with gongs sirens and bird calls the bells and whistles of a Mighty Wurlitzer movie organ provided sound effects for silent films. But as organs were rendered obsolete with the establishment of talking movies the organist's sound effects including the bells and whistles became curious fripperies a non essential addition to a theater goers experience. I'm Christie the wordsmith could date herbivores Christie the wordsmith is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Zoot enterprises a high tech firm in Bozeman Montana offering challenging careers and innovative solutions for the financial services industry. Zoot web dot com.