peta says, "I'm something of an expert of Gershwin and gherkins."

To me the word gherkin calls to mind a particular non-vegetarian meaning. Is that just personal to me (because I'm familiar with the limerick below), or it a standard slang meaning of the word?

(and peta? in what sense did you use the word? )

There was a young fellow named Perkin
Who was always jerkin' his gherkin.
His wife said, "Now, Perkin,
Stop jerkin' your gherkin:
You're shirkin' your ferkin'---you bastard!"

Here's a picture of the London gherkin:

I notice the interesting pattern of striations. arnie, is that sheathed or unsheathed?

It's a good thing we have a rather easy-going, liberal bunch here because from what I've seen on other forums, this one would have to be curtained.