[Marylander]

Nice article. Re the short o sound, a few years ago I heard Rush pronounce closet as clawset, whereas I say clahset. Rush's pronunciation sounded peculiar to me, but since then I have heard many people speak his version of closet and also do the same with other short os.

More recently I noticed Paul Ryan using the almost-two-syllable short a, as in cyat for cat.

[Right Wing Assault]

I heard Rush pronounce closet as clawset, whereas I say clahset

That's a Pennsylvania thing and probably a number of other places.

I know a guy in Pittsburgh named Bawb who has a jawb working in a shawp. I also know a guy in Cleveland named Bob who has a job working in a shop.

I know a goy from lawngoyland who can draw-ur great cartoons. I went to see the guy from Long Island to learn how to draw cartoons.