"WHAT FOOD DESERT?"

       The  L. A. Weekly article claims that despite common thinking the San Fernando Valley has plenty of good restaurants.

       I am thrown into cognitive dissonance by that title.  How do you spell [DEHZ-urt] and [de-ZURT]? 

       Consider what double-letter consonants are supposed to do to pronunciations:

                super = [SOOP-er]
                supper = [SUHP-er]

                rabies = [RAY-bees]
                rabbies = [RAB-eyes]

                ladle = [LAYD-uhl]
                ladder = [LAD-er]

Single-consonant-ending first syllable--the vowel is a long one; double the consonant--the vowel becomes shortened and flattened.

       But look at "desert" and "dessert."  The arid, dry, land with one "s" is  [DEHZ-urt].   The sweet end of a meal with two "s"s is [de-ZURT].

       And then put "food" with "desert"?!  The association is irresistible.

       Pardon me, English, if I just go around mumbling sometimes.