(defun dired-up-directory (&optional other-window)
"Run Dired on parent directory of current directory.
Find the parent directory either in this buffer or another buffer.
-Creates a buffer if necessary."
+Creates a buffer if necessary.
+If OTHER-WINDOW (the optional prefix arg), display the parent
+directory in another window."
(interactive "P")
(let* ((dir (dired-current-directory))
(up (file-name-directory (directory-file-name dir))))