This is a curious image of a reporter writing in shorthand, found by dougo.

My whole life I understood the word "shorthand" as a synonym for "abbreviation", not a complete and formal writing system that looks like alien script to the uninitiated. But the commenters on that photograph say it's so, and Wikipedia agrees, with yet more graphic evidence. ( Read more... )

I hereby nominate "Obamacon" at the Word of the Election.

I saw Andrew Sullivan use it a lot to describe self-identifying conservatives who, like himself, support Obama. But now I'm seeing a lot of people using it, and often regarding themselves, as well. Good.

Opening my Gmail spamtrap these days is like, "Here, let's test your browser's Unicode compatibility."

(Sorry if that says something horribly insulting in a language I apparently don't even have a full font-set for.)

I used the word "disinterested" in a blog comment last night, and despite its tiny probable readership I find myself worried that people who do read it will read it incorrectly, that I meant it to mean "uninterested" instead of "taking a neutral stance". I bet dollars to donuts that most users of the English language think it has only the former ( Read more... )

Has the phrase "freedom fighters" been used non-ironically anywhere in the western world at any time in the last 25 years?

No?

OK, then stop implying that your political opponents are using the term in order to equivocate their positions. Thank you.

There's a cleaning lady in my house, at the invitation of my landlady. After a few moments of working around her and even helping a little with my own messes, like taking out the trash, it seemed wisest to just withdraw into my room and her do what she likes. I kind of hope she gives my room a pass; it's been a sty since I stopped using it as a ( Read more... )

I just heard this exchange on an NPR program:

Speaker A (a think-tanker): You want to surrender to every country in the region.
Speaker B (a general): It's not a surrender, it's a strategic withdrawal.
Speaker A: [Derisive laughter.] Oh, I apologize then ( Read more... )

• Sahf
• Darf

James Baker has the same accent as Wichita Rutherford('s assumedly exaggerated stage accent). I do not know what this accent is called.

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