Is there something inherent in English that makes it the linguistic equivalent of the Borg, dominating and consuming other languages in its path? No, not at all. The answer lies with politics and conquest rather than language itself. Plus: a new...
Several years ago, the National Endowment for the Arts devoted a whole issue of its magazine to the topic of “The Art of Failure: The Importance of Risk and Experimentation.” Writers, artists, and musicians all shared their insights...
learned stupidity n.— «This (learned stupidity) is a new term that we have coined at the WB. We try to teach children things that are beyond their age and when children fail to learn them we call them stupid. The fact is that our children...
train wreck n. a disaster or failure, especially one that is unstoppable or unavoidable; a disorganized, problematic, or chaotic person or thing; an incongruous situation. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
bitching Betty n.— «The best that could be done with the gear was to install inside the cockpit a “bitching Betty,” a computerized female voice that warned the pilot of a planing link failure.» —by Gregory...
rowdy-sheeter n.— «In a span of two months, more than eight rowdy-sheeters have been axed to death by their rivals. But the police just booked cases and left them without any follow-up action. The failure of police to check the movements...