The question of how children acquire language has long intrigued parents and scholars. MIT cognitive scientist Deb Roy recently found a novel way to study what he calls “word birth.” He wired his home with cameras and microphones, and recorded his...
Some office workers say their word processor’s spellchecker always flags the words overnighted and overnighting. Are those words acceptable in a business environment? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Overnighted” Hello, you have A...
nerdfury n.— «At that point, what drivingblind likes to call the nerdfury will begin. Posters will show up from nowhere to shower you with disdain, tell you how that place used to be good but has now totally sold out and—most important to your...
historical rhyme n.— «Take George Bush. By whom I mean George Bush (1796-1859), first cousin of the president’s great-great-great-grandfather. It would be hard to find a more unlikely forebear.…He published his first book, “The Life of Mohammed.”...
filmanthropy n.— «And fellow owner Ted Leonsis? Let him tell it: “I coined a term called “filmanthropy’” he said, referring to the $2 million he poured into a movie about violence in Nanking, China, in the 1930s. “That would be movies that you know...
kahunas n.pl.— «I wonder if he’ll accuse opposing attorneys in court of having a vendetta against him when he gets his kahunas kicked in court.» —“Re: Ted has no honor” by Michael Lodman Usenet: alt.fraternity.sorority Mar. 11, 1994. (source:...
