Putting in a few good words
Last week the Merriam-Webster dictionary dealt with threats over gender definitions. So this week I interviewed its lexicographer Peter Sokolowski.
Peter: “The pandemic brought new definitions. Like subvariant. Shrinkflation, which is reducing a product’s amount but charging the same price. We don’t retire words. Like we keep President Truman’s snollygoster. Means ‘unscrupulous person.’ ”
The very first dictionary? “Its original was 1604. After Queen Elizabeth’s era. Only one at Shakespeare’s time. Based on Latin and Greek, just 2,400 words that were of the time like ‘microcosm’ and ‘integrity.’”
About today’s him/her/binary lexicon he said: “Huge problem. Slang and street words, informal language, is changing a lot. Frequently written before it’s spoken. Especially identity terms so mistakes get made. Some text abbreviations like LOL make the dictionary because they’re frequent in print.
“Recording our ‘Word of the Day’ podcast I did two minutes on one certain word. A colleague later informed me I’d mispronounced it each time I said it.”
All dolled up
Margot Robbie is now a live “Barbie.” A living doll. Even she was surprised this thing got green lighted.
“My first reaction was ‘It’s so good. Shame they’ll never make this movie.’ But they did.”
Director’s Greta Gerwig. Playing with dolls is Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman. Ryan Gosling’s one of five Kens.
Listen, don’t ask. Warner’s is toying with July 21 release.
Crown site-ings
Britannia free of the odor of Me-Me-Meghan, is suddenly awash with tourists. More bodies than her Prince Empty has lawyers. All swarming Buckingham Palace to glimpse the King. First coronation in 70 years. Tourists cram Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Portobello Road. Hotel rooms, $1,000 a night. More languages than are jumping over US borders. Soon Kamala may even be able to converse with one of them.
Judge dread & co.
NYC progressives were outraged when Justice Alito wrote an embryo had “human rights.” NOT upset when prospective NY Chief Judge Rowan Wilson dissented in 70 pages that Happy the Elephant had “human rights”? And why weren’t women’s rights organizations outraged by his opinion last month overruling a jury verdict and dismissing charges against a convicted rapist? His reasons? The DA was too slow. Didn’t give the rapist a “speedy trial.”
If confirmed, only “progressives” and elephants may be happy.
Pour planning
To those who fled New York for the warmth, friendly, Sunkist, orange-growing outdoor-loving enveloping atmosphere of sunny Florida: Know it poured there all weekend. Big time heavy rain. Seated outdoors in West Palm’s Bradley’s patrons removed their shoes during dinner. Inside was wet as well. Some diners even took off their shoes to walk to drier tables.
Florida matchmaker: “I have a girl for you. It’ll cost $50,000.” Guy: “Can I see her picture?” Matchmaker: “For only $50,000, we don’t show pictures.”
Second visit. Matchmaker: “Truth is she has a few false teeth.” Guy: “Gold?”
Definitely not only in New York, kids, not only in New York.
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