Politicians have always sought the power to control the meaning of language. But now this open warfare has raced past reprehensible to dangerous for democracy. In the vicious descent to American unexceptionalism […]
The war over words
Words Matter: Industrial climate disruption is not a religion
Industrial climate disruption has no deity and thus is not a religion. But that won’t stop deniers from misusing “religion” in an attempt to discredit industrial climate disruption.
A class discussion of Orwell's, ummm, lesser known works…
By Patrick Vecchio This semester probably was my most satisfying in the 10 years I’ve been teaching, but even so, I faltered down the stretch. During a class last week, students and […]
Nota Bene #123: Behold the Chickenosaurus
“There ought to be limits to freedom.” Who said it?
Banished from the English language: "flip-flopper"
Every once in awhile a new term/catchphrase/buzzword/meme catches fire here in the US. Sometimes it’s a function of the fact that our incredibly plastic language, with its myriad dynamic influences (everything from […]
Nota Bene #117: Wake Up!
“Hollywood is so crooked that Mafia gangsters are entirely outclassed and don’t stand a chance. People in Hollywood are smarter. They have more sophisticated knowledge of money and deals and how to […]
Nota Bene #115: RIP No. 32
“If you’re really pro-life, do me a favor—don’t lock arms and block medical clinics. If you’re so pro-life, lock arms and block cemeteries.” Who said it?
Nota Bene #109: You Can't Tuna Fish
“It’s absolutely stunning to me, the contempt in which the network holds the audience. The idea that these people have standards is laughable.” Who said it?
Nota Bene #99: Heed the Peace Gnome
“You just pick up a chord, go twang, and you’ve got music.” Who said it?
Nota Bene #97: toDwI'ma' qoS yItIvqu'!
“To be truly free, and truly to appreciate its freedom, a society must be literate.”
