Florida Curriculum Politics Update

A tale from the DeSantis’ Woke Wars.

Microsoft Going All-in On AI

The future is here, whether we like it or not.

Ending College Degree Requirements

Too many jobs needlessly specify a bachelor’s.

Everybody Needs Some Elbow Room!

A memory of pop culture and its linkage to broader myths about America.

Putin’s Nuclear Gambit

The threat is not idle and the options for responding are not good.

Contractions and Proper Speech

A break from politics.

Some Thoughts on “Cancel Culture”

Thomas gets the ball rolling, and I take off from there.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki looks on as Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice delivers remarks during a briefing Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Chandler West) White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki looks on as Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice delivers remarks during a briefing Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Chandler West)

Susan Rice, Comma Queen

President Biden’s domestic policy chief is a stickler for grammar.

Where Have All the Editors Gone?

Grammar and spelling errors abound at all but a handful of news sites.

After 20-Year Delay, Works from 1923 Lose Copyright Protection

The damage done for Mickey Mouse in the name of Sony Bono is finally coming to an end.

Honorifics, Gender, and Journalism

A seemingly innocuous change to a newspaper style guide has some significant implications.

Federal Judge Dismisses Sarah Palin’s Lawsuit Against The New York Times

Sarah Palin’s lawsuit against The New York Times suffers a significant setback.

Donald Trump Continues His Despicable War On The News Media

President Trump continues his war on one of the most important guardians of American democracy.

Ben Carson Picked For HUD Secretary

An odd choice for HUD Secretary.

George Martin, the ‘Fifth Beatle,’ Dead at 90

The producer behind a group of music legends has passed away at the age of 90.

“They” Wins

Elizabeth Warren Isn’t Running For President, But Don’t Expect The Speculation To End Soon

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is not running for President, and she is unlikely to change her mind on that. Nonetheless, the speculation that she is will continue for some time to come because it suits her interests and the interests of others.

Obama’s Confused Syria Strategy

Humanitarian wars have their own grammar but not their own logic.

When Is A Coup Not A Coup?

Words don’t always mean what you think they mean.

Brain Detects Grammar Errors Subconsciously

Native speakers instinctively notice syntactical errors, but not ordinary “grammar errors.”

The Role of Editors

I have over the years been both editor and edited; currently, I’m both, often in the same day. Some thoughts on the relationship.

Grammar Rules and Usage

The NYT stages an interesting debate on “Which Language Rules to Flout. Or Flaunt?”

The Elements of F*cking Style

The Elements of F*cking Style drags English grammar out of the ivory tower and into the gutter, injecting a dull subject with a much-needed dose of color.

Erick Erickson’s Odd (and Telling) Confession

A revealing quote and some musing on Newt’s consistency.

Is Accuracy Racist?

Is quoting President Obama without fixing his grammar “racist”? Some say it is.

Oxford Comma Cartoon

Oxford Drops Oxford Comma

Oxford University has dropped the Oxford comma! A dark day for humanity.

What Sarah Palin Can Teach Us About Writing

A distinguished linguist is quite impressed with Sarah Palin’s facility with the written word.

Gay French Moon Dinosaur Cartoon Gay French Moon Dinosaur Cartoon

The Moon is Gay

The peculiar habit of some Indo-Europeans of assigning gender to nouns is frustrating and amusing.

Atlas Shrugged Movie Preview

I simply do not know enough expletives to adequately express how truly horrible this film was.

Did Obama Plagiarize State of the Union?

Was the 2011 SOTU a blatant rip-off of past speeches? Or simply banal?

Some Details About the Shooter

More breaking news on the shooting-in this case, about the shooter.

Proper Nouns, RIP