VIVE LES LOANWORDS FRANÇAIS!
WE HAVE LOTS OF WORDS inherited from the French, at least in part because of the 1066 Norman Conquest. A bunch have been added later as well: pococurante, from Voltaire’s … Continue reading
FERRARI TRC—THE ORIGINAL RED HEAD
“ ‘SUITABLY IMPRESSED’ SEEMS HARDLY an adequate expression,” R&T wrote in December 1957, “to describe our crew’s thoughts after testing the newest Ferrari, the 2.5-liter TRC (Testa Rossa Competition).” Here … Continue reading
POCOCURANTE—THE CLASSICAL MEH
I SEEM TO BE ON A RUN with learning new words for familiar things: “amphibology” for ambiguous phrases and, today, “pococurante” for apathetic indifference, a classical “meh.” Word Genius describes … Continue reading
TIMES SQUARE—1923
TIMES SQUARE IS THE GINZA CROSSING of New York City. I say this without pretension because, indeed, I’ve visited Ginza Crossing more often than this Big Apple landmark. On the … Continue reading
SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW 2023 PART 2
YESTERDAY, KEITH BRADSHER DESCRIBED Chinese BEV popularity at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show. Today, he continues with news of a lady’s car, a carmaker’s vote for hybrids, and a battery … Continue reading
SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW 2023 PART 1
THIS IS THE SECOND Shanghai Motor Show that I’m reporting on without actually having attended. (Justification is that I’ve been to Shanghai only once; and, besides, the show hasn’t been … Continue reading
THE AMPHIBOLOGIST WILL SEE YOU NOW
THE WORD GENIUS website introduced me to a new word, amphibology, the meaning of which has given me much linguistic pleasure. “Amphibology” describes a phrase or sentence that is grammatically … Continue reading
SHALLOW GOODS, DEEP GOODS—AND TRUST PART 2
YESTERDAY Thomas L. Friedman identified a significant change in U.S./Chinese relations. Today in Part 2, tidbits continue to be gleaned from his analysis “America, China and a Crisis of Trust,” … Continue reading
SHALLOW GOODS, DEEP GOODS—AND TRUST PART 1
I’VE WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED to the bonhommie of not that long ago between the U.S. and China: GM built and sold five times more Buicks in China than here in … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 
CONDUCTORS’ STYLES
I RECENTLY MENTIONED my preference for a conductor’s hair style. But, of course, which conductor? Sir Simon Rattle comes to mind. By contrast, I respect Sir Georg Solti for his … Continue reading →