March linkstack
Fascism, ketchup insurance, word nerdery, and more.
Happy almost-April-Fools’-Day to all who celebrate, and a warm welcome to new subscribers and followers! (The “followers” feature is relatively new on Substack; I think it means you see this newsletter only in the Substack app and not in your inbox. Some people — the people who rely on paid subscriptions — hate the followers option. I’m neutral; my newsletter is free, and I’m just happy you’re reading it at all.)
A quick briefing for new subscribers/followers:
All about the meaning of “fritinancy” (yes, it’s a “real word”)
If you’ve arrived via one of the fashion ’stacks, check out my forays into the world of style: Kim Kardashian’s nipple bra, Phoebe Philo’s phabulous name, Fashion Brand Company, the history and meaning of “plus-size.”
If you’re a naming nerd, you may like Naming Briefs, my occasional critiques of names in the news (or newly on my radar).
For fans of the royals, here’s my critique of the Duchess of Sussex’s oddly named new venture, American Riviera Orchard.
For past Linkstacks, start here. I’m always glad to receive link recommendations.
It Can Happen Here
Adam Gopnik reviewed historian Timothy W. Ryback’s new book Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power, and the parallels to 2024 and a certain Former Guy are ominous. (The New Yorker)
Also from The New Yorker, also TFG-adjacent: Andrew Marantz reviews Did It Happen Here?: Perspectives on Fascism and America, a new essay collection by authors from Hannah Arendt to Robert O Paxton. “If we can’t be clear-eyed about what it was,” writes Marantz, “then how can we prepare for what might happen here—maybe again, maybe anew—in a few months?”
I’m midway through Pulitzer Prize finalist Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America, by historian Steven J. Ross (2017). I’d known that the Nazis had targeted the American film industry but had had no idea that Los Angeles — where I was born and reared — was a hotbed of espionage, counterespionage, and fascist activity in the 1930s.
I Can’t Wait to Read This
The brilliant Calvin Trillin, who recently turned 88, has a new book out: The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press. I learned about it from a City Arts and Lectures podcast that includes snippets from Trillin’s appearances over more than 30 years. Listen to the whole program to hear Trillin reduce Robin Williams — Robin Williams! — to helpless laughter.
I Am Always Writing
All about “bitchin’,” and how it evolved from Sixties surfer slang to popular brand name. New from me on Strong Language, the sweary blog about swearing.
All about “sonder,” the made-up word (or maybe not?) that has become a very popular brand name. New from me on Medium (paywalled, but you get a friend link).
I Am Delighted
That
, of the excellent style and usage guide Dreyer’s English, is now Substacking. Subscribe, follow, read:“Dude” Abides
All about “dude,” which “probably came from ‘Yankee Doodle,’ and the British slang ‘fopdoodle,’ meaning a foolish dandy,” according to etymology researcher Gerald Cohen. (New York Times gift link)
And Speaking of “Dude”
I’m a fan of
and of her “The Bide Adudes” merch (T-shirts, mug, tote bag, etc.). Subscribe to her Substack, Magic + Loss, to be enlightened by, among other things, her explanation of “the black hole of nonsense called ‘Trump Media’.”Ketchup Protection
This may be an early April Fools’ joke or it could be just a clever ad campaign: Ketchup maker Heinz is promoting “unique insurance coverage” for all those “ketchup calamities” — the spills, the splotches, “the little oops, oh no’s, and yikes!” Watch the video.
Bond. Legal Bond.
It was written before The Former Guy’s appeals bond obligation was reduced to a paltry $175 million, but it’s still worth reading:
on the multiple meanings of bond. Here’s something I learned: “Oddly enough, bondage in the sense of serfdom or slavery is unrelated to the sense of bond we’ve been discussing so far. That word comes from the Old English bonda, or householder, which comes from Old Norse, where it meant ‘occupier and tiller of soil, peasant, husbandman.’” ()No, “Jimmies” Isn’t Racist
The very patient journalist and author Jan Freeman takes a deep dive into the name of those little chocolate sprinkles. (Throw Grammar from the Train)
Make a Name for Yourself
’s Substack, , is full of great advice for amateur name developers, and it’s helpful for experienced professionals, too. Start with “Five rookie naming mistakes and how to avoid them.”Pasta for the People
Back in March 2021 I wrote about cascatelli, a brand-new pasta shape invented by Dan Pashman of the Sporkful podcast. At the time, there was a 12-week wait for cascatelli orders, which were fulfilled by just one company, Brooklyn-based Sfoglini. What a difference three years makes: Last week I spotted Cascatelli in my local Trader Joe’s, with private-label branding and a price tag $2 lower than Sfoglini’s.
AI Isn’t So Smart
AI still can’t figure out that each human hand has five fingers, and it’s bad at spelling, too. (Britannica; TechCrunch)
AI Isn’t Your Girlfriend
Why we need to move away from anthropomorphic naming conventions in AI — especially female-gendered names like Sophia, Lilli, and Alexa. “Female-gendered names given to AI bots that you control can lead to confirmation bias and reinforce the idea that women are subservient to men. This is not merely an implication.” (Katrin Zimmermann for VentureBeat)
Instagram for Word Nerds
I’m loving the Instagram posts and reels from Etymology Nerd. Here’s one that hit my sweet spot: What do Lululemon, lo mein, and ramen have in common?
Spellbinding
A 12-year-old girl named Gloria Lockerman is the reason you know the word “antidisestablishmentarianism.” (Useless Etymology)
Games for Word Nerds
Wordiply gives you a starter word — say, “era.” You get five chances to find the longest word that incorporates the starter word. (From The Guardian; ht Can’t Think of Clever Name on Bluesky)
The New York Times’s newest word game, Strands (currently in beta), is a nifty variation on the word-search games we all did as kids. Read about the game’s development and special twists (gift link).
One Great Ad…
… that will make artists, designers, and copywriters sigh in recognition. From BBDO Worldwide for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers. (Via LinkedIn)
Can't say the links made me more productive, neither run faster nor jump higher, or addressed other issues... but I love them!