Monthly Archives: October 2002

one foot in the cradle?

Posted on Monday, 2002 October 07 by Anton

Turns of Phrase: Meldrew Last week [August] a poll by the survey firm MORI identified Meldrews as a new social type — aged between 35 and 54, rebellious and with little time for authority, unhappy with their lives and the … Continue reading →

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a co-alum triumphs

Posted on Sunday, 2002 October 06 by Anton

Theo Gray won the IgNobel Prize in Chemistry for his Periodic Table table (which I had mentioned recently).

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race and medicine

Posted on Saturday, 2002 October 05 by Anton

In an advertisement for a new drug, I was mildly surprised to hear something to the effect that “Black people are more likely to have an adverse reaction.” Is this new? I’ve long noticed that PSAs about hypertension tend to … Continue reading →

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“a polite society” goes both ways

Posted on Saturday, 2002 October 05 by Anton

Craig Biggerstaff (quoted by Possum — and how come the permalink syntax is correct on the latter and wrong on the former?) writes: I have considerable respect for the argument that past US interventions have created ill will abroad. But … Continue reading →

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fontomentals

Posted on Friday, 2002 October 04 by Anton

Most people seem to read the Web in schoolmarmish Times Roman. I read it in friendlier Lucida Sans. I wonder what effect font has – when the reader chooses it – on the perception of tone in writing.

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you don’t know where it’s been

Posted on Friday, 2002 October 04 by Anton

For a moment I thought the sign at the garage said SNOG CHECK. I trust you can follow my train of thought from there.

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is all marketing local?

Posted on Friday, 2002 October 04 by Anton

Lately I can’t pick up a bottle of stain-remover without thinking of its advertising slogan: “. . gets out what America gets into.” And I try to imagine nationalistic advertising for mass consumer products in other countries. “At last, a nonprescription analgesic … Continue reading →

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