Debtpocalypse

It had to happen. See here.

Bankster

The word bankster, a negative term for (especially big) bankers, has gotten really common since the major bank bailout. (Today, it gets 2.24 million raw google hits.) But it's not THAT established ... OED Online doesn't have it.

It was interesting, I thought, to see the old -ster suffix being productive in the current scene. It used to be highly productive and we still have lots of examples around and not all really old. I had just uncritically reckoned that it was that suffix, with the negative semantics probably by association to terms like huckster, gangster, shyster, and so on.

But in UrbanDictionary and other sources, it's treated as a blend of banker and gangster. Not sure I buy that. Anybody got any info or arguments on this?

The best history of the word I've seen so far is Nancy Friedman's discussion here (with reference to other stuff), but she doesn't probe the etymological angle particularly. She talks about it being used from fringe right people, but today it's widespread in progressive circles, definitely (but maybe also used by the far right still?) And while you're at it, check out the Culturomics data on this word (and compare it to gangster, etc.). It's never been really common, but it's older than you might think and had a big bump during the Depression:

The sharp rise might be consistent with it being coined in the media or something. Appropriate that it's come back now, eh?

Anyway, I'd be curious if others know more about this one.

Sincerestly

You ARE a member of the Colbert Super PAC, aren't you? Good. That means you got his latest message, declaring that this new organization 'has been hailed in the national press as everything from "legal" to "dangerous."'
There's actually no particular language angle here, really, save that he signs the letter 'sincerestly'.

Just kidding. It's classic Colbertian poety, of course, through and through. That includes a nice bit of nouning:

Donate now. Donate often. Make a difference. Make a donate.

Yes, Stephen, together, let's make a better tomorrow, tomorrow.

taking the gold in the olympics of blending???

The headline says "Redistricting? No, Fitzwalkermandering". Okay, for those of you who are not Wisconsinites (I'm sorry), Fitzwalkerstan (another gold) is the name for our state under the insane politics of the day - for the Fitzgerald brothers (Senate Majority Leader Scott and Assembly Speaker Jeff) and our own governator, Scott Walker. But then there's "gerrymander," which the article says (and the always trustworthy Wikipedia verifies) comes from another governor, Eldrige Gerry of Massachusetts, who in 1812 redrew a legislative district in the shape of a salamander to benefit his delightfully-named Democratic-Republican Party. So blend on top of blend, wahoo!

Idiomizer

Got a message last week from Harlan Collins at www.idiomizer.com. I wasn't even aware of the project, but it looks like good clean fun, and I know a lot of our readers are polyglots … here's your chance.



Enjoy!

I recall a different time...

Headline: Breaking: Senate President Russell Pearce Recalled In Arizona, Must Run For Re-Election Or Resign

I've noticed for a while now that we're all (myself included) using "recall" to mean "stand for a recall election". But doesn't it mean to lose a recall election? Dictionaries, as usual, are unhelpful - here's the closest Merriam-Webster comes: "to call back (was recalled to active duty); (a pitcher recalled from the minors)". Just wonderin'.