Let me tell you what I can tell you.

I’ve had my fill of this year. See you tomorrow.

I talked to the scholars who literally wrote the book on tech bubbles—and applied their test.

On Christmas Eve, we wish you well, wherever you are.

For Festivus, the current grievances: The deluge of AI-generated plagiarism and fabrication. The decline and collapse of corporate journalism. The dismantling of the Republic by people who are corrupt, ignorant, incompetent, craven, or some combination thereof. Comments?

I have brought the Festivus pole up from the basement so that in the morning it will be ready for the report of your grievances.

Passed over by Poynter (again!) for Media Personality of the Year.

this is not behavior becoming of a FIFA Peace Prize recipient.

I imagine a group chat in the Beyond in which James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and Warren Harding are exchanging texts that begin "Did you see what he said today?"

I don't usually get excited by lexicographers' and linguists' word-of-the-year announcements, but Merriam-Webster's today strikes a chord: "slop," “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.”

Whatever else it can do, this tech adds work and erodes trust. The extra work is time-wasting and wearying, and I resent the erosion of trust most deeply. I cannot believe it is healthy for society to be ever less sure that anything you encounter is the real thought or expression of a fellow human

I’ve ordered the 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and the 12th Merriam-Webster Collegiate. I will be 75 in two months, and I think they should see me out.

Who ya gonna trust?

“Have Yourself A Merriam Little Christmas” Merriam, a career-oriented lexicographer from the city, returns to her small town for the holidays and meets Webster, a ruggedly handsome librarian, who shows her the true DEFINITION of Christmas.

At the holiday table.

I made the mashed potatoes this morning, with cream cheese, Parmesan, and more butter than you want to know about. Kathleen made corn pudding. The turkey is in the oven and I’ve taken down the smoke detectors. There will be crab cakes and Key lime pie and wine and cursing from the kitchen.

What the hell happened to the Republic that there is now a profession called “TikTok influencer”?

The flood of messages from retailers all day long leaves me thinking they are sounding a little desperate this year.

The problem Donald Trump has as pretender to the throne of America is that he leads a party full of scavengers who are all realizing it might be in their best interests not to pretend anymore.

I see that John Allen Paulos referred today to the Supreme Court as the supine court. Will there be T-shirts?

Will anyone else speak for Henry Mencken?

I can never hear or see something about the extreme right Proud Boys without remembering that "proud boy" is a term for a gelding that doesn't realize it's been neutered and keeps acting like a stallion. So do with that info what you will. *sips coffee*

These damn TV shows that resort to display texting to carry the narrative: I am no longer eight years old, sitting n the floor directly in front of the set.

Paging @johnemcintyre.bsky.social www.facebook.com/baltimoresun...

I see the “technically it’s ephebophelia” crowd is out today, so just a reminder that A) this is NOT a case where technically correct is the best kind of correct and B) the minute you say this, the gods dump you in the “irredeemable creeper” basket and wash their hands thoroughly after touching you.

We've lost a first-rate journalist.

The Baltimore Banner has announced an opening for a copy editor.

Black and Latino voters are the spine of the Democratic Party, not white moderates. That’s what this election showed—when candidates actually energize the people doing the groundwork, the ones who show up rain or shine, they win. You can’t fake authenticity or build power without us. #Pinks #Momsky

oops here is the gift link

We will tell stories of what life was like during the reign of the Mad King.

Extraordinary how many establishment Democrats really wish they didn't have a talented rising new star who connects to people by talking to them and understanding what their interests are, then speaking to those interests. Like a job where the new guy makes everyone look bad simply by doing the job.

A hardy perennial that no frost can touch.

Third-term nonsense. Constitution be damned, does anyone who has watched videos imagine that he will be alive to assume office in January 2029?

AI? Not a fan.

People send me things, among them this from the once-great Baltimore Sun: “Armstrong Williams offers perspective on some of the controversy’s of the week. …”

My high school in Kentucky wants people to talk to students about careers. Here's what I would say:

I hear from informed sources that these #NoKings rallies are more than twice as big as last time, making them easily the largest protests in US history. Thanks to everyone and especially organizers.

Kathleen steps up too

Stepping up.

Forty-three years ago today.

Wonderful column by Margaret Sullivan at The Guardian on the terrible, weird choice of Bari Weis by CBS News www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The utter inability of legacy news media to be able to deal with being straight-up lied to is one of the primary drivers of this mess.

Saw the U.S. flag at half-staff at a Chick-fil-A this morning. Because Trump didn’t get the Nobel?

If you plan to eat at the Silver Diner at BWI, think about taking a sandwich along, lest you faint from inanition before seeing a server.

Wow 👇

This is true for students too. Yes there are many factors impacting student reading, but working 30+ hours a week to be able to afford college is definitely one of them.

AOC: "Stephen Miller is a CLOWN. He looks like he's 4’10”. He looks like he's angry about the fact that he's 4’10”. He's taking that anger out at any other population possible. Like, LAUGH AT THEM. Laugh at them."

Portland Protestors Baiting ICE Agents With Donuts on Fishing Poles, Calling it ICE Fishing...

Using the serial comma is either a personal aesthetic choice or deference to a particular style guide. So is its omission. Ambiguity is so easy that both omission and use of the serial comma can lead to it. (More in comments.)