Saturday Rave: Here Isn't The News.

Exactly ninety years ago today the BBC announced on its evening bulletin that there was no news.

That story does bring forth a bit of a wistful sigh, doesn't it.

Word To Use Today: news. It is said that this words stands for North East West and South - which of course it does, but that's a complete coincidence. The word news is the plural of the Middle English newes, which means, well, new. News is just stuff that's new.

Actually, as you will have noticed, the news is really an opportunity to encourage people to think about current events in a certain way. 

The reward for allowing ourselves to be so manipulated is quite often a funny story about a kitten. 


Cyber-kitten, presumably getting ready to pounce on a mouse (sorry). Photo by Tim Avatar Bartel

A depth of cynical manipulation to which The Word Den would naturally never, ever sink.

Um...