WOTY?

Every year at this time arbiters in every genre name their best. Country entertainer? The Academy of Country Music gave the honor to Lainey Wilson. Book? Barnes & Noble plucked "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" off their bedside table. And on a smaller, though arguably more competitive stage, Dave Campbell's Texas Football website singled out DJ Lagway, the quarterback of the Willis High School Wildcats, as "Mr.Texas."

While the above look back and honor the standouts from the past twelve months, there are others that look forward, prognosticating those that will rise about the horizon. In SUV's, Motor Trend sees the Chevrolet Blazer EV as the car to have in 2024. American Girl named gymnast and horseback rider Lila Monetti as the "IT" girl doll of next year. And Pantone, the arbiter of all things color related, said the "Peach Fuzz" will rule the next calendar cycle, with one style critic noting that perhaps it is hoping to rachet down the rhetoric, and make 2024 a time "not for bold decisions, but for communicating a sort of vague pleasantness."

One of the most eagerly awaited pronouncements came from the Oxford Dictionary, and their Word of the Year, sometimes referred to as WOTY. Every year they choose a word that is "judged to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year and to have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance." As the dictionary that many consider to be the most historically authoritative, it carries a certain amount of gravitas. And so it was a bit of surprise that rather than go with one of the other finalists including "Swiftie" (an enthusiastic fan of Taylor Swift), "situationship" (a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established) or "prompt" (an instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates) the winner was "rizz."

A noun defined as "style, charm or attractiveness, or the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner," it is taken from the middle part of its parent "charisma." They note it's an usual way of forming a new word, though not unheard of, with other examples being "fridge" (refrigerator) and "flu" (influenza). As with many new ways of speaking, it was driven mainly in usage by a younger generation, personified by 27-year old actor Tom Holland ("Spider-Man" in three movies) who, when asked about his fame, answered "I have no rizz whatsoever, I have limited rizz."

The selection is not without its challengers. Dictionary.com went with "hallucinate," as in when chatbots produce false information as truth. Merriam-Webster chose "authentic" with the publication noting that it was not so much a new usage as the constant questioning of what really makes something – cuisine, voice, style, – authentic. And Collins went with two initials with no punctuation which have become the buzzword of technology and which some see as the next inflection point in everything around us, "AI."

And then there are those who have a stake in the matter. Food giant Kraft rolled out a marketing campaign pushing their Kraft Real Mayo product. Its central premise was to make "Moist" the WOTY. In a press release they said "Kraft Real Mayo is proof -everything is better ‘Moist.' Sadly, the internet hasn't always agreed. That's why we're hacking the Word of the Year competition by searching ‘Moist' as many times as possible, to redeem this polarizing-yet-velvety-smooth word." Thankfully, their pleas fell on dry ears.

Of course, all of those terms are English-centric, be they British or American. But it's a big world, and other regions and languages keyed into other trends and expressions. In a closely watched event in Kyoto, Japan, the top Buddhist monk at the Kiyomizu Temple used a brush to write the kanji character of the year on the temple balcony. It was "Zei" which translates as "taxes," reflecting a national interest in the country's economic situation. In Australia, some promoted "password child" as the winner, which refers to the kid seen as favored over his or her siblings because their name is used in the parents' passwords. And in Taiwan there is "Shan Dao Hou Zi" which translates as "Mountain Roadmonkey," referring to a motorcyclist who becomes an influencer. 

To be sure any choice is subjective, regardless of the field. Whether it's music or sports, food or fashion, one person's standout is another's also-ran. But no matter what word atlas you favor, with all that is happening in the world it would be hard to argue with the top dog in France. There, teens have adopted a catch-all answer in response to the question of "Quoi?" or "What?" When asked, the word most often on people's lips these days is "Quoicoubeh." While its etymology is in question, there's no mistaking its meaning: "Who knows?"

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Marc Wollin of Bedford likes to learn new words, on a more than yearly basis. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

What Just Happened

No, it's NOT Saturday morning for those who follow along

You might be confused, but, no, you're not wrong

But before you bolt for the exits to rest and recharge

Thought we'd glance back together, review by and large

For it seems ever faster the pages get turned

And snap! It's all over, or so we have learned

There were highs, there were lows, strange things and weird 

Another year has gone by, the calendar cleared

Some things felt real good, many others did not
Before we jump to the next, let's consider the pot
The stew we all swam in, the things we did taste
Some we wish we could savor, others spit out in haste

The Bill's Hamlin heart stopped, a miracle came from that dread
While it took 15 tries for McCarthy to come back from the dead
A spy balloon got punctured, some banks popped as well
Trump again broke the record, 91 charges rung the bell

The writers - they struck, the actors did too
Fires raced through Lahaina, Hunter's problems just grew
And as if Russia and Ukraine didn't create enough of a wedge
Hamas, Israel and Gaza put the world even more on the edge

A sub went to the bottom, a freight train derailed
Fires up north made it so you couldn't inhale
And in tragedies less weighty, both worthy of skits
George Santos imploded, Bud Light took a hit

But all was not bad: Barbie set the world on pink
With a lighter shade of the same, Messi's Miami did blink
Spain's ladies won FIFA, Charles finally crowned King
Taylor showed how it's done, her tour was THE thing

If a buzz word did dominate it was just 2 letters: AI
Whether Chat or with Bard the expectations are high
Almost nothing untouched: text, pictures and sound
How we shop, how we learn, the potential unbound

As always some models, their time came to an end.
They lived life to the fullest, they helped set the trend
Tina Turner, Roslyn Carter, women who showed how it's done
Tony Bennett, Matthew Perry, Jimmy Buffet, just some

So much more has happened, too much for this space
Next year looks to be crazy, blame the presidential race
They'll be conflicts and tragedies, even more from the fringe
Adding insult to indignity, it's tempting to cringe

But hope lives eternal, it's trite but it's true
And all we can do is the best we can do
It starts with ourselves and how we reach out to others
And treat all those around us as sisters and brothers

So as we look to the new year, try a smile to start
And resolve to do better, to lead with your heart
So thanks here for reading, and as we open a new door
Peace, Love and Happiness and a hopeful ‘24

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Marc Wollin of Bedford thanks all for spending some time in this space. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Almost Drowned

I saw my whole life pass before my eyes. All the people I knew: gone. All the plans I had for the future: gone. All the photographic memories I had of people and places near and dear to me: gone. And all because I dropped my phone in the toilet.

I had just landed on the second stop on a two-city work tour and went to use the restroom. If you've been in a public restroom (and I'm sure you have) you know that the stalls are not exactly large. Add to that a rolling suitcase, a backpack and a coat, and you need to be a contortionist to get all inside. I managed to get in, but now had to get out. However, the door was jammed. I yanked on it, and it popped open, throwing me off balance. And that's when I heard the sickening sound of electronics falling into water.

Studies show that some 25% of people have dropped their phone into liquid (toilets, pools, sinks, etc.), so the protocol is fairly-well known. Turn it off and shake off any excess moisture. Open it if possible and remove batteries and any other parts. Shake it some more, then use tissues to wipe out any drops. A coolish hair dryer can also help. And if you can, bury it in rice to suck out the moisture. Praying also helps.

I immediately started that last one first. (Actually I cursed, then reversed course.) In a flash I reached down and pulled it out and shook it off as quick as I could. I flew to the sinks hoping there was a hand dryer with hot air. Alas, paper towels was the best I could do. I grabbed a bunch, swaddled it tightly and hustled out to find a quiet seat where I could perform electronic CPR.

I peeled off the protective case and wiped it down. Coincidentally and unfortunately at the same time, I had just ordered a new phone because I noticed that the back of this one was splitting open due to a swelling battery. That also meant that what was once fairly-well sealed was not anymore. The entire side was open, enabling the dunk to coat all the innards. I pried the back open further and started vigorously shaking it. I think those waiting for a nearby flight to Cleveland thought I was having a seizure.

I was able to slip some towels in the open back. Seeing as how it was already broken I pulled it up further, cracking it but exposing more. I continued to shake, and blew gently across it. I had no rice, so this seemed the extent of my toolbelt. I pressed the power button, but the screen remained black. I started to contemplate my future.

By now it's a fact of life that our phones are our lifelines. They contain everything we need on a daily basis. And that's even more true when you're on the road. I wasn't sure what hotel I was going to, what time I was supposed to meet anyone, even how I would get there. All the keys to my world were tied up in a six-inch slab of plastic, metal and components. I started to contemplate my next steps: getting cash, a regular cab, finding a phone store to rejoin the living.

But then my watch vibrated with a new email. As it was connected to the phone, that could only mean that they were talking. Which also meant that while the screen was blank, the brains must be OK. I shook some more, blew some more and pressed buttons some more. A flicker: the screen flashed on, the off. That meant it was functional, even if it wasn't functioning. Maybe it just needed some time to recover. I repeated each of the steps, adding some encouragement ("C'mon, c'mon, you can do it!") And then some 30 minutes later, like a cat shaking itself off after a fall, it flickered to life. I tentatively pressed a few buttons. It all seemed to work. I might just have escaped, cracked back excepted.

As I said, a new phone is on the way, and I will certainly make sure it is secured the next time I enter a restroom. But accidents do happen, and you do the best you can. I'm just wondering if I need to add some Uncle Ben's to my traveling kit.

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Marc Wollin of Bedford is usually pretty careful. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Too Much Is Not Enough

Food. Clothes. Alcohol Those are just some things that consumed in moderation are fine. But they also have the possibility of being indulged to the point of abuse, though some are more troubling than others. A glass or two of wine is fine, but if you're doing a bottle or more in a sitting by yourself you might have a problem. On the other hand, you may have a thing about buying shoes, but if you have the closet space and the financial wherewithal to pull an Imelda Marcos, it's only a problem if your spouse objects. 

Our modern world has offered up even more opportunities to overdo it. Up until 50 years ago you couldn't abuse video games or social media because they didn't exist. Now both are part of the daily routine for large swaths of the population. And while most indulge their interest a little less at some times, a little more at others, there is a subset of the populace who are so locked into screens that they are unable to look up for fear they might miss something.

In and of themselves, these electronic items aren't inherently addictive in the way of nicotine or opioids. That said, there is research indicating that the dopamine burst you get from scrolling Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook can suck you in as much as a hit of cocaine. Still, the generally accepted belief is that with each of these hooks it is up to the individual to decide how much is too much. 

And then we have television. Back in the day TV shows were doled out by the networks a week at a time. No matter how much you wanted to know what Fonzie would do next ("Happy Days"), or if JR was going to cheat again on Sue Ellen ("Dallas"), you could consume only so much. After your allotted and scheduled 30 or 60 minute dose, you were forced to go cold turkey until the next week. It didn't matter how much money you had or who you knew, nothing was going to tip you off as to what Crocket and Tubbs were going to wear next ("Miami Vice").

Then came 2013, and Netflix dropped an entire season of "House of Cards" in one go. While some traditionalists watched an episode and then changed the channel to "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," many stuck around and clicked right into episode 2.  Still more welshed on their dinner plans and settled in for episode 3. And a number of true diehards put some cereal on the counter for the kids in the morning, moved back their early tee time, and stayed up all night (spoiler alert!) to see Frank Underwood accept the nomination for Vice President some 13 hours later. Or as producer Beau Willimon said, "Our goal was to shut down a portion of America for a whole day."

While it took two years for "binge-watch" to be named a word-of-the-year, it was a habit that quickly became ingrained in the populace as other streaming services followed suit. The so called "episode dump" became a normal way of releasing shows as practiced by Amazon, Hulu and others. And even if it wasn't a new show, the behavior took root in that people shotgunned one episode right into another and another of a program they latched onto, devouring 5 or 8 or 10 installments at a single sitting.

But then these same distributors realized that they were blowing their multi-million-dollar investments in a single puff of popcorn. More than one person took a trial subscription, binged on a season of "Orange is the New Black" or "Stranger Things," then cancelled. And so the hybrid release was born. They might post a few episodes of a show to reel you in, then go back to weekly releases to string you along. It's hard not to liken the practice to a heroin dealer giving out a free hit, then hooking their customer for life. Or till the season-ending cliffhanger, whichever comes first.

Yes, you know you are being played, but you can't avoid it. Still, compared to other binges and addictions, this one is relatively harmless. It only takes your time, and while that's not nothing, for most it is manageable. Now if you could only say the same about ordering from Amazon, you might get your life back.

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Marc Wollin of Bedford doesn't binge watch anything. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Lessons Learned

It was Sunday morning on a visit to our youngest son and his wife, and he and I were driving to get fresh cider donuts for breakfast. On the way we chatted about the upgrades to their house, their life in their new location and other non-essential topics. Once we got to the farm we picked up a dozen assorted (plain, glazed and sugar-cinnamon dusted) and a half a gallon of milk. He swiped his card and we got back in the car to drive back to his house. The roads were quiet, and the windows open. And then he dropped it on me. "I know you taught me otherwise," he started. Not sure where this was going, I braced myself. He continued: "I don't keep the receipts. I do scan our statement and check that all looks correct. But I don't keep the receipts."

Wow. Kids today.

If you're a parent, you spend a lot of time teaching, imparting, demonstrating, modeling the behaviors and skills you hope will stand your kids in good stead as they go forward. Some are overt, such as tying your shoes or telling time. Others are much softer, such as the way you treat other people or deal with a problem. Of course, the most important thing you hopefully taught them was to think for themselves. They should look at the options and evidence at hand, use the good sense they have combined with the guiding principles you have taught them, and then make a decision which is in the best interests of themselves and the people around them. In probably more cases than not, that probably aligns with what you would do if you were them. 

But as they settle into their own lives, they likely come up against some very minor tenets you hold dear but which in truth were perhaps fickle, obsessive-compulsive or just plain random. Some are based on the different approaches of a mate or partner. Some are driven by technology and time. And some are just personal choices that they look at and wonder "Why the hell did mom always do X?" 

Indeed, I can think of two examples from personal experience. One ticks the board for me, one for them. 

In the first case, my father taught me to always back into a parking space, a procedure I taught both our boys. And in fact, research shows far more accidents occur when backing out of a space as opposed to driving out forward. (Don't think he knew that, but no matter: thanks, Dad). On the flip side, when we visit their homes or they come to ours, they immediately take off their shoes, something we never did nor do. In this case research supports their approach not ours: it keeps the street grime and germs from being tracked around the home. That said, be it generational or otherwise, it's a practice that hasn't filtered up. Or as an Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal put it, unless our footwear is covered in "snow, mud, blood, condiments of any sort, lava, excrement, concrete dust, or biomedical hazardous waste" we typically leave them on if given a choice. 

There's an old story of a young woman whose mother taught her the "right" way to cook a chicken was to cut off the wings and legs and cook them separately. It was a method she swore by, passed on down to her from her mother when she learned to cook. One day the young woman thought to ask her grandmother how she came to settle on that approach as the best way to make a bird. Her old woman smiled and said the reason was simple: when she first got married, she only had one small pot.  The only way a chicken would fit in it was if she trimmed it first. It worked, so she just kept doing it, and taught it to her daughter. And so a family tradition was born.

Maybe it's the way you make coffee. Or how you organize your kitchen. Or how you pack for a vacation, arrange your closet or hang a picture. The way you do it is absolutely the best. Until it isn't. You should only hope that when it counts and your kids become the teacher, you're smart enough to learn the lesson.

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Marc Wollin of Bedford tries to keep an open mind. Except for shoes. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.