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/dev/random

Author(s): 

Robert Ferrell

Based on this introduction and my little attempt at poetic mockery up there, you probably think I’m going to launch into some tedious diatribe against those who make up terrible new words or overuse a basically meaningless existing one, but as usual you do me an injustice. I am in fact newly fascinated by the versatility of the adjectival prefix cyber. It is not only versatile, it apparently possesses much arcane power—as evidenced by the sudden and dramatic increase of any budget in which it appears. It evinces a great deal of bluster linguistically, as well. Take any ol’ word that’s been around since your grandmother was in analog diapers, tack cyber onto the front end, and bippity-boo! A new threat/trend/industry/social sensation leaps fully formed from the forehead of iniquity. Allow me to illustrate...

Download Article: 
PDF icon /dev/random
Article Section: 
COLUMNS
;login: issue: 
February 2014, Vol. 39, No. 1
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