Do You Feel Lucky?

(and feel free to comment! My older posts are certainly no less relevant to the burning concerns of the day.)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Associate Editors of Merriam-Webster's "Ask the Editor" Segment: Hot or Not?

Kory Stamper, Associate Editor at Merriam-Webster talks about more than one octopus:


Kory's got a great smile and a real engaging way about her - especially the way she says "Hey! You're an ignorant slob!" She speaks clearly, and with well-chosen emphasis. Some might criticize her dye job or her makeup, but I say this fresh-faced laid-back approach suits her character to a "t!" It shows she's got the confidence to just be who she is, and you know what? No need for any of that spackled-on glitz: the camera loves her. Verdict: HOT.

Merriam-Webster Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski sheds light on how those classical roots crept in:


Peter gets into trouble from the start with this insistence on being "Editor-at-Large." What's that about? Sounds like overcompensating. He picks up points for his clean-cut unthreatening image, though - underlain by a certain smoldering intensity, suffused with a certain mystery barely hinted at in the phantom goatee that ghosts his nearly clean-shaven jaw. The expressive mobility of his features draws us into his enthusiasm for some pretty dry material. What do you know, Peter? You didn't have to try so hard after all! Verdict: HOT.

Emily Brewster, Associate Editor at Merriam-Webster, leaves me with less confusion and fewer questions on issues surrounding the usage of "fewer" and "less":


Emily could have been played by a young Lili Taylor or an actress of no less caliber, if her life story could be put to film. Drink in her quiet magnetism. She speaks with an authority no less forceful for its gentle touch. Her overall demeanor is serious, yet hear how her voice alternately softens with compassion and sparks with humor! You can just tell that she's a real hellcat in certain contexts. Well wait, shoot - good thing I looked it up! "Hellcat" doesn't mean at all what I thought it did. Anyway, point is: Verdict: HOT.

Dictionaries can sure come in handy. And when it comes to dictionaries, you better have some editors! It's good to know that one of our nation's top most prestigious reference book companies knows how to pick 'em.

3 comments:

Mel said...

I enjoyed these. One of my first interactions with my ex-boss back in my reporting/PR days was when he told me to use "more than" instead of "over". As in: "There are more than three thousand people in this town" as opposed to "There are over three thousand people in this town" It's always stuck with me.

limom said...

Kory- wine and some Independant Film channel.
Hot!
Peter- Possible stalker.
Not!
Emily-Women with glasses rock! Except this one.
Something about the way she moves her head.
Not!

dogimo said...

@Mel, was your ex-boss hot or not?

You can tell me.

@limom - hold on a second, mah man. Are you disputing the official verdict? You may need to start your own recurring feature critiquing the physical and/or sexual attractiveness of editors and associate editors!

Nah, I'm kidding of course. Your dissenting opinion is welcome! But whatever fruitful discussion may follow, dissent, contrary viewpoints - yet the official result stands. These editors are hot.

And I know hot editors.