The prominant pundit on all things has unearthed the 1992 Word of the Year. (The ADS lists are actually fascinating: “snail mail” did succeed, “ethnic cleansing” earned its stripes immediately, and “Munchhausen’s syndrome by proxy” made Law and Order.) He’s taking us back to a more innocent time, a time before 9/11 and unspeakable Nirvana covers, a time when men were men and sheep were nervous. I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone use the Gingrich-era Wayne’s World negation.
Friedman could have gone with “China: PWNED,” or some variant on “fail,” both of which are at least marginally more current. But he didn’t. Why? Because Friedman is dope, that’s why. Because Friedman is da bomb, all that and a bag of chips. From now on, that’s Thomas “Waterfalls” Friedman to you.
(Drop some retro slang in the comments, win an Ace of Base cassette.)
I wish I understood even a quarter of that….
Sorry you missed America in the 90s. It was really wild.