John Kelly

Seeing it as “screen play” is one of those obvious but profound moments for me. Duh. Whoa. That’s how it began. A script for a play on the screen.

I liked my writing at this time. I think I was better at it. (Then I remember that most of that was just by dint of doing habitually.)

It also cracks me up that all my titles were lowercased, such the vogue for the cool people texting and posting now.

the incredible -ulk (part ii) Last week, the etymologies of hulk and bulk led us to “ships” and “heaps.” How about those two other -ulk words, skulk and sulk? Skulk The ultimate origin of skulk lies in h…

Come for 'hulk' and stay for 'bulk.' Then, scope 'skulk' and 'skulk' in Part II. But mostly admire my brother's beautiful drawing of a fox.

mashedradish.com/2015/05/19/t...

the incredible -ulk (part i) The Hulk has been smashing the box office in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to end the N.S.A.’s controversial (and, according to an appeals court, illegal) b…

I kinda hate that I'm doing this* but, for me, etymology is intrusive.

From my archives, the origin of 'hulk': mashedradish.com/2015/05/14/t...

*Giving over all attention to the news, which now seems mostly just reacting to Trump on social media, has been filling me with existential despair.

Today's stumble-upon. Wikipedia's "Category:Rooms." If you need me, I'll be in the psychomanetum. Probably gonna stop by the buttery on my way, though.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...

A screen capture of the Oxford English Dictionary's entry for "heavy metal," twice citing Black Sabbath, which vocalist Ozzy Osbourne was a key part of forming.

Legacy. #OzzyOsbourne

The internet is boring.

Workplace Word Origins: resilience, company, focus, thrilled, code What do professional announcements have to do with boogers?

Another roundup of my LinkedIn Workplace Word Origins series on the blog, find jumping in 'resilience,' bread-breaking in 'company,' fire in 'focus,' nostrils in 'thrilled' (or really, the other way around), and books in 'code': mashedradish.com/2025/07/11/w...

“Paper Airplane” takes flight This new, independent digital magazine offers up some sorely needed wonder and whimsy.

“Paper Airplane will transport you to those summer days—before smartphones, before productivity—where time well spent was time lost to, in, the wonder of a wandering pillbug.”

Thanks to @mashedradish.bsky.social for the Paper Airplane appreciation!

mashedradish.com/2025/07/13/p...

Thought of you @grantbarrett.com

I had a friend back in high school kindly inform me that it’s “might as well” but I still think my mistaken “mind as well” was sensible and serviceable each time I use the correct phrase.

Looks like "Tree of Life" came in at 79—just behind "Aftersun"!

To honor the question, the very first three that came to my mind were “Aftersun,” “A Hidden Life,” and “St. Maude.” Re: Malick, I like your choice of “The New World.” A delightfully impossible exercise, these lists!

Count yourself among them, David! As newsletters have proliferated, I have become picker about what I subscribe to—and actually read. Fritinancy always passes both tests.

Another excellent roundup from the must-read @fritinancy.bsky.social. She leads off with the exciting debut of @paperairplane.pub.

Thanks for the love, Nancy! Another great newsletter from you, as always.

Trump's WTF Moment Another presidential norm is shattered as an F-bomb is dropped on the White House South Lawn

"Another presidential norm is shattered as an F-bomb is dropped on the White House South Lawn."

@newsguy.bsky.social on Trump's WTF moment, quoting @stronglang.bsky.social's @stancarey.bsky.social and @mashedradish.bsky.social: newsguy.substack.com/p/trumps-wtf...

Thanks for joining! I love going hard on etymology. (And apparently I need it, lol!)

A lack of linguistic restraint raises real concern about even more consequential restraint.

And yes, in anointing him Edgelord-in-Chief, I am thinking about how social media creates a “red meat” treadmill, among other things.

Humblebrag: I got to work with the guy who made this!

Can't wait to donate and dive in. Do the same.

Proceeds support refugees and immigrants.

Reading supports your soul.

And everything good that's good for ya.

Aah, the inaugural issue of Paper Airplane is out! Think "Highlights" for adults. I've got an article AND A CRAFT PROJECT in here for you.

All proceeds--all of them, for reals--benefit the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Do good! Have fun! MAKE CRAFTS! PaperAirplane.pub

A GIF of Paper Airplane magazine showing a rotating preview of pages.

#PaperAirplane is here!

It’s the grown-up version of the magazines you loved as a kid.

Writing, games, comics, photos, art, and activities by a dream team of contributors.

No cynicism.

No ads.

No A.I.

Available exclusively at PaperAirplane.pub by donating to support refugees and immigrants.

Sure fucking is.

I once had smart, word-y things to say about such a pointed use of "fuck" by a president.

Will the NYT print it? Is this the first presidential 'fuck' TO the mic and media? What does it say about swearing?

But given the consequence & absurdity of all this, I just want to say: "Fuck. Fuck this."

Instinct.

Ultimately Latin "instinguere," meaning "to incite, impel," rooted in a verb meaning "to prick."

Prick. Apt, but not strong enough.

“Widening conflicts.”
“Widening gyre.”

As for "jowls"?

"Jowl" for "jaw, cheek, mandible," ultimately from Old English "ceafl." Farewell, fricative.

"Jowl" for the saggy flesh below which boys are trying to mew their way out of though age and gravity come for us all? Middle English "cholle," recorded a bit before "jaw" in early 1300s.

Intrusive etymology: "Jaw" is so far only attested in the late 1300s—later than I would have guessed. Origin unclear. Maybe from French "joue" (cheek) or from some Germanic form related to "chew."

THANK YOU. (Sober almost 3 years.) I literally show up to events with a legit thermos of coffee. I am also so mad we have fewer diners open late or non-Starbucks coffee shops open past like 2pm.

@juliaturner.bsky.social @thehighsign.bsky.social To this fellow lifelong word nerd (and former dictionary editor), your discussion on "nitid" in this week's episode on your segment with Caity Weaver was such a delight. Unsolicited etymology: the same Latin root of "nitid" also yields "neat." NEAT!