Nancy Friedman

See my post! There's a donation link.

Let's talk about money And about why I haven't (yet) turned on paid subscriptions.

"Fritinancy is still a paywall-free publication. But from time to time I ask myself: Should it be? Should I flip the switch and start charging for subscriptions? Do I want to turn this newsletter into a revenue stream?"

fritinancy.substack.com/p/lets-talk-...

When Dreamforce comes to town, even the Motel 6 becomes a hot ticket From budget rooms to $20k suites, Dreamforce is shaking up SF’s hospitality industry.

“Hotelmaggedon”

share.google/vJmKqZGtF9kp...

YouTube video by Ruth Brown - Topic If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It

youtu.be/Nl-AHD_d1E8?...

Let's talk about money And about why I haven't (yet) turned on paid subscriptions.

On giving it away.

fritinancy.substack.com/p/lets-talk-...

Richard Fish Richard Fish is a principal character on Ally McBeal, portrayed by Greg Germann. Richard Fish founded the law firm Cage & Fish along with John Cage. Richard, has a very loose interpretation of both le...

I'll always associate "neck wattle" with "Ally McBeal." allymcbeal.fandom.com/wiki/Richard...

*wattle's

Trump wattle

Waddle (verb): to walk with short steps and a swaying motion.

Wattle (noun, anatomy): a fleshy caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck.

Thank you.

Thanks — I've been a reader and fan for years!

Number of the week: 996 Overtime to the max.

The word of the week is a number: 996.

fritinancy.substack.com/p/number-of-...

Poland’s two biggest cultural exports in the 21st century:

1. The Witcher
2. The saying „not my circus, not my monkeys”

(heard now on yet another English language TV show)

Would You Work ‘996’? The Hustle Culture Trend Is Taking Hold in Silicon Valley.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/b...

U S. Customs and Border Protection official tariff document with the heading "Countries that does business with the United States"

Your tax dollars (not) at work.

Brands in the wild: Philadelphia A new Calder museum, some medical anomalies, and friendships old and new.

My report from the City of Brotherly Love: a new Calder museum, and old museum of medical phenomena, and some good and bad brand names.
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...

I hate the noise, the crowds, and the jingoism. They fly directly over Aquatic Park Cove, where I swim. It's a waste of money and fuel. It's stupid.

Shall I go on?

Blue Angels cancel San Francisco Fleet Week over government shutdown Due to the federal government shutdown, San Francisco’s Fleet Week will go forward this month without its star attraction: the Navy’s Blue Angels.

An upside to the government shutdown!
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

Brands in the wild: Manhattan Names, ads, and assorted signage I noticed during my September trip.

Brand report from my quick trip to New York: a wonderful @newyorker.com exhibit, a creepy AI ad, a good @backmarketofficial.bsky.social ad, and a meetup with fellow wordsters @samcorbin.bsky.social and Quiara Vasquez. fritinancy.substack.com/p/brands-in-...

Naming briefs #6 Notes on Kagi, Aptos, and Sora: Three short brand names with non-English pedigrees.

With OpenAI's Sora app in the news today, here's something I wrote about the Sora name when it was originally announced in March 2024 (scroll down): fritinancy.substack.com/p/naming-bri...

"I submit there are a lot of sports bras out there that very likely make running more painful than running without a bra at all, especially if you have large breasts, because they turn what would otherwise be virtually painless 'swing' into all 'bounce'."

How to Feed A Marathon Swimmer Staying up all night to support a friend’s 25-mile swim in San Francisco Bay

What does it take to plan and execute a 25-mile bay swim? @piahinckle.bsky.social reports on her experience supporting club member Crissa Williams's recent feat.
open.substack.com/pub/piahinck...

I will never say no to a ferry ride.

Merci!

2025 Punctuation Mark of the Year The em dash (—) straddles clauses—and urgent conversations about humanity and technology in 2025.

"We seldom see a typographical symbol—as a symbol—command so much attention in mainstream discourse." From @mashedradish.bsky.social: mashedradish.com/2025/09/24/2...

This is an AMAZING deep dive into a local treasure (in my very own Oakland neighborhood!). Plus: a pie recipe.

there are almost certainly more people — more blue collar laborers, specifically — involved in the cultivation and production of chardonnay grapes and wine than in coal

Thanks, Jonathon!

Word of the week: Chum A visit to Toronto inspires a slang investigation. Plus: Toronto street photos!

Word of the week: Chum. Bonus: photos from my recent trip to Toronto. | ht @misterslang.bsky.social @sesquiotic.bsky.social fritinancy.substack.com/p/word-of-th...

Great idea. (Noisy, though.)