Jacob.Schanker@f206.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Jacob Schanker) (11/12/89)
Silicone Valley and Other Malapropisms I shudder - like a bowl of silicone - whenever I see a reference to "Silicone Valley" in the press. Malapropisms like this are symp- tomatic of the almost universal technological ignorance among members of the print and electronic media. One often has to be prescient in order to figure out the real story behind a techno- logical story which appears in the press. Errors of this kind also pop up in the technical press. I go bonkers when I see them. Let me share a few recent examples with you: An advertisement by International Microtronics Corp. for a PC Board Kit which pro- vides for the use of discreete components. Not only is this a malapropism, but it is also misspelled! How about an employment ad by Aeroquip Corporation for a Senior Electronic Engineer with a minimum of 5 years experience in censor design and testing which appeared in Electronic Engineering Times. Or take the definition for a BNC connector which appeared in a glossary in the current issue of a quasi-technical magazine. According to the techno-idiot who prepared the glossary, BNC stands for British Nut Connector. What do they think TNC stands for? If you spot similar manifestations of technological ignorance, please pass them on to me so that I can share them with you all, and expose the culpable parties. Jacob Z. Schanker, Rochester Section Newsletter Chairman 65 Crandon Way, Rochester, NY 14618 (716) 442-3909 -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jacob Schanker - via UFGATE Internet: Jacob.Schanker@f206.n260.z1.fidonet.org FidoNet: 1:107/310 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=