(This is a rewrite of an essay I wrote in 2022.)
At a coffee shop with an old journalist friend, we found ourselves speculating about the intersection between math and language. And why it is at that exact place on the left-right brain spectrum where some of us feel most comfortable.
When it comes to math, we like the logic and the specificity, and the certainty that there will be an answer, once enough patience kicks in.
When it comes to language, we like the cadence and trajectory, but also the Old Germanic specificity of English. We also like the layers of meaning and adaptability of English, thanks to the Norman invasion and other historical events that altered the course of the Anglo-Saxon dialect with French diversions.
Maybe, when it comes down to it, what we really like most about English is its exquisite ambiguity, which is quite unlike math. Whenever we can convey multiple meanings with our words, that suits us just fine.
There is a very specific, math-like reason for this. As journalists, we prefer to avoid being placed in a position where we’re expected to tell people what they should think. That is simply not our job.
Our preference is to present the facts as we’ve discovered them to be and let readers draw their own conclusions.
That’s what we aspire to. Let the math of language meet the language of math. Where certainty encounters uncertainty. Alas, we fail as often as we succeed. It’s the law of averages.
HEADLINES:
Hezbollah hits back with rockets as it declares an ‘open-ended battle’ with Israel (AP)
Israel launches ‘extensive’ strikes on Hezbollah; Lebanon says 182 killed, 727 wounded (WP)
Attacks on Hezbollah Alter Balance of Power in Long-Running Fight (NYT)
Ohio residents flock to Springfield’s Haitian restaurants: ‘They are family’ (Guardian)
Trump and his campaign enter turbulent phase in final weeks (WP)
Newly popular Harris builds momentum, challenging Trump for the mantle of change (NBC)
Harris gaining ground on Trump, TV network polls show (Reuters)
Harris slightly improves lead over Trump in battleground states: Poll (The Hill)
America sort of likes Kamala Harris – and that might just be enough (Business Insider)
Harris shows gains in latest Post polling average; Trump resists another debate (WP)
As President, Trump Demanded Investigations of Foes. He Often Got Them. (NYT)
Sen. Lindsey Graham says embattled GOP candidate Mark Robinson must defend himself (NBC)
Senate Democrats push to expand map to Florida, maybe Texas (WP)
The supreme crisis of Chief Justice John Roberts (The Hill)
As Taliban starts restricting men too, some regret not speaking up sooner (WP)
US election uncertainty clouds UN climate finance progress (Reuters)
'Our husbands didn't go to war for Ukraine so we can sit around crying' (BBC)
Volodymyr Zelensky Has a Plan for Ukraine’s Victory (New Yorker)
The Joys of Talking to ChatGPT (WSJ)
Stock Market Soars After Investors Decide That Would Be Fun Thing To Make Happen Today (The Onion)
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