Slog - Comments on Now That's a Lede

Comment by Karlheinz Arschbomber

Karlheinz Arschbomber — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:33:10 -0800

And the wombat runs (or waddles) free, waiting for its next victim. Think of the children!

Comment by Spoogie

Spoogie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:34:05 -0800

Didn't hurt his bum at all. So glad to hear it, Mate.

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:35:15 -0800

Hm.

Comment by Liz Pendens

Liz Pendens — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:48:10 -0800

Not to be picky, but that's a "lede," not a "lead."

Comment by Dan Savage

Dan Savage — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:56:03 -0800

Thanks, Liz. Changed. I am dum.

Comment by Scott Dow

Scott Dow — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:03:29 -0800

What the heck is a lede? Also the previous post refers to "the Guardian" not BBC.
But hey, it is still morning over there I think.

Comment by GS

GS — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:04:50 -0800

When are the police going to be found guilty of wasting MY time?

Comment by Dan Savage

Dan Savage — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:08:24 -0800

It's a BBC announcer that got the giggles, Scott, but the MP3 is up on the Guardian's website, which is where I found it.

Comment by Liz Pendens

Liz Pendens — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:09:40 -0800

A lede is the leading line of a story. Except that, back in the olden days when actual lead was used for type, it was too confusing to spell it "lead," so the word "lede" was invented, and it's just sorta stuck with us.

Comment by Hartiepie

Hartiepie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:17:37 -0800

My dictionaries say "lead" and "lede" are synonyms. Either spelling is correct.

Now what about that chap's hobo that ain't hurtin'........

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:21:17 -0800

At least he found room in his busy life to give alcohol a large role.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:44:44 -0800

Everyone knows that wombats don't do that, it's crocs, mate.

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:58:12 -0800

Wow, I didn't know about "lede" - that's fascinating and strange! It sounds like a type of medieval song or something.

Comment by Non

Non — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:13:14 -0800

Dan Savage, directing Editor of the Stranger, not knowing that it is LEAD and not LEDE is perfectly indicitive of how far from journalism the Stranger is.

lol

but i still love ya

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:46:05 -0800

The only people who use "lede" are journalism students and recent graduates who think it's cool to have a lingo. It's not cool, and the lingo should never see the light of day outside of the 40s-style newsroom. If you're not wearing a fedora with a card reading "press" on the side, and/or carrying a Speed Graphlex, lose it.

Comment by leek

leek — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:53:57 -0800

Then why did Dan change it, huh? HUH?

Wombats are dangerous sexual maniacs.

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:57:16 -0800

That's funny. He goes to the cops to cry rape, and the cops slap him with time-rape charges.

Comment by fs

fs — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:16:04 -0800

sounds like the animals have all gone crazy. the same page you linked to has a story about a sex-crazed monkey trying to rape village women!

where is ECB!?!

Comment by don't break the oath

don't break the oath — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:19:18 -0800

Dan Savage is callously ignoring the pain felt by wombat rape victims and the entrenched wombatarchy of the police that leads wombat rape victims to be treated like criminals.

Comment by Greg

Greg — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:24:46 -0800

Sorry uppity journalism students, but "lead" wins by virtue of superior phonetics and etymological pedigree.

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:35:29 -0800

"Lede" isn't in M-W online, for what that's worth. It's not in the OED in this sense, either - although it apparently also means "a people, nation, race." I say change it back!

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:35:51 -0800

Couldn't he plead insanity?

Comment by COMTE

COMTE — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:11:55 -0800

Oh thanks, fnarf. Now we're going to have to explain to the young'uns what a "Speed Graflex" is...

Comment by Society for Speed Graphlex Criminalization

Society for Speed Graphlex Criminalization — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:52:43 -0800

We too support our comrade don't break the oath in speaking out against the oppressed wombats falsely accused by the invading humanocentric species.

But swan abuse is the real problem worldwide, as Leda could tell you.

Comment by Phred Meijer

Phred Meijer — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:23:20 -0800

forget Youth pastor Watch- the Stranger needs to start Horny Wombat Watch.

Wombat rapists threaten the stability of the family. They are a bigger threat than Islamic extremism.

Comment by Meijer Phred to Swan Control

Meijer Phred to Swan Control — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:57:25 -0800

I agree, we really need a Horny Wombat Watch.

Can we get a digital one?