DAILY DIRT: ‘Polarization’ seems like the perfect pick for ‘word of the year’

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024

In the five minutes it will likely take you to ready today’s Daily Dirt, the newest Juan Soto, will earn $485. The math is coming in thought No. 2 … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,138 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Merriam-Webster.com’s “word of the year” for 2024 seems like a perfect pick.

“Polarization,” a “division into two sharply distinct opposites,” pretty much summed up our country’s political climate this year, served as a consensus selection.

“It’s always been important to me that the dictionary serve as a kind of neutral and objective arbiter of meaning for everybody,” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, told The Associated Press. “It’s a kind of backstop for meaning in an era of fake news, alternative facts, whatever you want to say about the value of a word’s meaning in the culture.”The word was widely used across the media landscape. Fox News reported that “Vance’s debate answer on immigration crisis shows voter polarization,” while MSNBC observed that, “The 2024 presidential election has left our country more polarized than ever.” The word was also used to describe divides beyond the U.S. election, as when Forbes warned that in workplaces, “cultural polarization is becoming a pressing challenge.”

“Polarization,” and the verb “polarize,” date to the early 1800s, when they first described light waves. That physical meaning of polarize — “to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern” — led to the political and cultural meaning that helps define the world today.

“Even in this age of polarization,” Merriam-Webster president Greg Barlow said in a release, “the dictionary remains a neutral, trusted resource that millions of people turn to in order to better understand the words that define our times.”

So, that would make the dictionary non-polarizing, right?

2. Did you know (Part 212)

That the state of Ohio gives out different-colored license plates for those with a DUI conviction.

That the fast-growing nail is on your middle finger. It averages 0.1mm growth per day.

That technically we’re all body builders — some of us are simply building a shed instead of a mansion.

That when you ask someone, “Can I ask you a question” … you are literally asking them a question.

That Juan Soto’s recently signed free-agent $765 million contract with the New York Mets breaks down like this:

• $314,000 per game
• $140,110 per day
• $5,840 per day
• $97 per minute
• $1.60 per second

3. Here’s our final pre-playoff college football rankings:

1. Oregon (13-0): Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel might just be the most deserving winner of this year’s Heisman Trophy. The other finalists are Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

2. Georgia (11-2): The injured elbow of Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is a major question mark hanging over the Bulldogs’ postseason.

3. Texas (11-2): Special teams have been the Achilles heel for Texas the entire season, which is kind of inexcusable for a program of this magnitude. There’s a very good chance the Longhorns might be the highest-ranked entry to tumble in the first round. Go with Clemson and whatever points you can get.

4. Penn State (11-2): The Nittany Lions’ playoff opener against SMU will match opponents who have not played one another since 1978.

5. Notre Dame (11-1): Speaking of two schools that have not played lately facing each other in the playoff, the Irish haven’t played Indiana since 1991, despite the two schools being located in the same state.

6. Tennessee (10-2): Not to put a damper on the Vols’ playoff selection, but don’t forget the program is under investigation for potential rules violations involving NIL benefits for athletes in multiple sports — including football.

7. Arizona State (11-2): Kenny Dillingham should probably be named coach of the year.

8. Clemson (10-3): My hat’s off to Dabo. This is Clemson’s first appearance in my top 10 all season, proving it’s not how you start it’s how you finish.

9. Boise State (12-1): As much as I appreciate what Boise State does with its football program, does it deserve a first-round playoff bye? No way, shape or form.

10. SMU (11-2): Those darker blue jerseys SMU wore against Clemson were suh-weeeet. 

On the bubble: Ohio State (10-2), South Carolina (9-3), Indiana (11-1).

Bum of the week: Iowa State (10-3), for being embarrassed in the Big 12 title game by Arizona State.

Bum of the week II: Alabama (9-3). Stop whining about missing the playoffs. You found a way to lose to Vanderbilt — and two other opponents — so don’t blame the selection committee. And two of your wins were over Mercer and Western Kentucky. Case closed.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Should cheese be more accurately categorized as … a loaf of milk??

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Can you tell he’s still mad at Ryan Day?