Look Askew? How about Look Askance?

The Sept. 27 Sunday New York Times Week in Review section's Ping columnist Brad Stone asks if "social network sites ... will look askew... ."

The expression he wanted is "look askance," which means to view with suspicion or doubt. Askew and askance are not synonyms when used in that context, if they are synonyms at all in any context. Ironic that those who work in precision disciplines such as technology or engineering can be highly imprecise, if not flat-out wrong, in their use of language.

Fire Fox ALCS reporter Ken Rosenthal

Who at Fox thought it a smart move to hire this guy? We hope they are reviewing the situation because he is exasperating for any half-knowledgeable fan to watch. Ken, who's as animated and personable as an inanimate Mattel doll, asks riveting questions, such as this one to a Yankee player after Game 2 of ALCS: "You're up 2-0. How big is that?" [Give the player credit for resisting the temptation to reply, "It's really no big deal; they only have to win four of the next five games, so we are back on our heels right now, you jerk!"]

Virtually every one of his ill-conceived queries begin with "How," but instead of asking, for example, how the player did something, his questions answer themselves. Whatever is the opposite of incisive sums up Rosenthal's limp interview technique." If the responses to his questions were any more obvious, he could be replaced by the team's PR person, because that's exactly what he sounds like. Interestingly, when he interviewed Jerry Hairston, his question was more cogent than when interviewing Alex Rodriguez, and it seems as if Rosenthal is awed by the big stars, virtually afraid to ask the tough questions. This guy is the journalistic equivalent of a batting practice pitcher -- he serves up deliciously big meatballs for the interviewee, which is about as meaningful to the audience as a home run hit in batting practice. Yawn. One only can hope the next time there's a Yankee walkoff win this post-season, pie-eyed Ken Rosenthal becomes the first non-roster target of A.J. Burnett's now-famous facials.