Thursday, September 3, 2009

Nominative determinism

Nominative determinism was first identified by New Scientist in 1994, when it drew readers’ attention to a British Journal of Urology article on incontinence which had been written by J.W. Splatt and D. Weedon.

Later examples supplied by readers included Rod Muddle, head of planning for British Airways, Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, and Alan Heavens, an astronomer.

Today I received a letter from the Justice Department excusing me from jury service. It was signed, “Bambi Sheriff, jury officer”.

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