WORDY . . .

We live in a semantic cesspool. Take the case of David N. Rosenthal, the TV writer for the San Jose Mercury News. He was asked to fill in for the vacationing film critic and review “Ishtar.”

He wrote in his review that the first half hour “borders on brilliant” but after that, the movie was “very confusing and very stupid.” He added: “Near the end, I spent more time looking at my watch than the screen.”

Imagine his surprise when he picked up his paper and turned to the movie ads to read . . .

“BRILLIANT”

. . . Rosenthal, Mercury News.