I’m well aware that my post titles suck for search engine optimisation (SEO) purposes. For those unfamiliar with that black art, consider just that I could have entitled this post “Writing headlines for the search engines”. Boring or what?

As the linked NY Times article says: “There are no algorithms for wit, irony, humor or stylish writing. [Search engine] software is a logical, sequential, left-brain reader, while humans are often right brain.”

I believe the NYT has since changed its headline style in pursuit of the Google juice. Because, of course, Google can’t be bothered to build an irony index.

We suffer more than them that side of the pond when the inimitable British wit dictates that every second headline is a pun or an allusion. But we will not be bowed. Think what an arid place the UK blawgosphere would be were we to succumb.