This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2018/dec/30/may-i-have-a-word-about-world-gone-boutique
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| May I have a word about… how the world’s gone boutique | May I have a word about… how the world’s gone boutique |
| (17 days later) | |
| In my salad days, a boutique was a chichi independent clothes shop, as to be found the length and breadth of London’s King’s Road. Heave a half brick in any direction and you could guarantee to bean a loon-panted young groover hellbent on setting the fashion world alight. But no longer. “Boutique” has become the prefix de nos jours for altogether different outfits. Boutique hotels are 10 a penny, boutique spas are also available should you so wish, while boutique banks are also in our midst, though the meaning of the word when applied to the latter is quite beyond me. Equally bewildering are boutique butchers and bakers. Enough already. | In my salad days, a boutique was a chichi independent clothes shop, as to be found the length and breadth of London’s King’s Road. Heave a half brick in any direction and you could guarantee to bean a loon-panted young groover hellbent on setting the fashion world alight. But no longer. “Boutique” has become the prefix de nos jours for altogether different outfits. Boutique hotels are 10 a penny, boutique spas are also available should you so wish, while boutique banks are also in our midst, though the meaning of the word when applied to the latter is quite beyond me. Equally bewildering are boutique butchers and bakers. Enough already. |
| Talking of finance, I was overjoyed to read the following: “The Bank for International Settlement said in its quarterly report that the CCPs could cause ‘a destabilising feedback loop, amplifying stress’.” You can say that again. | Talking of finance, I was overjoyed to read the following: “The Bank for International Settlement said in its quarterly report that the CCPs could cause ‘a destabilising feedback loop, amplifying stress’.” You can say that again. |
| Far more thrilling matters are to be found in the work of the Pentagon’s Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team. Its mission statement makes glorious reading. “The AWCFT will initially provide computer vision algorithms for object detection, classification and alerts for FMV PED. Further sprints will incorporate more advanced computer vision technology. | Far more thrilling matters are to be found in the work of the Pentagon’s Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team. Its mission statement makes glorious reading. “The AWCFT will initially provide computer vision algorithms for object detection, classification and alerts for FMV PED. Further sprints will incorporate more advanced computer vision technology. |
| “After successful sprints in support of Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance, the AWCFT will prioritise the integration of similar technologies into other defence intelligence mission areas. AWCFT will also consolidate existing algorithm-based technology initiatives related to mission areas of the Defence Intelligence Enterprise.” | “After successful sprints in support of Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance, the AWCFT will prioritise the integration of similar technologies into other defence intelligence mission areas. AWCFT will also consolidate existing algorithm-based technology initiatives related to mission areas of the Defence Intelligence Enterprise.” |
| Good stuff, I’m sure you’ll agree, what with all that sprinting and all those initiatives, and I think we can now sleep soundly in our beds knowing that the Pentagon is up to speed on defending the free world, especially if that bed is in a boutique hotel. | Good stuff, I’m sure you’ll agree, what with all that sprinting and all those initiatives, and I think we can now sleep soundly in our beds knowing that the Pentagon is up to speed on defending the free world, especially if that bed is in a boutique hotel. |
| •Jonathan Bouquet is an Observer columnist | •Jonathan Bouquet is an Observer columnist |
| Life and style | Life and style |
| The shifting patterns of English | The shifting patterns of English |
| comment | comment |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |
Previous version
1
Next version