Oh how I love the leap in logic. In fact, in all the world, there is only one more thing satisfying than rationalizing yourself into the stratosphere, far from the stifling grip of that ruthless mistress, Reason. And that is trying to describe to someone exactly how you got from point A to point Q. Behold this example from the Bluetooth membership site:
The name "Bluetooth" is taken from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand - or Harold Bluetooth in English. During the formative stage of the Trade Association a code name was needed to name the effort. Over an evening discussing European history and the future of wireless technology several felt it was appropriate to name the technology after King Blatand. He had been instrumental in uniting warring factions in parts of what is now Norway, Sweden and Denmark - just as the technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as the computing, mobile phone and automotive markets. The code name stuck.
Yes! Uniting belligerent Vikings is exactly like wirelessly connecting two or more electronic devices! A bracing Nordic chill fills the air when I sync my phone to my computer. An overwhelming urge to cease my relentless pillaging seizes me each time I make a phone call from my wireless headset. And don't get me started on sending SMS messages via my address book. It's like making sweet, sweet love under a seal fur duvet on a star-drenched Scandinavian night.
You can find more of the interesting word usements I structure* on Apple.com.
Read my article, Better Writing Through Design, on No. 242 of A List Apart.
Pick up issue 176 of .net magazine to read my thoughts on creating outstanding web copy.
Watch a video of the Design Eye for South By panel at SXSW Interactive 2008. Or view the slide deck at DesignEye.org.
*With apologies to Harris K. Telemacher.