PREPARE FOR THE GRE TEST WITH A NEW WORD EACH DAY

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"Language is the medium of all understanding and all tradition

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Sunday, September 25, 2011

18. Prestidigitation

In his review of I.B.M.'s art exhibition "Think" at Lincoln Center, Edward Rothstein (NY Times, 9/23/11) wrote:

But what is this show meant to be? Partly, it is corporate public relations. We learn about I.B.M.’s astonishing accomplishments over a century, its researchers creating what is now commonplace: UPC bar codes, magnetic strips holding data on cards, computer hard drives. I.B.M. scientists have received Nobel Prizes, performed molecular prestidigitation and won chess and “Jeopardy!” games with pioneering examples of artificial intelligence.

Is Rothstein complimenting IBM's scientists?
 
Prestidigitation: sleight of hand

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