The Guardian's Pass Notes series has reached its 5,000th entry, marking a significant milestone for the beloved column that distills modern culture into bite-sized, humorous reads. One of its regular writers, Tim Dowling, reveals the challenges of crafting these crib sheets, from finding the age of subjects like God or bees to navigating the strict format that begins with Age and ends with Do Say and Don't Say.
The column originated in the short-lived Sunday Correspondent and was adopted by the Guardian's G2 section in 1992. After a brief hiatus, it returned in 2009 and has since produced 5,000 entries. Dowling notes that the format evolved into two disembodied voices, allowing writers to unleash their inner pedant and outer idiot.
Dowling shares his 10 most memorable Pass Notes, including the viral six-seven slang phenomenon, Donald Trump's 2015 presidential bid, Prince Andrew's golfing expenses, Fendi's vulva-shaped scarf, Australia's orange pizza, Sony's smart wig, fitness tracker anxiety, naming the post-millennial generation, ghosting in relationships, and the blue latte craze. Each entry captures a moment in time with wit and brevity, often predicting or reflecting societal trends.
The writer reflects on the fleeting nature of some topics, like wifi-enabled juicers and Grumpy Cat, and the challenge of ending each piece with a suitable Don't Say that avoids being vulgar or offensive. Despite the difficulties, Pass Notes remains a unique window into the modern world, providing just enough information to satisfy curiosity without overwhelming readers.
Top 10 Memorable Pass Notes
- Six-seven slang: The most-read Pass Notes ever, explaining a viral phrase that baffled teachers and parents alike.
- Donald Trump's 2015 bid: A prescient take on Trump's candidacy, highlighting his absurd promises and rhetoric.
- Prince Andrew's golf trip: Exposing the royal's use of a private jet for a golf tournament, costing taxpayers thousands.
- Fendi's vulva scarf: A £750 shawl that sparked debate about body image and fashion.
- Orange pizza: Australia's controversial topping that outraged pizza purists.
- Sony's smart wig: A patent for a computerized hairpiece that never materialized.
- Fitness tracker anxiety: Warning about the health risks of obsessive monitoring.
- Naming Gen Z: Proposing 'The Founders' as a label for post-millennials.
- Ghosting: Exploring the modern dating phenomenon of disappearing without explanation.
- Blue latte: A vegan coffee alternative that cost nearly £5 and tasted terrible.
Dowling concludes that while Pass Notes often focuses on ephemeral trends, it serves as a record of what once captured public attention. The column's enduring appeal lies in its ability to inform, amuse, and occasionally predict the future, all within a strict format that challenges writers to be concise and clever.
