Schlimmbesserung/Verschlimmbesserung

I am perhaps rather late to discover the new English word Schlimmbesserung (should be Verschlimmbesserung). I saw it on Susan Hill's blog today, but to comment there I would have to register. It's used by the guest blogger, Robert Matthews. But Google reveals more instances. I wonder if it started in Howard Rheingold's Book They Have a Word for It, which I happen to have here because someone gave me it - I am a bit allergic to these collections of spurious terms from all world languages: The time is ripe for that good old German word for improvements that make things worse: Schlimmbesserung (sh-lim-BESS-air-oong). While perfect for many egregiously inappropriate applications of technology, Schlimmbesserung is by no means limited to technological "improvements." But no, I find 2005 instances online. The thing is, Verschlimmbesserung makes more sense in German, with the ver- prefix indicating a change. Still, I suppose if Germans can amend the English language (body bag), English sp…