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We're Haunted by Linguistic Fossils Oct. 29, 2025
When I was 8 years old, my parents told me that they'd purchased tickets in the orchestra for a Broa... Read More
The Killings Continue Oct. 28, 2025
President Donald Trump is at it again. The president and his administration are carrying out indiscr... Read More
Three Strange Paths to Not Thinking About You-Know-Who Oct. 25, 2025
Are you, like me, kind of freaking out a little bit? Do masked men patrol your city streets, snatchi... Read More
The None-of-My-Business Column Oct. 24, 2025
Perhaps due to my previous incarnation as a traveling know-it-all, I keep getting requests for a col... Read More
Reconnecting With Old Friends at 40th High School Reunion Oct. 23, 2025
SAN DIEGO — I recently attended my 40th high school reunion which, as expected, left me feelin... Read More
Keeping an 'Eye' on Tempestuous Terms Oct. 22, 2025
Quick quiz! A "hurricane" is so called because... a. It "hurries" the sugar cane in the West Indies ... Read More
Increase in Executions Doesn't Signal Support for Death Penalty Oct. 21, 2025
As of this writing, there have been 39 executions this year. That is a substantial increase over las... Read More
When the Past Tense Makes Us Tense Oct. 15, 2025
Today, let's weed our grammatical garden. Betty Lundy of West Point, Mississippi, wonders how to say... Read More
When It Comes to Halloween, I'm on the Supply Side of the Economy Oct. 11, 2025
I'm told that ours is a market economy — driven by supply and demand, or end-stage capitalism ... Read More
The Support I Found When I Dared To Dream Oct. 10, 2025
Erma Bombeck famously said, "It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else." This qu... Read More
Toddlin' in Chicago: Government Overreach, Circa 1972 Oct. 10, 2025
Chicago, I'd heard, was a toddlin' town. In fact, I'd heard it repeatedly from a woman in the seat b... Read More
Query on 'Hunky Dory' Gets Me in Dutch Oct. 09, 2025
A few years ago, I was answering listeners' questions on a radio call-in show. Everything was hunky-... Read More
What's on the Docket for the Supreme Court's New Term? Oct. 07, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court's new term begins this week. There are 10 cases scheduled for argument during... Read More
Another Slam Dunk for Chatbots Doing the Work Oct. 04, 2025
The secretary of defense opens his laptop late at night on Sept. 29. He logs on to his favorite AI c... Read More
Artificial Intelligence Meets Natural Stupidity Oct. 03, 2025
We keep hearing that Artificial Intelligence may one day decide to improve the planet by getting rid... Read More
A 'Taught' Story With an 'Anticlimatic' Ending Oct. 01, 2025
Alert members of the Word Guy Blooper Patrol have captured these beauts. Can you spot the blots? 1. ... Read More
Sorry, But I'm Going to Keep Calling You 'Mr.' Sep. 27, 2025
I got called "Georgia" by one of my son's friends the other day. I wasn't insulted — I know f... Read More
The Making of 'Gina School' Offers a Lesson in Collaboration Sep. 26, 2025
When artist and writer John Guillemette posted his "illustration outtakes" from the upcoming book "G... Read More
Laughter for Fun and Profit Sep. 26, 2025
A young entrepreneur is meeting with the executive team of his top corporate client in the office of... Read More
Former Bad Boy 'Proven' Has Proven Its Worth Sep. 24, 2025
Q: The word "proven" seems to have disappeared completely. Every book, magazine article or newspaper... Read More
