A man who divides his time between San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, wonders if linguistic mixtures similar to Spanglish arise at other borders. Spanglish: The Making of a New American Language by Ilan Stavans, offers a look at this...
Don’t think about ordering a soft serve ice cream in Vermont—there, it’s a Creemee. The term has stuck around the Green Mountain State by the sheer force of Vermonter pride. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Creemees” Hello, you...
A Dallas listener says he was confused at first when a friend from rural North Dakota reported coming home and finding a moose in his kitchen. Only later did he learn what difference the so-called Canadian raising of a vowel can make. More about...
wall tattoo n.— «Stencils have come a long way from childhood designs. Often referred to as wall tattoos, stencils can be used as borders or create an overall pattern on a wall.» —“A little paint + a lot of patience a new look” by J.w...
laser visa n.— «The U.S. Embassy in Mexico announced a fee increase for nonimmigrant visas. The fee will be raised by $31, to $131, because of “advances in security, information processing systems and inflation,” embassy officials said. The...
Clinton fence n.— «Just after the morgue-like Border Patrol HQ, the road turns to dirt and the four of us—three Minutemen and I—bounce along in their SUV for a few minutes, due south. Then, abruptly, looms the border, represented here at Campo by...

