Carpe diem! A new book reveals the surprisingly unfamiliar stories behind familiar quotations. Also: Rock climbers have gumbies, and surfers have kooks. What do those words say about beginners who have more confidence than experience? Plus, if...
In the 1930s, a bit of doggerel made the rounds: I come before you to stand behind you to tell you about something I know nothing about. A listener named Patrick sent a longer version that continues Next Tuesday, the day after Friday, there will not...
Our earlier conversation about the word ruminate prompts a Fort Worth, Texas, listener to send a poem that his aunt, an elementary-school teacher, made him memorize as a child: This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Gum...