We all lead busy lives—so are speed reading courses a good idea? Plus, if you hear someone speaking with a British accent, do you tend to assume they’re somehow more intelligent? And some common English surnames tell us stories about life in the...
“The face of a child can say it all. Especially the mouth part of the face.” That deep thought is brought to you by Jack Handy. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Jack Handy Quote” Grant, here’s a proverb I know you will appreciate...
Here’s a handy word: fomite. It means “an inanimate object that can transmit an infectious agent” like a doorknob handle or a comb infested with head lice. It also has a picturesque Latin origin. Martha explains, and shares a related word: Dracula...
Some folks use the old-fashioned exclamation “Good night, nurse!” as a handy substitute for a cussword. But where’d it come from? Grant explains how this phrase became popular in the early 20th century. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript...
Navy veterans will recognize the two-fingered gesture that looks as if someone’s turning an invisible doorknob. It accompanies the order turn to, meaning “get to work.” How did this handy expression get started? This is part of a complete episode...
stand-up historian n.— «The Great Squirrel Stampede of 1826 is one of David Heighway’s favorite tales. Caused by an overpopulation of squirrels that lost their food supply for natural reasons across the Midwest, it’s on the local historian’s A-list...