During the health care debate in Congress, there was lots of talk about an “up-or-down vote.” A Montana listener finds this expression annoying. What’s wrong with plain old “vote”? This is part of a complete episode.
COW n.— «“I have my entire nurse’s desk with me whenever I have my computer. Everything I need to know is in the computer with me,” explains Laura Woolliscroft. R.N., as she types on a laptop that sits on a wheeled cart. Nurses...
bagging n.— «Emergency crews started working to resuscitate her, applying a bag valve mask, a hand-held device used to provide oxygen to patients who aren’t breathing adequately. Using the device is often called bagging the patient...
penny poll n.— «Over the years, various activist groups in town have conducted, usually around Tax Day, something called a “Penny Poll,” in which passersby are given ten (or whatever) pennies and a few jars (military, health...
surround the dragon v. phr.— «In very severe cases, the lesions themselves can be treated with acupuncture needles directly. There are two approaches to this that are used. One is to surround the lesion with small needles. This is a...