A pint-sized mad scientist, a green-haired girl with a contagious sense of wonder, and a 10-year-old detective. They’re all characters in the books on Grant’s latest list of recommended books for children. Also, what’s the word for a female octopus...
Did you ever take lessons to play the stomach Steinway? You know, the accordion? That’s another bit of musicians’ slang sent in by a listener, along with the term bunhead, which means “a ballet dancer.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript...
Books for language lovers include Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages, Guy Deutscher’s lay-friendly tour of research on language and thought, and OK: The Improbable Story of America’s Greatest Word, Allan...
scooter skirt n.— «Europeans, in colder places than Seattle, ride year round (often with something called a “scooter skirt,” a warm blanketlike cover for the rider’s lower body).» —“Take a lesson, Seattle, from Europe” by Matthew Scholz Seattle...
Outside n.— «One tough lesson she said she learned Outside, as Alaskans often call the rest of the country: the media is not always fair.» —“Palin Returns to Snow and Cold of Home” by William Yardley in Anchorage, Alaska New York TImes Nov. 7, 2008...
louching n.— «Specially designed for the purpose, it’s shallow-to-flat bowl is decoratively slotted, and a cube of sugar is laid on top. Very slowly, ice cold water is dripped over the sugar cube and slowly drops into the absinthe. That nectar...