After our conversation about towns with extremely short names, many listeners wrote to tell us about Why, Arizona. Others pointed out that there are towns called Ely in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nevada. Other super-short appellations include Rye, New...
If you have an aversion to human company and a love of solitude, you have apanthropy, from Greek words that mean “away from humans.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Apanthropy” If you have an aversion to human company or a love of...
Man-happen’in n.— «Jessie Raven, 18, a December graduate from Lincoln-Way Central High School, is getting an education of a lifetime, spending four months in Beijing with her aunt and uncle. It’s a long way from Manhattan, or “Man-happen’in” as she...
kill screen n.— «We talk about what is known in classic-gaming argot as the “kill screen.” This is the edge of the universe, the place where instructions end. Billy has seen a lot of kill screens. Pac-Man comes to a halt at level 256, as the...
A New York babysitter says the English language needs a word to replace the clunky phrase, “the kids I babysit.” The hosts try to help her find one. “Charges”? “Child associates”? “Padawans”? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The...
man-love Thursday n.— «Stoneham is the most colourful—a good-natured, hard-right conservative who mocks gay marriages and would gladly help haul pedophiles to the gallows if asked. If you want to see the veins pop on his forehead, raise the topic...