A caller wonders if she’s being hypersensitive about the way her boss addresses her in emails. Can the use of an employee’s first name ever reflect a power differential? And: a community choir director wants a term for “the act of gathering to sing...
Whether it’s a Rubik’s cube or a round of Wordle, why do so many of us find puzzles irresistible? A new book celebrates the allure and psychological benefits of brain teasers. Plus, powerful language for talking about the chronic illnesses and...
This week’s challenge from Quiz Guy John Chaneski involves non-rhyming pairs of words that both end in the letter Y. Try this clue: John and his wife Jennifer recently spent a whole day there last week participating in their civic obligation. What’s...
In the 1920s, a crossword-puzzle craze swept across the United States. The pastime became wildly popular, and even inspired a Broadway musical, Puzzles of 1925. The fad spread through Canada and England, and the Wimbledon Public Library even removed...
An ambitious effort to install poetry in national parks around the United States features the work of beloved poets in beautiful spots. It’s a reminder that “Nature is not a place to visit. Nature is who we are.” Also, Google Translate has expanded...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski is pondering books with titles that include an anagram. For example, what might you call Stephen Hawking’s heavy coffee-table book about people’s attempts over the centuries to get enough roughage in their diet? This is part...