Quiz Guy John Chaneski presents a “Take-Off” brain teaser, in which the clue suggests a word that, when the first letter is taken off, reveals a second word. In this case, all the first words begin with the letter N. For example, what two words are...
In our earlier conversation about the term clam, which musicians use to refer to a “missed note” or “musical mistake,” Martha misspoke and said a similar term was used in rowing and sculling. Actually, as many listeners pointed out, that term is...
Outdoor enthusiasts divide the idea of fun into three categories: Type I fun is guaranteed to be pleasant, like get-togethers with good friends, Type II fun is miserable when you’re having it, but enjoyable in retrospect, and Type III fun is simply...
catch a crab v. phr.— «And they oohed with disappointment when another boat stopped dead in the water as one of the rowers “caught a crab” as they say in the sport: An oar caught water and was pulled downward resulting in an urgent need to halt the...
seat racing n.— «In rowing, boats qualify for their country based on performance at events like the world championships and other Olympic qualifiers, then the athletes compete for seats in the boats. The process, known as “seat racing,” involves...
This week we kick off our 2008 summer minicasts, offered only online, with two downloads. It’s what we’re calling an estival festival. We hear a lot about political candidates these days. But did you ever stop to think about where the word candidate...

