The anatomy of effective prose, and the poetry of anatomy. Ever wonder what it’d be like to audit a class taught by a famous writer? A graduate student’s essay offers a taste of a semester studying with author Annie Dillard. Also, what...
Michelle, who works for the United States Department of Defense in San Diego, California, thinks of the word alibi as excuse, but her coworkers have an additional meaning for it. Toward the end of a meeting, her supervisor will ask if anyone has an...
Israeli bandage n.— «Cpl. Fevens explained how Cpl. Robertson should cut his pants off to look for arterial bleeding that could kill him in minutes. After they determined there was none, Cpl. Robertson used something soldiers call Israeli...
Killadelphia n.— «He said calling Philadelphia “Killadelphia” is a bum wrap because the number of homicides is lower than in past years.» —“Outgoing Police Commissioner Says ‘Killadelphia’ Is Bum Wrap” WCAU...
bandonym n.— «More singer-songwriters have noticed that you don’t need a “bandonym” (in critic Carl Wilson’s useful coinage) to wrap yourself in myth.» —“The Writ Stuff” by Franklin...
chill suit n.— «In an effort to preserve her brain function, doctors at Oklahoma Heart Hospital put Jill in what’s called a “chill suit.” “We moved directly to this induced hypothermia, which is basically a refrigerated...