This week we discuss more medical terms, including MRIs, EKGs, CAT scans and others; and then we proceed to some talk about food sensitivities. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! This week’s calendar entry is “feint/faint.” Advertisements

This week we discuss medical terms, including accessible care vs. guaranteed care; fractures, sprains, and strains; Alzheimer’s vs. dementia, and more. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! This week’s calendar entry is “taunt/taut/tout.”

This week we continue our discussion of terms related to governance and politics. We explore crusades, demagogues, stump speeches, gerrymandering, and barn burners. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! This week’s calendar entry is “vapid/vacuous.”

This week we continue our discussion of terms related to governance and politics. We explore citizenship, civil disobedience, and civil war. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! This week’s calendar entry is “unrest.”

This week we rebroadcast our Christmas episode from 2015. In the spirit of the Christmas season, Paul Brians calls on his background as a scholar of the Bible and discusses some of the important language in the story of Christmas. Do you know the religious tradition of the Magi? The difference between miracle and magic? … Continue reading Episode 118: The Magi(c) of Christmas

When a would-be suicide bomber attempted a terrorist attack in New York City earlier this month, he said he chose his target because there were Christmas-themed posters nearby. This week on the podcast we talk about the more theoretical  war on Christmas, and we discuss holiday greetings. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon … Continue reading Episode 117: Holiday Greetings and the War on Christmas

This week we continue our discussion of terms related to governance and politics. We explore caucuses, lobbyists and PACs, and more. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s calendar entry is “yea/yeah/yay.”

This week we take up our discussion of terms related to governance and politics. We explore the origin of the word “veto,” talk about filibustering and reconciliation, and more. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s … Continue reading Episode 115: Administration, Congress, What Veto Means, and Much More

This week we pick up from last week and serve some Thanksgiving leftovers, including “dolly/handcart,” “duck tape/duct tape,” “between you and me,” and many more entries and cartoons from the book. We also promote the best way to buy the book on sale through the end of the year. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On … Continue reading Episode 114: More on the Book Sale, Plus Thanksgiving Leftovers—“dolly/handcart,” “duck tape/duct tape,” “between you and me,” and Lots More

This week we take a break from our extended discussion of political terms while Tom thanks Paul for creating the Common Errors in English Usage site and book, and Paul thanks Tom for contributing cartoons to the book. We also promote the best way to buy the book on sale through the end of the … Continue reading Episode 113: Giving Thanks for the Book

This week we discuss, define, and explore political leanings: red/blue, liberal, libertarian, conservative, and reactionary. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s calendar entry is “reactionary/reactive.”

This week we discuss, define, and explore deeply more political terms. This time we cover left vs. right, socialism, and communism. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Pre-USSR communist societies. Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s calendar entry is “socialize.”

This week we spend the time talking about several more terms related to politics and government, including bureaucracy, red tape, ballots, voting, constitution, and parliament. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s calendar entry is “beauracracy/bureaucracy.”

This week we spend the time talking about the word “empire” and its implications. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15. This week’s calendar entry is “Romainian/Romanian.” Paul Brians’ essay on “postcolonial literature.” “What have the Romans ever … Continue reading Episode 109: Empire and Colonies

This week we focus on the dark side of governmental power: dictatorships, state capitalism, monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy, kleptocracy, and empire. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “oppress/repress.” Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year for just $15.

This week we focus on voting and discuss “suffrage,”“franchise,”“republic,” and more about “democracy.” Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “Democrat Party/Democratic Party.” Buy the book!

This week we continue our discussion of words related to government and politics, including “feudalism,”“fiefdom,”“monarchy,” and “democracy.” Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “grow.” Buy the book!

This week we begin a discussion of words related to government and politics, starting with “government” and “politics” themselves. First we go over problems with Washington, but not in the way you might think! Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: What is the “Slough of Despond” Paul mentions? This week’s calendar … Continue reading Episode 105: Government and Politics—More Than Just Words

This week we finish up our discussion of useful vocabulary related to health care, including talk about networks, pre-existing conditions, HIPA, Obamacare vs. the ACA, and primary care physicians. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: About “Yankee Doodle” in The New York Times. This week’s calendar entry is “sick/sic.” Buy the … Continue reading Episode 104: Finishing Up Health Care Terms: Networks, HMOs, Pre-existing Conditions, HIPA, and Primary...

This week we talk more about health care, including long-term care insurance, health savings accounts, death panels, and Charlie Gard. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: The New York Times’ Ron Lieber on the ethics of adjusting your assets to qualify for Medicaid. This week’s calendar entry is “able to.” Buy … Continue reading Episode 103: Long-term Care Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Death Panels, and Even More on Health Care

This week we continue our discussion of health care. Unfortunately, we all need to know a whole lot of complicated and confusing terms to get through our current health care debate. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “realize/realise.” Buy the book!

This week we continue our discussion of health care. Unfortunately, we all need to know a whole lot of complicated and confusing terms to get through our current health care debate. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “tradegy/tragedy.” Buy the book!

This week, and in the coming weeks, we will discuss the vocabulary of health care. Unfortunately, we all need to know a whole lot of complicated and confusing terms to get through our current health care debate. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “boost in the … Continue reading Episode 100: More Health Care Terms to Know and Love (or at least know)

The ongoing debate on health care here in the US takes for granted that we understand deductible, co-pay, co-insurance, premium, out-of-pocket limits, and many other often-confusing terms. Since that isn’t always the case, we’ll be discussing the language of health care in the coming weeks. Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: … Continue reading Episode 99: The Language of Health Care (Part 1)