Social media and phone usage

This week we discuss more medical terms, including MRIs, EKGs, CAT scans and others; and then we proceed to some talk about food sensitivities. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/122-medicalterms2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! This week’s calendar entry is “feint/faint.”…

This week we discuss medical terms, including accessible care vs. guaranteed care; fractures, sprains, and strains; Alzheimer’s vs. dementia, and more. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/121-medicalterms1.mp3 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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/120-politics12.mp3 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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/119-politics11.mp3 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? Listen to find out. https://…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/117-merryChristmas.mp3 Subscribe…

This week we continue our discussion of terms related to governance and politics. We explore caucuses, lobbyists and PACs, and more. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/116-politics10.mp3 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 …

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/115-politics9.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year …

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/114-thanksgiving2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes…

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 year. Entries we talk about include “auger/augur,” “all …

This week we discuss, define, and explore political leanings: red/blue, liberal, libertarian, conservative, and reactionary. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/112-politics8.mp3 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 “reaction…

This week we discuss, define, and explore deeply more political terms. This time we cover left vs. right, socialism, and communism. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/111-politics7.mp3 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. Th…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/110-politics6.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book! On sale through the end of the year f…

This week we spend the time talking about the word “empire” and its implications. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/109-politics5.mp3 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 “postcol…

This week we focus on the dark side of governmental power: dictatorships, state capitalism, monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy, kleptocracy, and empire. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/108-politics4.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “oppress/repress.” Buy the book! On sale through…

This week we focus on voting and discuss “suffrage,”“franchise,”“republic,” and more about “democracy.” https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/107-politics3.mp3 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.” https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/106-politics2.mp3 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! https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/105-politics1.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: What is the “Sloug…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/104-healthcare6.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: About “Yankee Doodle” in The …

This week we talk more about health care, including long-term care insurance, health savings accounts, death panels, and Charlie Gard. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/103-healthcare5.mp3 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 Medica…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/102-healthcare4.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “realize/reali…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/101-healthcare3.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “tradegy/trage…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/100-healthcare2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s ca…

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. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/99-healthCareVocabulary1.mp3 …

Finally, after three weeks dwelling on words and expressions about idiocy, we turn our attention to some words that say smart. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/98-smart.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “genius.” Riddley Walker Buy the book!…

We’ve been talking about insults to the intelligence, and this week we conclude our discussion of adjectives. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/97-idiotic2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “gull/gall.” Silly Symphonies on YouTube Alessandro di Cagliostro on Wikipedia From John S…

We’ve been talking about insults to the intelligence, and this week we switch the focus to adjectives. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/96-idiotic1.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “French dip with au jus/French dip.” Entry for “hairbrained/harebrained.” Entry for “ignorant/stu…

This week continue our high-minded discussion of terms that insult the intelligence. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/95-idiot3.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “ignorant/stupid.” Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

This week we discuss more words meant as insults to intelligence. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/94-idiot2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “disrespect.” Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

This week we take on some words meant as insults to intelligence and where they come from. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/93-idiot.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: “Trump and the True Meaning of ‘Idiot’” in The New York Times Politically correct language was discussed in episodes 34 and 35. Buy the book!…

This week we literally go back to the archives to replay our podcast on one of Paul’s most popular creations, “Mr. Gradgrind’s Literal Answers to Rhetorical Questions.” https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/06-gradgrind.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: This week’s calendar entry is “beginning of time.” Mr. Gradg…

It’s Rose Festival time here in Portland, the City of Roses. In fact, 110 years ago, June 20–22, 1907, the first Rose Festival was held. Back then it was called the “Rose Carnival and Fiesta,” but we all know a Rose Festival by any other name would smell as sweet. Let’s mark the occasion by rebroadcasting Paul’s lecture, “When Is a Rose Not a Rose?…

You see a lot of stories about various things losing steam or picking it up. This week we rebroadcast Episode 11, in which Paul discussed his interest in that phenomenon and other aspects of the word “steam.” https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/11-steam.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: “Ancestor/Descendant” en…

This week we take a break from usage and language to get some tips from Paul on photography. This time the focus is troubleshooting. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/89-photography6.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Shined/shone entry featured in the calendar this week Previous episodes discussing photograph…

This week we conclude our discussion of antiquated disease names. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/88-diseases4.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Photo of the Week: St. Catherine Links: Downfall/drawback featured in the calendar this week Inspector Clouseau requests a room Buy the book!…

This week we continue to explore antiquated terms for diseases, not all of which are, unfortunately, antiquated themselves. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/87-diseases3.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Old English featured in the calendar this week “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls Buy the book!…

How about another round of antiquated disease names, not all of which are all that pleasant? https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/86-diseases2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

Do you even want to listen? We talk about terms we used to use for various diseases, not all of which are entirely pleasant. You’ve been warned . . . https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/85-diseases1.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

We conclude our discussion on contranyms, words that can mean two very different things. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/84-contranyms4.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: About Amelia Bedilia Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

We continue our discussion on contranyms, words that can mean two very different things. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/83-contranyms3.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

We continue our discussion on contranyms, words that can mean two very different things. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/82-contranyms2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: A sampling of L.M. Boyd’s “factoids” Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

Words whose meanings can be contradictory—sometimes called contranyms, autoantonyms, antagonyms, or Janus words—are this week’s topic. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/81-contranyms1.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Cartoon accompaniment: Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

This week we talk more about photography, with the focus on photographing people. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/80-photography5.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Some of Paul’s photographs of people A volunteer weed-puller working on a property protected by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. She’s watching the ivy she’s pulled of a tre…

This week we take a break, as we do from time to time, from language and usage to discuss one of Paul’s favorite topics: photography. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/79-photography.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

On the podcast this week we discuss some more commonly confused terms, this time on the topic of religion. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/78-religion.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

On the podcast this week we discuss commonly confused terms related to sex and music. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/77-sexandmusic.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

On the podcast this week we continue the discussion of “lies” as a front runner for Word of the Year. In part two we talk about the the current state of presidential lying. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/76-lies2.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: “Trump’s Gold Lining,” by Maureen Dowd Buy the book!…

On the podcast this week we discuss “lies” as a front runner for Word of the Year. In part one we talk about the history of presidential lies. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/75-lies1.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: Buy the book!Από τον Paul Brians

This week we conclude our discussion of romanticism, talking about its lasting influence. https://wmjasco.com/podcasts/74-romanticism5.mp3 Subscribe on iTunes Download mp3 On Stitcher Links: Paul Brians’ essay on romanticism The Definitive Flash Gordon Study Guide for Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Book One The Influence of Nietzsche The Enlig…