Browsing Month August, 2007
Who Says Etymology Isn’t Sexy?
All right, I realize that I may crash the server with so much babeliciousness in just one blog entry, but I’ve been meaning to post this shot of tennis star Maria Sharapova and me from the Acura Tennis Classic a couple of weeks ago.Here she is asking me about a word origin, and I’m giving more…
A Bouncing Baby @ !
According to news reports, a Chinese couple is trying to name their new baby boy “@.” It had to happen, right? Reuters says: “The whole world uses it to write e-mail, and translated into Chinese it means ‘love him’,” the father explained, according to the deputy chief of the State Language Commission Li Yuming. While more…
Yakkity-Yak — Do Talk Back!
I’m so psyched! For years now, I’ve been aching for an “A Way with Words” discussion forum, where we could continue some of the conversations we begin on the show. Each week after our show airs, we get so many eloquent, insightful, and entertaining letters from you. And we haven’t had anyplace to share all more…
Pomma Pomma Pomma Pomma Pomma Pommeleon
Does English grammar really need a pomma point? I don’t think so, and I told the Chicago Tribune’s Nathan Bierma so here. What do you think? Do we need a punctuation mark for expressing “mild joy, vague happiness or heightened indifference”? Help me out here — is this a Canadian thing?
The Scoop on “A Way with Words”
Actually, my brilliant co-host Grant Barrett said it all so well that anything else I might write at this point would be a waste of pixels. Thanks, Grant!
We Raised $256,000!
In the fight against breast cancer, that is, during the Acura Classic Tennis tournament this week, where I emceed their fundraiser for the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center here in San Diego. Hooray for all those who contributed $256,000 that night. And kudos to the tournament, for ensuring that every single cent of it will more…
Decision-Making in Public Radio
For those who remain gobsmacked about KPBS’s sudden decision to cancel production of the show, there’s some pretty darned interesting discussion of it on one of the KPBS blogs, in which General Manager Doug Myrland tries to explain his reasoning and how decisions are made at the station.
A Special Note to “A Way with Words” Listeners
You can read the news about KPBS suspending production of “A Way with Words” in the San Diego Union-Tribune. This was part of a massive layoff at the station. The good news is that Grant and I are already in talks with other radio outlets and potential sponsors who see a bright future for our more…
Wayword Radio
More anon, but for now, just know that the “A Way with Words” team is hard at work on some exciting new developments. So, stay tuned — and keep those cards and letters comin’! Thanks!
