My Humanities essay on the rise of cool, the American slang term that took on new life beginning in the … More

I am not an acrostic afficianado, but was delighted to learn there is a type of crossword that is used … More

I wrote an article about the history of the term redskin for Lexicon Valley, the language blog on Slate. (Lexicon … More

When it happens I feel as if I have stepped into a Far Side cartoon. I am a magazine editor, … More

Last week I drove to historic Chestertown to talk about The Story of Ain’t with a nonfiction reading group at … More

(from the April 30, 2012, Weekly Standard) “You’re going to Spain with or without your kids?” That was the question … More

(From the April 25, 2005, Weekly Standard) AN OLD WOODEN DESK SITS in my basement, on which I write and … More

(From the April 12 – April 19, 2004, Weekly Standard) I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE shopping for women’s clothing. And on … More

(From the October 26, 2009, Weekly Standard)  “As is” was the description attached to the garage when my wife Cynthia and … More

(from the August 9, 2004, Weekly Standard) MOST WRITERS are desperate to coin a phrase–to tattoo a saying on the body … More