Geoff Nunberg says that, like a lot of the Britishisms peppering American speech these days, "spot on" falls somewhere in the blurry region between affectation and flash.
Even Americans Find Some Britishisms 'Spot On'
()Adding a foreign word to your vocabulary is like adding foreign attire to your wardrobe. Sometimes you do it because it's practical and sometimes just because you think it looks cool. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says Americans' use of "spot on" falls somewhere between affectation and flash.
Sweetness And Light
Kickers Are Taking The Kick Out Of Football()
October 17, 2012 So far this year, NFL field goal kickers have made 88 percent of their attempts. They've even made two-thirds of their tries from more than 50 yards. When kickers are that good it hurts the game, says commentator Frank Deford.
It's All Politics
5 Takeaways From The Vice Presidential Debate()
October 12, 2012 Neither Vice President Biden nor GOP Rep. Paul Ryan gave any quarter Thursday night. The two men were pointed and at some points personal in discussing their differences across a broad range of domestic and foreign policy issues.
Books
From Boy King Of Texas To Literary Superstar()
October 11, 2012 A few days ago, Domingo Martinez was just a regular guy working as a graphic designer and writing on the side. Then on Wednesday he woke up to find himself nominated for the National Book Award for nonfiction for his book, The Boy Kings of Texas.
StoryCorps
Veteran: Risks In 1950s Bomb Test 'A Disgrace'()
October 12, 2012 It's hard to determine just how many veterans became ill because they were at nuclear test sites, but one soldier who witnessed more than 20 bomb explosions in the Nevada desert in 1957 says a lot of good men died because of it.
Sweetness And Light
It's Good To Root, Root, Root For The Home Team()
October 10, 2012 In the world of sports — even if you move often — commentator Frank Deford says your loyalty should always be to your hometown team.
StoryCorps
For Special Education Teacher, 'Every Day Is Precious'()
October 5, 2012 Ken Rensink was 19 when he was disabled in a car accident. After 15 years out of the workforce, he decided to devote himself to teaching special education. He's now been at it for more than a decade. "I'm trying to help create folks who will not get rolled by life," he says.
Sweetness And Light
The NFL's Lesson: There's No Replacing Good Refs()
October 3, 2012 Only two groups of people really matter in any game: the players and the officials. That's the lesson the NFL inadvertently taught football fans in the past four weeks, says Frank Deford. At many stadiums, the regular officials were greeted with loud ovations after their lockout ended.
NewsPoet: Writing The Day In Verse
NewsPoet: Philip Schultz Writes The Day In Verse()
September 28, 2012 Each month, NPR's All Things Considered invites a poet into the newsroom to see how the show comes together, and to write an original poem about the news. This month, our NewsPoet is Philip Schultz. Want to write your own poem about the day's news? You can put them in the comments below.
StoryCorps
Finding Health After Letting Go Of Hate()
September 28, 2012 After he was told his brother had been murdered, Charlie Morris was filled with hatred. When he sought medical help for mysterious medical symptoms 10 years later, he realized it was his rage that plagued his body. When he started to forgive, he says his nightmares stopped, and his ailments went away.
Foreign Policy: Losing The Future()
September 26, 2012 As the Spanish government is debating a major bank bailout and Greece goes on general strike, Daniel Altman argues in Foreign Policy that the greatest threat to global economic health is short-term planning.
Weekly Standard: Canvassing The Buckeye State()
September 26, 2012 Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan are in Ohio, campaigning throughout the crucial swing state. David Wolfford argues in The Weekly Standard that Romney must appeal both to his base and to undecided voters in order to carry the state.
New Republic: Obama's Ohio Turnaround()
September 26, 2012 The latest Washington Post poll shows President Obama leading Mitt Romney 52 to 44 in Ohio, even as Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, campaign across the state. The New Republic's Alec MacGillis explains why Obama's lead is remarkable in a state he won by only a slim margin in 2008.
