San Diego was recently named the top philanthropic city in the U.S. by “Charity Navigator,” which analyzes and ranks the nation’s nonprofits. The word philanthropy derives from the Greek phil “loving” and anthropos, “humanity.” We’re lucky to live and move and have our beings in such an open-hearted and humanity loving community. In the wake […]
As you might have inferred from last week’s column, which explored the influence of comic strips and comic books on our American language, I am a fan-addict of the comics. I truly believe that this art form shines a bright light on our hopes and aspirations, our dreams and our striving and our fears […]
Next week, Comic-Con returns to San Diego, where, back in August 1970, it began life in the basement of the U.S. Grant Hotel. That first event drew more than 300 attendees. This summer, at least 130,000 will flock to the fun as our city perks up to the joys and color of comic book […]
Some people lament that speaking and writing these days are simply a collection of faddish clichés patched together like the sections of prefabricated houses made of ticky-tacky. They see modern communication as a mindless clacking of trendy expressions, many of them from movies and television sitcoms. Why is English parlance in such a parlous state? […]
It’s been a year that I’ve had the surpassing privilege of sharing “Lederer on Language” with you, my verbivorous readers. This first anniversary provides an occasion for me to state my core belief about that astounding phenomenon that we call language. For more than five decades I’ve had the joy of writing about language […]
An anthology is a collection of literary, musical or artistic works gathered in a single setting. The Greek forebear is anthologia: anthos, “flower” + lego, “gather” = “a gathering of flowers.” Just as San Diego is beautified by a vast array of flowers dappling its hills, fields, gardens and median strips, our English language is […]
At the end of the 19th century, a crisis occurred in the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The man who was shot out of the cannon every day was asked by his wife to quit his high-risk profession, much to the distress of the great Phineas Taylor Barnum. P.T., whose wit was equal to his showmanship, […]