All Culture
In a WordMonkeys in sleeves and other delightful idiomsIn English, the cat is out of the bag. But our Dutch-speaking friends talk of monkeys coming out of sleeves.
Fly-fishing, silence, and common ground: A stepfather’s giftThe noise from the river precluded any conversation, and he made it clear that we weren’t here to talk anyway.
In a WordSorting out the changing meaning of ‘grooming’It’s “grooming” when we take care of our dogs, cats, and horses. A more sinister sense predominates, however.
Driven to become an auto mechanicI drove my precious car – the one with one off-center headlight, no brake lights, no blinkers, no sideview mirrors, and no horn – everywhere.
‘Top Gun’ is back. Will it take moviegoers’ breath away?The “Top Gun” sequel is banking on a formula that worked in the 1980s: Swaggery hero, slick visuals, catchy music. But is that enough to woo today’s audiences?
In Pictures: A taste of Afghanistan helps these bakers find home in IndiaIn India, these naanwais may have left Afghanistan behind, but they’ve brought a slice of home with them.
- In Pictures: A taste of Afghanistan helps these bakers find home in India
In India, these naanwais may have left Afghanistan behind, but they’ve brought a slice of home with them.
‘We Own This City’: Can a show about corruption lead to better policing?HBO’s “We Own This City,” based on a true story – and helmed by alums of “The Wire” – aims to get people talking about police reform.
In a WordUkraine's 'Surzhyk' hybrid language came from 'flour mix'Once shunned by both the Ukrainian and Russian elite, Surzhyk has been adopted by Ukraine’s counterculture.
First LookSNL shakeup: Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson are leavingIn a major cast shakeup, four Saturday Night Live actors are leaving the show: Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney.
‘Downton Abbey’: Is a Crawley road trip the diversion filmgoers need?With the release of a second movie, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” how is the popular franchise about aristocrats and the people who serve them staying relevant?
I’m up a tree, and I like itSome adults look at a climbable tree and say, “Why?” When our essayist sees one, he says, “Why not?”
In a WordGoing in circles by 'begging the question'What does the phrase 'begs the question' really mean, and why is its use – or misuse – so contentious?
To fish is to live just a moment in the futureYour pole tip could bend in the next second – or in a second that won’t happen till tomorrow, essayist Murr Brewster writes.
First LookUkrainian band Kalush Orchestra takes Eurovision crown amid warThe band took first place on a surge of popular support amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite strong showings from other nations’ competitors.
In Pictures: At the cardboard boat regatta, sinking is part of the funIn Cape Coral, Florida, families and friends build boats out of cardboard and race them for fun and bragging rights. Yes, they float. For a while.
In New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, our garden grows a sense of placeWhen our essayist transformed a vacant lot next to his new home into a garden, he soon realized he would reap much more than produce.
In a WordWhen names for cockroaches reflect national rivalriesPoles might have francuzi (“Frenchies”) in their cupboards, while Rhaeto-Romance speakers in Switzerland could have a sclaf (“Slav”) or two.
Cumberbatch’s universe, beyond Doctor StrangeFor Benedict Cumberbatch, acting is all about versatility. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most recent beneficiary.
Language lesson: A professor learns the power of praiseWhen a professor signed up to take an introductory Arabic class, he learned a bonus lesson: how to become a better teacher.
