Category: Feature

• Under the etymological cover of “coverage”

  The roots of coverage span from medieval fire prevention to famous Scottish diaries.  On Monday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that 24 million Americans will lose coverage over the next decade under the Republican plan to replace Obamacare. Let’s follow up on last week’s look at insurance by reading over the etymological terms…

  John Kelly

  March 14, 2017

  Feature

• Who knew the word “insurance” was so complicated?

  Insurance ultimately comes from the Latin securus, “free from care.”  Health insurance was front and center this week as Speaker of the House Paul Ryan debuted his contentious plan to repeal Obamacare. As Washington continues to deal with the political complexities of health insurance, let’s deal with the etymological complexities of the word insurance.

  John Kelly

  March 10, 2017

  Feature

• A country, a hat, a palindrome – “Panama”!

  What do rum and capybaras have in common? Why, the origin of “Panama.”

  John Kelly

  March 8, 2017

  Feature

• From telegraphs to Twitter: a short history of “wiretapping”

  One of the earliest recorded instances of wiretapping involves an anecdote about how Confederate general John Hunt Morgan bet a Union soldier two cigars if he could spell the word Lebanon. In a series of shocking tweets this weekend, President Trump, providing absolutely zero evidence, said President Obama wiretapped his phones during the 2016 campaign.…

  John Kelly

  March 7, 2017

  Feature

• From infantrymen to innovators: the etymology of “pioneer”

  The original pioneers were “foot soldiers” who cleared the way for the rest of the army. This past Monday, US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos described historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as “real pioneers when it comes to school choice.” Her statement came under immediate fire, though, as HBCUs were formed due to a  profound…

  John Kelly

  March 3, 2017

  Feature