From cholera to Spanish flu to "Wuhan virus," what we call a disease reveals our fears and prejudices.  Continue reading...

Here's a look back at the brands that made the biggest impact — positive or negative — on technology, culture, and society.  Continue reading...

Want to create your own memorable character names? Here are some strategies that work... and some pitfalls to sidestep.  Continue reading...

In many ways, Prohibition was a social and legal failure, but in one respect it succeeded wildly: It vastly enriched our lexicons of slang and marketing, often to lasting effect.  Continue reading...

What a glorious time to be job-hunting in the US! I'm not talking about the relatively low unemployment rate; I'm referring to the high rate of job-title inflation.  Continue reading...

Do you find 21st-century life shallow and superficial? Take another look: In fact, ours is an era of extraordinary depth — linguistically speaking, anyway. As the 2011 song by Adele put it, we're rolling in the deep.  Continue reading...