SHOP TMN  Introducing The Morning News Annual »
The Morning News

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Currently: binding our very best in hardcover
Today’s Feature: “Bright Inaugural Day, Washington” by Lauren Frey
Latest in Digest: Lincoln Logorrhea
» Advertise on TMN via the Deck

Archives

Michael Erard

Writer Michael Erard lives in Austin with his wife and a catahoula that climbs in the bathtub when it rains. His reporting on language and other topics has appeared, among other places, in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, and the Texas Observer. His book about spontaneity and accidents in talking, Um…: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean, comes out this month from Pantheon. For more, go to www.umthebook.com.

In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was “Um”

Many hear verbal stumbles as a lack of eloquence—or worse, intelligence. However, explains MICHAEL ERARD, there’s a new love and respect for our little hesitations. (Op-Ed | August 9, 2007)

Chicken

Don’t know art but know what you like? How would you like to buy some art and never receive it? MICHAEL ERARD falls for a painting, then gets something unexpected in return. (Personal Essays | December 5, 2006)

Foolish Chances With Words

Laptops making writing easy to produce, and easy to erase. At least with typewriters you’re creating something that, however terrible, lives in the world. MICHAEL ERARD’s remembrance for the dented Olympia of his youth. (Personal Essays | March 15, 2006)


TODAY’S FEATURE

Bright Inaugural Day, Washington

The U.S. presidential inauguration in January will be one for the ages. LAUREN FREY concludes her series of election-related verse with a hat tip to Langston Hughes.

My Incredulous Face

Holiday Travel Hell

Nicole Pasulka compiles tales of horror from the TMN writers.

NOW IN STORE

The Morning News Annual 2008

Introducing our year-end print edition. Favorites from the past year, plus new pieces by some of your favorite TMN writers.

» SHOP NOW

DIGEST

Lincoln Logorrhea

In his cabinet choices, as in his home state, our president-elect mirrors our 16th president. Gore Vidal’s historical novel about Lincoln helps to balance the dozens of more rigid bios.