Talk of Iowa

Word Maven: Money Words

For the past five years, we've been talking more about money than ever before.  From the 2007 Global Financial Crisis, to the recent mammoth loss at J.P. Morgan Chase, the language of finance seems to occupy more of our brain space.  Today, Charity speaks to our "Word Maven," Patricia O'Conner about the origins and changing use of such terms as "buck," "salary," "credit," "two bits," and many more.  O'Conner is the author of popular word books including "Origins of the Specious," "Woe is I," and "Words Fail Me."

Listen | Download |

Jane Roper: "Double Time"

Humorist Josh Billings wrote in the 19th century, “There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: twins.” When Jane Roper found out she was pregnant with twins, she tried hard to find a memoir from another mother who could give her some advice. She didn’t find it, so she has written her own, “Double Time.” (St. Martin’s Press) It’s an up-close look at her first three years raising twin daughters. This hour, Charity speaks with Roper, who has an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and writes the popular “Baby Squared” blog on Babble.com.

 

 

Listen | Download