Plain English

Plain English


Latest Episodes

Cracks are showing in America's real-estate racket (In the best possible light)
April 15, 2024

" Americans buy and sell millions of homes per year, and about 90 percent of transactions use a real estate agent. But agents in the U.S. charge among the highest rates in the world, thanks to their s

Will new dry 'tiles' be the future of laundry detergent? (Morph into)
April 11, 2024

" First there was powder. Then there was liquid laundry detergent. And then there were laundry ""pods,"" small capsules of pre-measured detergent. But now Proctor & Gamble, the maker of Tide, has a ne

Gabriel García Márquez sons publish last book against author's wishes (Cloud your judgment)
April 08, 2024

" The Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel Garca Mrquez worked on a slim novel called ""Until August"" on and off for decades. In his final years, the author determined the book was not fit for public

Podcasting turns 20 years old (Come to mind)
April 04, 2024

" Twenty years ago, a new computer program let consumers download a feed of audio clips onto their iPod music players. Today, ""podcasting"" serves millions of listeners of all interests. Here's how p

Like it or not, it's Biden vs. Trump again (Pass the torch)
April 01, 2024

" Three years ago, it seemed that neither Biden nor Trump would be on the American presidential ballot in 2024. But now both are, setting up a rematch from four years earlier. Too bad it's a rematch m

Four questions about weight-loss drugs (Press up against)
March 28, 2024

" Weight-loss drugs look to figure prominently in the business and health landscape of the future. So today, we take a look at four questions about these drugs: How do patients' take them? Are they co

The perils of going off weight-loss drugs (Slow down)
March 25, 2024

" Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy have become extremely popular in recent years. Recent studies confirm that patients regain much of the weight they lose if they ever stop treatment. But not everyone ca

How our lives are different after the pandemic (Stick with)
March 21, 2024

" Four years ago, our lives changed in an instant. As the immediate danger of the pandemic subsided, we went back to our old habits of eating indoors, gathering with friends and family, and traveling.

COVID predictions that never came true (Come true)
March 18, 2024

" People would never go on cruises again. They'd probably wear paper face masks in public, even after the pandemic receded. These are just two examples of predictions that did not come true. Four year

Meet me at the 'zombie mall' (Put off)
March 14, 2024

" What happens to a large shopping mall after the biggest stores close? The mall often stays open in a zombie state: fewer customers, lower quality, and a depressing vibe. But they can still be profit