Helpful words

Winnipeg wins a hockey team. But do fans want the Jets back?

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks may be the ones battling it out for the Stanley Cup this week, but Winnipeg is stealing the spotlight. The city’s legions of hoser hockey fans are celebrating after the Atlanta Thrashers announced they will be headed for the Great White North. So what will they be called? From

Update: Government’s naming transparency stumbles yet again.

A few weeks ago we talked about all the “accidental” naming pitfalls of a military mission named Odyssey Dawn, mainly how it sounded like a commitment to a war the length of which makes most Americans cringe. But the Pentagon assured us, via spokesman for U.S. Africa Command Eric Elliot, that nicknames for military exercises or

Manhattan Bagels: full of steam

Manhattan Bagels has more than 65 locations nation wide- the one place they’re not welcome? Manhattan. And that’s because New Yorkers can smell their own. Manhattan Bagels is from Jersey, which, despite its proximity is about as far from Empire living as you can get. And you know what that means, their co-companies Noah’s and

Oregon lawmakers try to rain on the ‘Independent’ party

If freedom isn’t free, then independence is downright unaffordable. A recently killed bill in Oregon tried to ban the use of “independent” in the names of political parties, arguing that the word confuses voters. Sounds like a sensible enough idea … unless your name is the Independent Party of Oregon. The IPO, Oregon’s third-largest party

WTF WWF? WWE? Really?

In 2002, The World Wrestling Federation lost its biggest fight of all – to a baby panda. When the World Wildlife Fund successfully won suit for the rights to their long-held acronym, WWF, the wrestling dynasty was left with what could have been a great opportunity – change. But they flinched. And instead of using the opportunity

Hungary gives Elvis Presley a piece of budapest

Elvis Presley is the new king of Hungary, and I’m not talking about his royal appetite for peanut butter-banana-bacon sandwiches. Elvis is set to be honored in the Central European country, which will make the rocker with the blue suede shoes an honorary citizen and rename one of 12 super-special locations after him. Residents of

Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Razzie: the origins of award names

People love to congratulate each other. Whether it’s for eating lots of hot dogs, writing a catchy song or being able to play make-believe for millions of dollars, awards are our way of saying you’ve done something better than anyone else. Like height, eye color or the preference of boxers over briefs, the desire to