Page Updated: Friday, December 13, 2019 4:02 PM ET
Christian Science Monitor - Entertainment
The year's 10 best movies: From 'Honeyland' to 'A Beautiful Day' Critic Peter Rainer's year-end list includes the documentary "Honeyland," but also "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," "Booksmart," and "Parasite."
1 day ago
In a Word - When should you accept 'fulsome' praise? The more research I did into the history of fulsome, the more confused I became. This slippery word has distinct, sometimes contradictory meanings.1 day ago
Cards were a level playing field - Growing up, family visits in Jackson, Mississippi always included epic games of gin, hearts, and spades.2 days ago
In a Word - 'And/or' part 2: The fault lies not in conjunctions, but in ourselves - The term "and/or" rapidly became known for producing more problems than it solved, especially in the legal realm. Can sign language save us?8 days ago
Buddy Holly's back ... as a touring hologram. But is it 'live' music? -- Can holograms play "live" music? The desire for authentic experiences and artist longevity is pushing the boundaries of what constitutes performance.8 days ago
The Himalayas, at last -- I was in Nepal on business, and I had only one chance to see the peaks of the Himalayas. Or so I thought.8 days ago
In a Word -- No good substitute for the clumsy 'and/or' -- And/or may not be beautiful, but it usually does the job. It seems we are stuck with it – but perhaps Boolean logical operators offer a solution.2 days ago
How comic books set me on the road to reading -- My earliest companions included "Richie Rich" and "Little Archie," but also "Jane Eyre" (the comic).16 days ago
Cheeky 'Knives Out' keeps you guessing (and laughing) -- Director Rian Johnson infuses his modern whodunit with zippy dialogue, social commentary, and a star-studded cast.16 days ago
In a Word -- Be Thankful, Stand Fast, and other Puritan names -- Puritans frequently bestowed "grace names" as a way of encouraging children to strive for moral goodness.9 days ago
Near-perfect 'A Beautiful Day' captures the wholeness of Fred Rogers -- "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," inspired by an Esquire article, is about the beneficence bestowed by Fred Rogers upon all in his orbit.22 days ago
Before apps, there was a gadget for that -- I've inherited my father's penchant for purchasing "miracle" devices, a few of which actually work.23 days ago
TV that takes you from an alternate Oxford to a galaxy far, far away -- Disney Plus debuted "The Mandalorian" Nov. 12, and HBO is offering "Watchmen" and "His Dark Materials." Which are worth viewers' time?23 days ago
In a Word -- A 'murder of crows' and other collective nouns -- Did you know there's a special word for a group of cats? Welcome to Part 2 in our series on the strange world of collective nouns.29 days ago