Mine is a plain-speaking Yorkshire family, not given to expansive verbal gestures or affectionate terms of endearment: we are quiet and reserved in our dealings with others. I reflected on this last ...

Dear Readers: Recently, I ran a question from an older gentleman signing his letter, “Indeed, Not Your Sweetie.” He and his friends wanted to register their disgust at being called “Sweetie,” “Honey,” ...

Likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama this week found himself under one of those unflattering spotlights — the kind that shines on small utterances, making them appear brighter and ...