Doubtless there has been some exaggeration in the picturesque and fanciful relations of the almost preternatural skill and cunning of the Indian […]

Even usually thoughtful newspapers such as the Washington Post have cited skateboarding as an irresponsible and vandalous activity to be banned from city streets.

But celebrities actually have a weak effect on baby names. As of 2000, the pop star Madonna had sold 130 million records worldwide but hadn't generated even the ten copycat namings―in California, no less―required to make the master index of four thousand names from which the sprawling list of girls' names on page 227 was drawn.

I lowered the starboard leeboard. I sent Kester up forward with the binoculars. 'Any buoy,' I told him, 'just yell and point.'