Hello, the Gab Festive. This is Bob Garfield with Mike Volo, and we're about to drop a new episode of Lexicon Valley on you. Mikey?

Yes, Bobby. Episode 36. The dude abides. About the word abide.

No, about the word, dude. ubiquitous now and with a swell history.

Swell, that's a pun, right?

You'll just have to tune in to find out.

The newly discovered early history of the word dude.

This Monday, January 27th, on Lexicon Valley.

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Hello and welcome to the plate political GabFest for January 24th, 2014, the Would You Like a Ride in my Ferrari edition?

I'm David Plotz, the editor of Slate, and the whole gang is here. Emily Bazelon, Slate Senior Editor, is down from New Haven.

Hooray, Emily. Thank you, and thank you, Amtrak for running. Now, please will you get me home this afternoon?

Amtrak will get you home this afternoon, I think.

It's fine.

It's not even that bad.

John Dickerson also here.

He schlepped in from the palisades or wherever it is that he lives.

Where no street has been plowed.

He's actually just our street has not been plowed.

...