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What's the Word: TERMINUS pronunciation: [tər-mən-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A final point in space or time; an end or extremity. 2. The end of a railroad or other transportation route, or a station at such a point; a terminal. Examples: "The terminus of the highway construction is scheduled for April 2026." "Take the subway to the terminus, and I'll meet you there." About Terminus You might recognize the adjective "terminal," meaning "situated at the end," but "terminus" is the noun form. Use this word to distinguish an end point, either in space or time. It's a handy word to pull out at the end of a party: "This is the terminus. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." Did you Know? Another usage of "terminus" is as a name for a specific architectural feature. In that case, a terminus is a figure of a human bust or an animal, ending in a square pillar from which it appears to spring. These features were originally used as boundary markers in ancient Rome.

Fact of the Day - GIANT MUSHRROMS Did you know.... Long before trees, Earth was home to towering organisms called Prototaxites, which lived during the Late Silurian through the Devonian periods, roughly 420 million to 350 million years ago. Fossil evidence shows they could reach up to 24 feet tall and 3 feet wide, making them the largest land organisms of their time. Most plants back then measured only a few inches, forming low mats of mosses, liverworts, and early vascular species. Land animals — millipede-like arthropods, primitive insects, and early amphibians — were also relatively small, and the first treelike plants would not appear until millions of years later, making Prototaxites the giants of their prehistoric world. For more than a century, scientists debated whether Prototaxites were plants, fungi, algae, or lichens, since nothing comparable exists today. Their fossil “trunks” were composed of tightly packed microscopic tubes, unlike vascular tissues in plants, and they lacked roots, leaves, or wood. Isotope studies suggest they lived as heterotrophs, absorbing nutrients from decaying organic matter rather than producing their own food. They may also have played a role in shaping primitive soils and nutrient cycles, and some researchers speculate their massive columns offered shelter to small arthropods. Although scientists are still investigating how Prototaxites lived and precisely what role they played in early ecosystems, evidence now points to them being either fungi or an otherwise unknown fungus-like branch of life. Some mushrooms can glow in the dark. Bioluminescent fungi, such as Panellus stipticus and Mycena chlorophos, emit a soft green light through chemical reactions involving enzymes and oxygen. This glow serves multiple ecological purposes: It may deter predators, attract insects to help spread spores, or even protect the fungi from harmful oxidative stress. In dense forests at night, patches of these glowing mushrooms can make the forest floor shimmer as if dotted with tiny lanterns. Interestingly, more than 130 fungi species are known to exhibit bioluminescence, making it more common among fungi than among animals. In Japanese folklore and among Indigenous cultures in Central and South America, bioluminescent mushrooms were often thought to be the spirits of the dead. Today, their glow reminds us even seemingly ordinary organisms hold hidden wonders, quietly illuminating the ecosystems we may otherwise overlook. Source: The Earth used to be covered in giant mushroom-like organisms.

What's the Word: EXTRAMUNDANE pronunciation: [eks-trə-mən-DEYN] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Outside or beyond the physical world. Examples: "My niece loves to pretend she is playing with fairies and other extramundane creatures." "Mythology from almost every culture contains extramundane stories and folklore." About Extramundane Today, if you call someone "extra," it means they're over the top and dramatic. However, the Latin origin doesn't concern being "too much"; it just means "outside." Pair it with "mundus" for "the world," and "extramundane" describes something not of this physical world. Did you Know? Lightning, seasons, animal discoveries — we have many modern scientific explanations for phenomena that in the past was attributed to the supernatural in mythology and folklore passed down through generations and across cultures. Humans have always had an interest in what lies beyond our world. As an adjective, "extramundane" can be used to describe anything outside the earthly realm.

Fact of the Day - LEATHER DIAMONDS ON BACKPACKS Did you know... You probably don’t need an instruction manual to understand how backpacks work, but they’re often adorned with one common feature that’s largely overlooked: a little leather diamond patch sewn onto the outside. This embellishment is called a “lash tab,” and it serves more than a simply decorative purpose, as it was initially used by mountaineers to secure their gear. The name comes from the word “lashing,” defined by Merriam-Webster as “something used for binding, wrapping, or fastening.” These tabs are also colloquially referred to as “pig snouts,” as the two vertical slits resemble a pig’s nose. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, JanSport product director Ryan Lee said, “The diamond lashing square was used to hold ice tools for mountaineering expeditions, particularly the ice axe.” Hikers would feed a rope or cord through the slits, allowing them to tie up their equipment. This made it easier to access the items, which would hang off the bag instead of being tucked inside. These practical leather patches began appearing on mountaineering bags in the 1930s, expanding to more general recreational backpacks as the century progressed. By the 21st century, the tabs were relied on less for function and more for their rugged, retro design aesthetic. However, they can continue to serve a purpose if desired. Some outdoor enthusiasts may hang a carabiner off the lash tab to secure their water bottles, while others thread their shoelaces through to hang muddy boots after a long hike. The world’s two tallest mountains are located in Hawaii. At 29,032 feet, Mount Everest is the world’s highest in terms of its elevation above sea level. But while Everest is the highest, the two tallest mountains in the world are located on the island of Hawaii, though each is largely hidden under the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Measuring from base to peak, the tallest mountain is Mauna Kea — a dormant volcano that’s estimated to stand at 33,481 feet from toe to tip. However, roughly 59% of this mountain is located underwater; only 13,796 feet are exposed above sea level. (This still makes it the highest point in the state of Hawaii.) Located to the south is Mauna Loa, an active volcano measuring more than 30,000 feet from the ocean floor to its peak. Mauna Loa reaches comparable heights of 13,681 feet above sea level. Source: The leather diamonds on backpacks were originally used for mountaineering.

What's the Word: TOOTHSOME pronunciation: [TOOTH-səm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. (Of food) Temptingly tasty. 2. (Of a person) Good-looking; attractive. Examples: "The dessert case was bursting with toothsome pastries and pies." "Look beyond his toothsome exterior and get to know his personality a bit." About Toothsome When talking about food, "toothsome" is usually paired with a diminutive noun: "morsel," "tidbit," "nibble." These delicate bites seem more toothsome than a big hunk of cheese or an oversized value meal. Did you Know? You look good enough to eat! The original usage of "toothsome" meant a general sense of attractiveness, going all the way back to Chaucer's time. But if we're talking about teeth, eating comes into play, and it makes sense that the usage of the adjective evolved to cover tasty treats.

Fact of the Day - CUMULUS CLOUD Did you know.... When people draw clouds, the results are usually big, fluffy, white creations, known scientifically as cumulus clouds. Although there are dozens of different cloud types, this is the one we most often associate with the word “cloud.” Though they may not be as mesmerizing as lenticular clouds hovering over volcanoes or as puzzling as arcus clouds stretching for miles, there still are some facets of them that truly boggle the mind. Take, for instance, the weight of an average cumulus cloud. Although these collections of water vapor seem to float effortlessly, clouds are extremely heavy. In fact, according to the United States Geological Survey, the average cumulus cloud weighs 1.1 million pounds. If a cloud floats, how do you weigh it? Well, the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research estimates that the average cumulus cloud is about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long and 1 kilometer tall, or a billion cubic meters in volume. Meanwhile, the water density of a typical cumulus cloud is 0.5 grams (about a marble’s worth) per cubic meter. That means the average cumulus cloud holds 500,000,000 grams of water — or 1.1 million pounds. But while we have the equivalent of 100 elephants floating above our heads, the dryer, denser air beneath the cloud is even heavier, which is why those clouds can harmlessly float on by. Three of the world’s 10 sunniest cities are in Arizona. The sunniest place in the world is Yuma, in the southwest corner of the extremely arid state of Arizona; the city receives 4,000 hours of sunlight every year. However, Yuma isn’t alone — nearby Tucson and the state’s capital, Phoenix, are also in the world’s top 10 sunniest places. Nearly the entire state exists in a rain shadow caused by mountains in nearby California. This means little moisture, which in turn means little cloud cover. All in all, it’s a pretty poor place to go cloud gazing. Source: The average cumulus cloud weighs 1.1 million pounds.

What's the Word: BÉCHAMEL pronunciation: [bey-shə-MEL] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 17th century Meaning: 1. A rich white sauce made with milk infused with herbs and other flavorings. Examples: "The secret to homemade mac and cheese is a good béchamel." "To pass the French sauces class, each student had to make a perfect béchamel." About Béchamel Béchamel is a standard white sauce, made with butter, flour, and milk. As basic as the ingredients are, it can add a lot of depth to your cooking. It's usually spelled with an accent mark over the first "e," thanks to its French roots. The inventor of the sauce was the Marquis Louis de Béchamel, the steward to King Louis XIV of France. Did you Know? You might whip up a mean pancake breakfast, sear a perfect steak, or have a secret recipe for your chocolate chip cookies, but what about sauces? Professional chefs swear by the five French "mother sauces" — béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Master these, and you'll have the basic building blocks for all other sauces.

What's the Word: PHILOMATH pronunciation: [soo-SUR-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Ancient Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. A lover of learning; a student or scholar. 2. An astrologer or predictor. Examples: "If I've earned a reputation for anything, I hope it's for being a lifelong philomath." "Go back in the family tree, and you'll find a few wise women and even a philomath." About Philomath If you've ever described yourself as an audiophile (a lover of high-quality music and audio equipment) or a bibliophile (a lover of books), you already understand half of this word. A philomath is a lover of learning — particularly mathematics, philosophy, and other humanities. Did you Know? The close cousin of a philomath is a polymath. The philomath truly loves learning in specific categories, but the polymath has a broad swath of knowledge. They may not have a deep well of knowledge in one subject, as a philomath might, but they are learned in many (poly) areas.

Fact of the Day - FAKE SPIDER WEBS Did you know.... Along with jack o’ lanterns, skeletons, and ghosts, spider webs are a classic part of creepy Halloween décor. But the spooky faux webs can be more dangerous than they appear. Now that the warm, sunny days of summer have wound down and been replaced by cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes, many will get the urge to bust out their Halloween decorations and string those creepy-looking artificial spider webs around their yards. And though fall is certainly the time for spooky décor, those fake spider webs can turn into a truly scary situation for birds, bees, and other wildlife. The Hazards of Fake Spider Webs as Halloween Décor Artificial spider webs are made out of dense cotton, PVC, or other artificial fibers. The stretchy structures don’t break readily and can be difficult for animals to see at night or in low light conditions; this makes it easy for small creatures to fly or walk into them and become stuck. There have been many reports of birds trapped in their fibers, leading to broken limbs and even death. Some birds have even been spotted using the artificial material to make their nests—and though a nest decked out in Halloween décor sounds cute, it can potentially trap or harm their chicks. Bees, chipmunks, and other small animals can also become stuck and injured in the webbing. If the risk to animals isn’t enough of a reason to not use artificial webbing, the fake spider webs are also highly flammable. There’s always an uptick in fires around Halloween, often due candles and overheating lights (plus, in certain places, some good old fashioned arson). If the artificial webs catch fire, the blaze could ignite and spread quickly throughout your yard and home. Alternatives to Artificial Spider Webs If you want to ditch the dangerous material but don’t want to say goodbye to an arachnid-themed display, there are some safer, eco-friendly solutions to choose from when adding fake spider webs to your Halloween décor. You can simply display the fake webs inside your home (making sure you don’t hang them too close to any candles or hot light bulbs, of course). Just drape the webs in window frames, on mirrors, and across doorways. Alternatively, you could make fake spider webs of all sizes out of rope and knots; these won’t present a danger to the non-human creatures in your neighborhood. Another safe-for-wildlife web decoration option is to make them out of paper. For a really eye-catching fake web, try making your own dramatic DIY light-up web using some simple supplies and string lights, or simply purchase a pre-made one. Source: Why You Shouldn’t Put Out Fake Spider Webs This Halloween

What's the Word: SUSURRUS pronunciation: [soo-SUR-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. Whispering, or rustling. Examples: "The quiet susurrus of the wind is a soothing backdrop for reading." "You could hear the susurrus of the audience before the curtain went up." About Susurrus It's not technically an onomatopoeia (a word that resembles a sound, such as "plop" or "meow"), but it's pretty close. "Susurrus" means "a soft whisper or murmuring sound." It's what you hear when the wind blows through fall leaves or waves are crashing on the shore. Did you Know? In Latin, "susurrus" is a noun for a whisper, and "susurrare" is the verb for "to murmur or hum." In English, we've maintained "susurrus" as a noun for a whispering noise, but you might also see it as "susurration." We prefer to stick to the more poetic and original Latin spelling.

Fact of the Day - WHY? WHY? WHY? Did you know... Answering the same question over and over and over again can get grating. But there are important developmental reasons behind why young children are so into asking “why.” If you’ve ever spent time with a preschooler, you’ve probably been hit with the famous barrage: “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do dogs bark?” “Why can’t I eat cookies for breakfast?” Before you can finish one answer, they’re on to the next. It’s adorable … until you’ve fielded your 107th question of the hour (and that’s no exaggeration—one study found that kids between 14 months and 5 years old ask an average of 107 questions per hour). So what’s behind kids’ obsession with asking “why?” We explain below. New Connections in the Making Around age 2 or 3, kids’ brains start making new connections at lightning speed. They’re piecing together how the world works—and once they learn that adults can give them the information they want on demand, they lean into it. Asking “why” helps them link cause and effect—something they start learning at a very young age. It’s their way of saying, “Wait, so if this happens, does that mean that will too?” Every answer you give builds another block in their mental Lego tower. Why Asking “Why” Is So Important Parents sometimes assume kids fire off “why” questions just to stay in the spotlight. But psychologists say it’s more than that. Kids are genuinely trying to understand the world, and your explanations give them comfort. Think about it: for most people, when they know what’s coming next, they’ll often feel less anxious. The same goes for kids. By asking “why,” they’re learning how to predict what happens in their ever-expanding little universe; this helps them feel safer and more confident. Sometimes, “why” isn’t really about the answer at all. It’s about sharing excitement. If your child spots a butterfly and asks, “Why is it orange?”, they might already have a theory. But really, they’re saying, “Hey, I noticed this cool thing, will you notice it with me?” How to Respond When Your Kid Won’t Stop Asking “Why” The constant questioning can be exhausting. But it’s also a sign of a healthy, curious, imaginative mind at work. That shared back-and-forth builds self-esteem. Rather than shutting down the endless barrage of questions, try prompting them to figure out the answer. A simple “you tell me” or “why do you think?” can help a child come up with an explanation on their own. Be mindful of your tone and body language—as frustrating as answering the same question over and over again can be, you don’t want to discourage your kid from being curious. And, if you really need a break, you can always tell your kid you’ll answer their question at a later time. If your kid does happen to ask a question that leaves you truly stumped, you can use it as an opportunity to learn something new together. Source: Why Do Little Kids Love to Ask “Why”?

What's the Word: NONPAREIL pronunciation: [nahn-pə-REL] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, early 16th century Meaning: 1. An unrivaled or matchless person or thing. 2. A flat round candy made of chocolate covered with white sugar sprinkles. Examples: "In my opinion, the 1961 version is the nonpareil of 'The Parent Trap' movies." "I always indulge in a box of nonpareils when I go to the movies." About Nonpareil The Latin breakdown of this word is pretty simple. "Non" means "not," and "pareil" is "equal." The description means that the nonpareil is leaps and bounds better; it's so good that there can be no equal. Did you Know? We agree that nonpareils are quite unparalleled when it comes to chocolate treats, and you might love them even more when you find out how easy they are to make. Melt some bittersweet chocolate and mix it with a dab of vegetable shortening. Then spoon coin-sized circles of chocolate onto a baking sheet. Top with sprinkles, then cool until hard. Now you have your very own stash of nonpareils.

Fact of the Day - SCORPION VENOM Did you know... Most rational people are inclined to leave scorpions well enough alone, given those stinger-tipped tails that administer venom capable of paralyzing their prey (and worse). Yet there are certain intrepid souls willing to brave the dangers and coax these arachnids into unleashing their toxins, for the simple reason that scorpion venom can sell for as much as $39 million per gallon. Who actually dishes out the dough for this potent liquid? The medical industry, as venom from scorpions, spiders, vipers, and an array of other creatures has been found to provide compounds with surprising health benefits for humans. The venom of the deathstalker scorpion, for example, contains a peptide called chlorotoxin, which can pinpoint the location of aggressive brain tumors. Another species, the Diplocentrus melici, produces venom with 1,4-benzoquinone compounds that kill highly infectious bacteria, including the strains that cause tuberculosis. Unsurprisingly, the monster dollar signs linked to this particular field have inspired a sub-industry of scorpion farmers and breeders, some of which are endangering scorpion populations. Insiders caution against getting involved for the money, though: For one thing, the venom has to be “milked” in absolutely sterile conditions; it’s a laborious process to do so, and the minute amounts that change hands between buyers and sellers aren’t going to pay off anyone’s mortgage. Additionally, many labs have turned to synthesized versions of the isolated compounds needed for their research. Antimatter is the most expensive substance on Earth. If you think scorpion venom costs a pretty penny, then imagine the payment plan you’d need to meet the $2.7 quadrillion price tag for one gram of antimatter. As you may recall from high school physics, antimatter is a substance that has the opposite electric charge of the ordinary matter that fills up most of our universe; because naturally occurring antimatter detonates upon contact with regular matter, the only way to obtain it for a significant length of time is by way of high-speed collisions generated by immensely powerful and expensive particle accelerators (currently only available at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research). So what purpose does this elusive material serve? The observation of antimatter production has been used for medical radio imaging, and it’s been speculated that the energy created by matter-antimatter collisions could be harnessed for space travel. Otherwise, the practical applications are pretty minimal, as fascinating as it is for scientists to study. Source: Scorpion venom is among the most expensive liquids on the market.

What's the Word: CHIFFONADE pronunciation: [shif-ə-NAHD] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A preparation of shredded or finely cut leaf vegetables, used as a garnish for soup. Examples: "Sprinkle the soup with a chiffonade of basil before you serve it." "The chef assigned the assistant to cut the chiffonade needed for the day." About Chiffonade A chiffonade is a quick way to add a splash of color and flavor to your food. Stolen from the French verb "chiffonner," meaning "to crumble," "chiffonade" is a noun for delicate strips of herbs. It can also be used as a verb to describe the process of slicing the greens. Did you Know? Even if you haven't heard the word, you'll likely recognize a chiffonade — it's the finely chopped preparation of herbs or greens sprinkled on top of your food. It looks fancy, but it's quite easy to do. Stack the leaves, roll them into a thin cigar shape, and then slice across the roll to form thin ribbons. Now you have a chiffonade of herbs to decorate and flavor your dish.

Fact of the Day - 1 MILLION INHABITANTS Did you know.... Today, Tokyo is the world’s largest city by population, with more than 37 million residents, but long before the Japanese metropolis took that honor, there was another record-holder: Rome. The ancient city was the world’s largest back in 133 BCE, when it became the first city to reach 1 million inhabitants. Everyday life in ancient Rome was largely dictated by wealth: Affluent residents lived in finely decorated townhouses (and often had countryside estates for trips out of the city), while lower-income citizens resided in apartment-like buildings called insulae. But all social classes enjoyed the perks of living in a major city, including fresh water piped in from aqueducts, and the availability of markets, entertainment, and even food stalls that served quick meals. Rome’s population eventually declined as the Roman Empire fell, yet no city surpassed its record population for millennia — that is, until London became the world’s largest city, with 1 million people in 1800 and more than 6 million people by 1810. Two-thirds of the world’s population will likely live in a city by 2050. Modern human societies haven’t always gravitated toward city life — in the 1800s, only 3% of the world’s population lived in a metropolis. That changed with the Industrial Revolution, which drew large numbers of workers to cities, and today, 80% of Americans live in an urban environment, a trend that’s echoed around the globe and not expected to decrease. In fact, a United Nations report from 2018 predicts that two out of every three people will live in a city by 2050. Many of the globe’s busiest cities will continue to grow, and some will become megacities — areas with more than 10 million people — creating the potential for some cities to become more important than countries, changing maps and impacting economies. Source: Rome was the first city to reach 1 million inhabitants.

What's the Word: DIVARICATE pronunciation: [di-VAR-ə-kayt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Stretch or spread apart. 2. Diverge widely. Examples: "You'll want to divaricate the new plantings in the garden to allow the roots to grow." "We divaricate on certain issues, but we agreed to put our differences aside for family dinner." About Divaricate Divaricate, meaning "stretching or spreading apart," traces back to Latin. "Varicare" means "to stretch the legs apart," and the prefix "di-" means "expressing intensive force." Did you Know? As a verb, "divaricate" means "to separate or diverge." It's also used in botany as a noun for a branching pattern of leaves. In that sense, it can be an adjective as well. Shrubs often have divaricating leaves.

What's the Word: INCIPIENT pronunciation: [in-SIP-ee-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, late 16th century Meaning: 1. In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop. 2. (Of a person) Developing into a specified type or role. Examples: "His incipient excitement built up the week before he started the new job." "We started out as colleagues, but we're incipient friends." About Incipient The meaning of "incipient" changes slightly depending on whether it's being used to describe a thing or a person. For a person, "incipient" means they have the potential to develop into the role. For a thing, "incipient" means it's in the early stages. Did you Know? This adjective got its start as a noun in the 16th century. "Incipient" meant "a beginner." Today, you could use "novice," "amateur," "apprentice," "initiate," or "recruit" as a noun for someone just starting out.

Fact of the Day - CATS Did you know... Cats sometimes act like a bowl of water is something to approach with extreme caution. There’s a reason for it, though. Cats: People love them, but few understand them. From chilling out in bathroom sinks to having their tongue hang out of their mouth, felines have certain behaviors that can be puzzling to owners. One common cat habit is to stick a paw in a bowl of drinking water. Is the cat afraid their owner is poisoning them? Do they realize this is not hygienic behavior? Why do cats do this? The Cat Behavior, Explained According to cat behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett, cats have a number of motivations for wetting their paw. One relates to the sensitivity of their whiskers. If a cat dips their head into a bowl before sampling how shallow or deep it might be, they run the risk of feeling pressure on the hairs from the sides or bottom of the bowl. To avoid the discomfort, cats will assess the bowl’s “feel” or just use their paw like a spoon, slurping water from it to avoid irritating the hairs. Cats dislike deep water bowls for another reason. If lowering their head inside one means they can no longer visualize their environment, they might feel vulnerable, especially in a multi-cat household. If the bowl is too close to the wall, this may motivate them to use the paw-as-utensil trick as well, otherwise they’d have to keep their back turned toward the room in order to drink from it. Cats may also dip their paw because it creates ripples in the water. This may be of interest to them for two reasons. One, cats may have an instinct from an evolutionary standpoint to choose water sources that are flowing rather than stagnant and potentially harmful. (If they prefer moving water, you might catch them drinking out of faucets.) Two, the cat may be doing it for amusement. How to Stop Your Cat From Dipping a Paw in Its Water Bowl If you’re displeased with your cat’s habit, you can try using a wide, narrow water bowl to relieve any whisker discomfort. If you think it might be for personal security reasons, try having multiple water bowls for the cats in your home. If the cat is doing it for stimulation, then maybe more recreation time is in order. In rare cases, cats might be interacting with their water bowl owing to poor eyesight due to age or a health condition. You can always get them checked out, but in most cases, cats pawing at their bowl is typical cat behavior—slightly weird but mostly justifiable. Source: Why Do Cats Dip Their Paw in Water Bowls?

What's the Word: TWITTERPATED pronunciation: [TWIH-dər-pay-dəd] Part of speech: adjective Origin: American English, 1940s Meaning: 1. Infatuated or obsessed. 2. In a state of nervous excitement. Examples: "I'm twitterpated over the new collection from my favorite designer." "The family was twitterpated as they waited for the announcement of the new baby." About Twitterpated This word has nothing to do with hashtags or the company formerly known as "Twitter." "Twitterpated" is a relatively modern term for being nervously excited or even overwhelmed by a crush. "Twitter" is a 17th-century word for "excitement,” and "pate" means "head." In 1940s slang, "twitterpated" described being so excited that you lose your head. Did you Know? Thank Walt Disney for this word. In the 1942 animated classic "Bambi," the wise owl explains to Thumper and Bambi the cause of all the excitement around them: "Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime." Quite simply, when animals (and people) fall in love, they get twitterpated.

Fact of the Day - BALLPARK FIGURE Did you know.... We ballpark the origins of a popular phrase. Anyone who has ever had a skilled laborer eyeball a plumbing problem or had a body shop assess car damage is probably familiar with the phrase ballpark figure. It’s what you ask for when you want a rough idea of the cost, time, or dimensions of an unrealized project. “What’s the ballpark figure on fixing my garage door,” you might say. Or, “Ballpark, how long it will take to get me a ballpark estimate.” But why do we use ballpark as a verb or as a means of making guesstimations? The Origin of Ballpark Figure As you no doubt know, ballpark figure stems from a long list of slang terms derived from baseball. The Oxford English Dictionary dates its earliest use as a figurative term to 1943, citing it as United States Air Force slang for a general and inexact geographical area. It was later adopted by the space program: A capsule expected to land in a general part of the ocean might be said to be landing “within the ballpark area.” Ballpark as a verb, or what the OED defines as “to estimate the approximate value, amount, extent, etc.” of something, dates to 1957, when Aviation Week wrote that “Once this pattern is ‘ball-parked’ for approximate actual size, it’s ready for detail design.” The same year also saw a syndicated newspaper columnist alert readers to new “Pentagon language” in circulation in Washington, defining the government’s use of ballpark figure as a “very rough estimate” of program costs. A scintillating citation also comes from 1973’s Basic Electronic Test Procedures, which states “Since we are ‘ball-parking’ rather than making a precise measurement, the physical position of the rheostat wiper arm will give us the desired information.” Ballpark, it seemed, was a favorite among bureaucrats and engineers who liked it as a euphemism for estimate. Numerous phrases and metaphors populate ballpark in this context. One might get or offer a ballpark figure, ballpark a number, and find that dueling figures are either in the same ballpark—or not even in the ballpark. But what does a ballpark, which since the late 1800s is widely known to mean a baseball field with spectators, have to do with making rough estimations? That’s a bit trickier to answer. In the Ballpark Columnist and wordsmith William Safire touched on the topic back in 1981, broaching it with lexicographer Stuart Flexner. According to Flexner, to be in the ballpark meant being within a wide but reasonable spectrum of assessment, just as being in a literal ballpark offered some idea of geographic location without being overtly specific. In both cases, allowances were being made for being inexact. Inside Baseball: Slang Terms Unique to the Game Slang: Chin Music Definition: A ball that comes uncomfortably close to a batter’s chin Slang: Hose Definition: A player’s throwing arm Slang: Nubber Definition: A pathetic ground ball Slang: Aspirin Tablet Definition: A fastball so quick it looks like a tiny white pill Slang: Eephus Definition: A slow, arching pitch The in-or-out-of-ballpark origin is sensible, but there are alternative explanations. One possibly-apocryphal origin has it that when baseball team owners or managers called in scores and attendance numbers to reporters, they might inflate or otherwise fudge the latter to hide a low turnout. A ballpark figure was therefore one that shouldn’t be counted on for accuracy. Another possibility is that it was difficult for teams or stadium owners to perform an exact headcount of attendees at games, leading commentators or reporters to take a rough guess. The phrase to ballpark came to mean “making an inexact observation,” and one that shouldn’t hold anyone responsible for any error. The Grim Origins of Murderers' Row In baseball, murderers’ row is an idiom that was once used to describe a formidable line-up of batters. In common usage, it can summarize any impressive group of people. But its origins actually date to the 1830s, when a new Manhattan prison, formally known as the Halls of Justice, opened. Inside its walls was a corridor devoted exclusively to killers, which was declared “murderers’ row” by staff and press alike. However ballpark figure originated, it’s clearly become one of the most ubiquitous metaphors around. Sports idioms are common, but what helped phrases derived from baseball take off was how heavily the game—which predated subsequent pastimes like football or basketball—was covered in the magazines and newspapers of the 1800s and 1900s. Papers didn’t have sports sections so much as they had baseball sections, making the terminology hard to miss. While this might not be the most concrete etymology in the world, it’s certainly in the ballpark. Source: Why Does ‘Ballpark Figure’ Mean “a Rough Estimate”?

What's the Word: PASTICHE pronunciation: [pah-STEESH] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period. 2. An artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources. Examples: "I prepared a jazz pastiche to perform at the reception." "It was clearly a pastiche, but I still admired the painting." About Pastiche You can't order it at a restaurant, but "pastiche" has etymological ties to your favorite bowl of carbs. The Latin word "pasta" means "paste," which turned into "pasticcio" in Italian and "pastiche" in French. You can turn a floury paste into pasta, or you can paste together various artistic styles to create your own work. Did you Know? Have you ever heard someone say there are no new ideas? That might be a bit extreme, but the word "pastiche" describes artistic work that imitates another. It could be a pastiche of a particular artist's style or just a tribute to an entire movement, such as cubism.

Fact of the Day - SILLY PUTTY Did you know... World War II ran on rubber. From tanks to jeeps to combat boots, the Allied Forces needed an uninterrupted flow of rubber to supply fresh troops and vehicles to the front lines. Then, in late 1941, Japan invaded Southeast Asia — a key supplier of America’s rubber — and what was once a plentiful resource quickly became scarce. Americans pitched in, donating household rubber (think old raincoats and hoses) to help the war effort, but it wasn’t enough. So scientists set to work finding an alternative. A pair working separately at Dow Corning and General Electric independently developed a silicone oil/boric acid mixture that appeared promising. It was easily manipulated and could even bounce on walls, but in the end its properties weren’t similar enough to rubber to be useful in the war. U.S. government labs eventually found a workable rubber substitute using petroleum, but the previously developed “nutty putty” stuck around until it fell into the hands of advertising consultant Peter Hodgson. Sensing an opportunity, Hodgson bought manufacturing rights, renamed it “Silly Putty,” and stuck some of it inside plastic eggs just in time for Easter 1950. But it wasn’t until Silly Putty’s mention in an issue of The New Yorker later that year that sales exploded, with Hodgson eventually selling millions of this strange, non-Newtonian fluid (fluids whose viscosity changes under stress; ketchup and toothpaste are other examples). Since then, Silly Putty has found various serious uses, from teaching geology to physical therapy, and even took a ride on Apollo 8 in 1968, when it was used to keep the astronauts’ tools secure. A pretty impressive résumé for a substance that was initially considered a failure. Daylight saving time was first instituted to ration energy during wartime. On March 19, 1918, the Standard Time Act was signed into law, establishing the five time zones of the U.S. along with instituting daylight saving time, a method designed to conserve energy during World War I. But after the war, the energy-saving portion of the act was repealed and states were once again permitted to create their own standard time. Fast-forward to February 1942, only three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and Congress once again instigated a year-round daylight saving time, nicknamed “war time.” The time zones were even renamed to “Eastern War Time,” “Pacific War Time,” etc. At the war’s end in 1945, states once again regained the right to set their standard time, until 1966 when Congress passed the Uniform Time Act. Source: Silly Putty was developed during World War II as a potential rubber substitute.

Fact of the Day - TOTO Did you know.... The Wizard of Oz featured more than 600 actors, some of whom were bigger stars than others. Near the top of that list was a cairn terrier appropriately named Terry. The pup who played Dorothy’s loyal companion Toto — and who, unlike the character she portrayed, was female in real life — received a weekly salary of $125 for her work on the perennial classic, which was more than many of her co-stars (including all the actors playing Munchkins, who were paid $50 a week). At about $2,885 in today’s money, the pup’s pay was also 10 times the minimum wage at the time. Terry had already appeared in seven films — Ready for Love, Bright Eyes, The Dark Angel, Fury, The Buccaneer, Barefoot Boy, and Stablemates — prior to 1939’s Oz, which helps explain her salary. She also performed her own stunts, which resulted in an injury when one of the Munchkin actors stepped on her paw. The pup was out of action for two weeks, during which time Judy Garland helped nurse her back to health. The actress was so smitten with her canine co-star that she attempted to buy her from Carl Spitz, her owner and trainer, but he refused. Toto is replaced by a cow in one theatrical Oz adaptation. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was hugely successful upon its publication in 1900, and a number of adaptations quickly followed. In addition to the several silent and animated films that preceded the 1939 classic movie, the book was initially adapted for the stage — with several changes. In the theatrical version, the Wicked Witch of the West is only ever mentioned by name, and Toto is replaced by a cow named Imogene. Baum, who wrote the play himself, thought a cow would make for a bigger in-person spectacle. The play also marked the introduction of Dorothy’s last name, “Gale,” as well as the first time the word “Wonderful” was dropped from the story’s title. Both Toto and Imogene appear in the first film adaptation of the story, which was made in 1910 and runs just 13 minutes. Source: ‘Toto’ was paid a higher salary than most human cast members in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

What's the Word: FACTOTUM pronunciation: [fak-TOH-dəm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. An employee who does all kinds of work. Examples: "I earned a reputation as a jack of all trades, but I prefer the more professional-sounding term 'factotum.'" "You'd better give him a raise; he's a real factotum." About Factotum Benjamin Franklin is known as a writer, philosopher, scientist, inventor, statesman, and more. In his autobiography, he called himself a factotum, and gave the definition in a footnote: "one who makes himself generally useful; a 'do-all.'" Did you Know? Slang nicknames aren't just a modern invention. In the 16th century, a "Johannes Factotum" was what we would now call a "jack-of-all-trades." In medieval Latin, "fac" meant "to do" and "totum" meant "the whole thing."

Superman (2025) Rating: 8.5/10 I had alot of fun watching this new take on Superman, was a nice breath of fresh air after the Snyderverse (which I also enjoyed). I'm looking forward to the Supergirl film in 2026, and plan on watching both Peacemaker: Season 2 and Creature Commandos soon.

Fact of the Day - ETHIOPIAN CALENDAR Did you know.... It’s taken a few centuries, but the Gregorian calendar, first instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, is now the official calendar used by most countries — emphasis on “most.” A notable exception is Ethiopia, which uses its own calendar. The Ethiopian calendar shares some similarities with the Gregorian: They’re both based on the solar year and on ancient Rome’s Julian calendar, and they’re both 365 days long (366 during a leap year). But Ethiopia’s calendar has an extra month, its new year is celebrated on September 11, and, most notably, it’s seven to eight years behind most other nations, depending on the time of year. This temporal difference is a feature, not a flaw, and stems from something Ethiopians call Bahere Hasab (“Sea of Thoughts”), the method used to calculate the calendar. Both the Gregorian and Ethiopian calendars recognize Jesus’ birth as a key date in their calculations, but they differ on when this event is supposed to have occurred. In the Gregorian calendar, Jesus’ birth year divides B.C. from A.D. (or BCE from CE). The Ethiopian calendar instead places Jesus’ birth around 7 BCE. This event is supposed to have happened 5,500 years after Adam and Eve repented for their sins in the Garden of Eden. Many of the atypical features of the Ethiopian calendar are shared by the Coptic calendar, including its 13-month construction and mid-September new year. However, according to the Copts — an ethnoreligious Christian group native to North Africa — it’s currently the year 1741. Ethiopia is home to 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains. Known as the “cradle of humanity,” Ethiopia is both incredibly old and incredibly mountainous. Some 75 million years ago, magma from the Earth’s crust lifted up a dome of rock known today as the Ethiopian Highlands, which was then split in half by the Great Rift Valley. These highlands are home to nearly 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains — though the very tallest is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania — and some fascinating species, such as the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), one of the most endangered animals in Africa. The mountains have also played a key role in human history by providing a geographic deterrent to European colonialism. Ethiopia is one of only two countries in Africa (the other being Liberia) to never be successfully colonized, which allowed its ancient culture to flourish to this day. Source: The Ethiopian calendar is seven to eight years behind the calendar used in the U.S.

What's the Word: EMERITUS pronunciation: [ə-MER-ə-dəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-18th century Meaning: 1. (Of the former holder of an office, especially a college professor) Having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor. Examples: "The banquet was held every year to honor the emeritus professors." "As an emeritus member, she was welcome to sit in on lectures." About Emeritus Academia is a career path unlike any other. Most people earn their degree and move on, but some folks remain on campus for the rest of their lives, from undergraduate to graduate school, after which there are positions in teaching and research. Tenure provides job security, but when a professor is ready for retirement, they can maintain privileges with an emeritus role. Did you Know? In Latin, the verb "emereri" means "to earn one's discharge by service." "Emeritus" comes from that, meaning you earned your retirement, so you're still entitled to the honor and title. The female form is "emerita," but you're unlikely to see that out-of-date usage anymore.

Fact of the Day - SEAGULLS Did you know... Yes, they are waiting for your french fries. Technically, seagull is a misnomer. Birds in the subfamily Larinae are called “gulls,” and while they do like to be near water, they don’t strictly live by the sea. Some populations of the ring-billed gull prefer the interior of the U.S., and some never even get near the ocean. The American herring gull, which the Cornell Lab of Ornithology calls the quintessential “seagull,” can be found pretty far inland. While there, they often congregate in parking lots. Why? Plentiful Pickings The gulls are drawn to parking lots mainly for two reasons. The first is food. Gulls are opportunistic feeders and will eat most things that are available to them, rather than specializing in one kind of food source. They’ll feed on fish, crustaceans, small rodents, fruit, and even other gulls. They also go after a lot of things discarded by humans, from straight-up trash to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Along England's seacoasts, gull have become adept at dive-bombing beachgoers and stealing their chips right out of their hands. Parking lots are smorgasbords of food wrappers and scraps, especially if there’s a supermarket or restaurant nearby. Lots are often adjacent to dumpsters or municipal trash cans and frequented by motorists who can’t be bothered to use either of those. Plus, manicured grass and other landscaped patches around the pavement can be good places to look for bugs or fruit as they drop from ornamental trees. There’s one more aspect to the appeal of parking lots as bird buffets. People actually feed them—on purpose. In a 2015 study, researchers in Massachusetts looked into why big groups of ring-billed gulls were gathering in area parking lots. They found that many drivers were tossing food out of their windows at the waiting gulls, but the bigger contributors were people who showed up at the parking lots and dumped out tons of food, including multiple loaves of bread, whole boxes of cereal, leftover spaghetti, and pizza. The researchers put up signage prohibiting the feedings to see if it changed people’s behavior, but it didn’t have much of an effect on the number of gulls in the parking lots. Like a Beach, but Paved The second thing that parking lots have going for them is that they’re spacious, open, and flat, like their more natural beach or marshland habitats. These factors allow gulls to congregate near food sources and gives them clear views in all directions so they can keep an eye out for danger. (Apparently, they don’t considers cars or pedestrians dangerous.) Overall, parking lots offer the benefits of gulls’ natural habitats—like space and a general lack of predators—with constantly replenished food sources that they don't need to spend energy to find. Source: Why Do Seagulls Hang Out in Parking Lots?

What's the Word: KAFFEEKLATSCH pronunciation: [KAH-feh-klach] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, late 19th century Meaning: 1. An informal social gathering at which coffee is served. 2. Talking or gossip at an informal gathering where coffee is served. Examples: "The highlight of the neighborhood meetings is the kaffeeklatsch that always follows." "My grandmother loved nothing more than a good kaffeeklatsch with her friends." About Kaffeeklatsch Here's a loanword from German — it translates literally to "coffee gossip." "Kaffeeklatsch" can refer to any social gathering with coffee, or it can describe the actual gossip that tends to occur at such an event. Either way, pull up a chair and stay a while. Did you Know? The "Coffee Talk" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" in the early 1990s is a perfect example of a kaffeeklatsch. Mike Myers, playing a stereotypical New York woman, was joined by Madonna and Roseanne Barr for coffee and gossip. As Linda Richman, Myers would sometimes get "all verklempt" and encourage guests to "talk amongst yourselves."

Fact of the Day - SEA OTTERS Did you know... A sea otter’s fur is an evolutionary marvel. Within just 1 square inch, otter fur contains 850,000 to 1 million hairs, making it denser than that of any other mammal on land or in the sea. The aptly named fur seal comes in a distant second, with only about 300,000 hairs per square inch. Humans, meanwhile, have only about 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on our heads (if we’re lucky). But the number of hairs per square inch is only one aspect of sea otters’ complex, luxurious coat, because their fur has two distinct layers. The outer fur is called guard hair, which protects the second layer, or the undercoat, from getting wet. This double-layer system, and the tiny barbs on the guard hair, trap air next to an otter’s skin, which helps them withstand chilly waters without the blubber found in other aquatic animals such as walruses, whales, and seals. However, their fascinating fur has historically made otters a target, especially during the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. Sea otters are also vulnerable to oil spills, which effectively destroy the insulating abilities of their fur. Since the 1970s, sea otters have slowly recuperated from near-extinction in the U.S. (at one point, California’s population was only 50 — it’s now 3,000), but they still have a long way to go before reaching their former abundance. 90% of all sea otters in the world live along the coastal shores of Alaska. Before Europeans arrived in the western United States, sea otters numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Their native range stretched from Mexico’s Baja California to the coastal waters of Japan, following the horseshoe-shaped path of the Pacific Rim (which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Russia). Since then, the sea otter hasn’t had an easy go of it, for the reasons mentioned above. Today, sea otters in the U.S. are split into two main groups. Southern sea otters call central and Southern California home, whereas northern sea otters — representing 90% of all sea otters in the world — live along Alaska’s coast. Scientists and environmentalists are still hard at work reintroducing sea otters to the rest of their once-sprawling coastal domain. Source: Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal.

What's the Word: CAPRICIOUS pronunciation: [kə-PREE-shəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. Examples: "During the autumn months, the weather can be quite capricious." "I had to stay on my toes when working with the capricious chef." About Capricious Capricious is the adjective form of the noun "caprice," which means "a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior." A capricious person might be described as flighty, changeable, or just plain indecisive. But you could also embrace your capriciousness by being willing to learn and change your mind. Did you Know? Capricious and the astrological sign Capricorn have little in common. The adjective comes from the French word "capricieux," but "Capricorn" comes from the Latin words for "goat horn." This astrological sign has a reputation of seriousness and responsibility — characteristics at odds with capriciousness.

Fact of the Day - COMIS SANS (font) Did you know... There are some things in modern culture that people just love to hate, like Nickelback, cargo pants, and the most derided typeface of all: Comic Sans. At first glance, this fun and childlike font — originally designed to mimic the script found in comic books — seems to serve a lighthearted purpose. But for more than a decade, it’s been derided as one of the worst typefaces ever. It turns out that Comic Sans doesn’t even hold a particularly warm and fuzzy place in its own creator’s heart — typographer Vincent Connare only used the font once in his life, in a letter complaining to his broadband internet provider. Connare originally created the font for Microsoft Bob, a short-lived operating system designed to make computers more user-friendly. The desktop resembled a family room with icons representing certain computer programs. When someone clicked on a pen and paper icon, for example, it opened a word processor. Users were assisted by a cartoon dog named Rover, and during the software’s development, Connare decided that dogs “don’t talk in Times New Roman” — so he created Comic Sans. Although the final version of Microsoft Bob didn’t include the font, it appeared as an additional typeface in Windows 95. Yet Comic Sans slowly garnered derision in the years following its initial release, and was often perceived as overly childish, visually chaotic, and an affront to good typeface design. Hate for the typeface drove reliable traffic on Twitter (now called X), inspired entire websites, and even prompted one vitriolic manifesto — but maybe times are changing. One reformed Comic Sans hater (and co-author of the aforementioned manifesto) changed his Facebook group “Ban Comic Sans” into “Use Comic Sans” in May 2019, telling The New York Times, “It’s gotten to be so bad that it’s almost cool again.” Movable type was invented in China — not Germany. The invention of the printed word is often inexorably linked with 15th-century German printer Johannes Gutenberg and his press, but the first evidence of movable type — arranging separate letters on metal pieces — predates the Teutonic inventor by several centuries. Although the first printed (or at least not handwritten) books date back to the ninth century, the invention of movable type arrived in 11th-century China, as the creation of artisan and engineer Bi Sheng (970 to 1051 CE). To create this early printing press, Sheng hand-carved letters into clay and then baked them into reusable bricks. During the Nan (Southern) Song dynasty, which stretched from 1127 to 1279, these printed books helped create a scholar class in Chinese society, and the size of book collections became entwined with a person’s social status. Source: The creator of Comic Sans only used the font once.

What's the Word: DECLIVITY pronunciation: [də-KLIV-ə-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. A downward slope. Examples: "The landscape architect designed the garden to complement the natural declivity." "There was no longer a creek, but the bridge still spanned over a large declivity." About Declivity Does your friend Clive know his name means "slope"? Thanks to this Latin root, "declivity" refers to a downward slope. But if you're walking the opposite direction, "acclivity" describes an upward slope. Coming or going, it's a matter of perspective. Did you Know? Have you ever described someone as having a proclivity for hard work? "Proclivity" and "declivity" share the same Latin root, "clivus," meaning "slope." And technically the prefixes "pro-" and "de-" both mean "down," but the usages of each word are different. "Proclivity" means "to have a tendency toward," and "declivity" means "a physical downward slope."

Fact of the Day - STOP SIGN Did you know.... Few people have had a larger or more positive impact on the way we drive than William Phelps Eno, sometimes called the “father of traffic safety.” The New York City native — who invented the stop sign around the dawn of the 20th century — once traced the inspiration for his career to a horse-drawn-carriage traffic jam he experienced as a child in Manhattan in 1867: “There were only about a dozen horses and carriages involved, and all that was needed was a little order to keep the traffic moving,” he later wrote. “Yet nobody knew exactly what to do; neither the drivers nor the police knew anything about the control of traffic.” After his father’s death in 1898 left him with a multimillion-dollar inheritance, Eno devoted himself to creating a field that didn’t otherwise exist: traffic management. He developed the first traffic plans for New York, Paris, and London. In 1921, he founded the Washington, D.C.-based Eno Center for Transportation, a research foundation on multimodal transportation issues that still exists. One thing Eno didn’t do, however, is learn how to drive. Perhaps because he had such extensive knowledge of them, Eno distrusted automobiles and preferred riding horses. He died in Connecticut at the age of 86 in 1945 having never driven a car. Stop signs have eight sides to indicate danger. Though the first stop sign was a humble square, that design didn’t last long. In addition to being easily recognizable from both sides and easy to see at night, the octagon was chosen in the 1920s as part of a still-influential initiative in which the number of sides a sign has indicates the level of danger it’s meant to warn against. Train crossing signs were circles (which can be thought of as having an infinite number of sides) because those crossings were considered the most hazardous, followed by octagonal stop signs for intersections and the like; diamond-shaped signs were used for less perilous crossings, and rectangular ones were posted simply to convey information. Source: The inventor of the stop sign never learned how to drive.

What's the Word: BLITHESOME pronunciation: [BLITH-səm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Old English, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Of a person) Having a cheerful disposition. 2. Filled with, marked by, or causing pleasure. Examples: "Waking up to sunny weather put me in a blithesome mood." "The blithesome shouts from the playground were welcome background noise." About Blithesome Blithe is a Germanic word with origins related to bliss, but it's not always carefree. "Blithe" can mean "happy," or it can mean "indifferent to the point of callousness." As for "blithesome," it borrows just the cheerful sense of the word. We hope you're feeling blithesome today. Did you Know? When "some" is added as a suffix to nouns, adjectives, and verbs, it creates a new adjective that means "tending to or causing." Troublesome: causing trouble. Adventuresome: tending toward adventure. For "blithesome," you'll need know the meaning of "blithe." Hint: It will put a smile on your face.

Fact of the Day - FAKE FLAMINGOS Did you know.... If you’ve ever strolled through a market in the touristy part of a major city, you know that knockoff Gucci handbags and fake Rolexes are more abundant than real ones. The same can be said for flamingos, as the pink plastic lawn decorations made in their image far outnumber the actual birds. The exact number of real flamingos is hard to quantify given the animal’s broad global range and migration patterns, but estimates suggest there are roughly 3.45 million to 4.68 million flamingos in the wild. Those numbers pale in comparison to plastic flamingos, of which tens of millions exist. The item was created in 1957 by artist Don Featherstone based on an image in the October issue of National Geographic. Initially, the flamingo was sold with a plastic duck for $2.76 (roughly $31.73 as of 2025). Some consumers purchased the bird as a way to make their homes stand out in cookie-cutter housing developments, while others just liked the way it looked on their lawns. The 1960s saw a bit of backlash, as members of the counterculture movement rejected the ornaments for being tacky — but the flamingos were reembraced in the 1970s as people once again came to appreciate their kitsch. Sales spiked in the wake of the 1972 John Waters film Pink Flamingos and again rather inexplicably in 1985. In that year, several companies noted a confusing albeit welcome increase in purchases of the plastic bird, including big-box retailer Canadian Tire, whose sales jumped a whopping 70% year over year. When Featherstone passed away in 2015, The Washington Post reported that upward of 20 million fake flamingos had been sold since their debut, and that number continues to grow. Several species of real flamingo, however, find themselves in a population decline, including the lesser, Chilean, and Andean varieties. Flamingos aren't born pink. The colorful pink plumage of a standard flamingo has to do not with genetics, but with the bird’s diet. Flamingos are born with gray feathers and gradually develop their pink hue over the next two or so years. This happens as they consume more beta-carotene — a red-orange pigment that’s abundant in the many algaes, brine shrimp, and brine fly larvae flamingos eat. Once consumed, the pigments are broken down and absorbed by fats in the liver, which deposits the color into the bird’s feathers and skin. Zoos often serve a soupy, nutritious mixture with high levels of carotenoids to flamingos in captivity to promote good health and maintain the birds’ vibrant pink color. Source: There are more fake flamingos in the world than real ones.

What's the Word: KINETIC pronunciation: [kə-NED-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. Relating to or resulting from motion. 2. (Of a work of art) Depending on movement for its effect. Examples: "The garden has a large kinetic water fountain as the centerpiece." "The museum featured a breathtaking display of kinetic art for the spring showcase." About Kinetic Kinetic comes from the Greek word "kinētikos," from the verb "kinein," meaning "to move." You can describe any sort of motion — from your first stretch in the morning to the giant drop on a roller coaster — as kinetic. The word is also used in the art world to describe moving sculptures. Did you Know? You might recognize "kine" in other moving words, including "kinesiology" ("the study of the mechanics of body movements"), "kinescope" ("a television picture tube"), and "kinesics" ("gestures and body movements serving as nonverbal communication"). They all come from the Greek root "kinēsis," meaning "movement."

Fact of the Day - VENUS (PLANET) Did you know..... There are entire websites devoted to whether or not Mercury is in retrograde at any given moment, and all the while Venus is spinning backward (compared to most other planets). As a result, the sun rises in the west and sets in the east on the second rock from the sun. Though no one’s entirely sure why our fiery neighbor rotates to the beat of its own drum, it’s been theorized that it originally spun in the same way as most other planets (counter-clockwise when viewed from above), but at some point flipped its own axis 180 degrees. So while its rotation appears backward from our earthbound perspective, it might be more accurate to say that Venus spins the same way it always has, just upside-down. Some scientists think the flip might have been the result of a situation arising from the planet’s extremely dense atmosphere along with the sun's intense gravitational pull, though the scientific community has yet to reach a consensus. For all that, Venus has often been referred to as Earth’s sister planet — even more so than Mars. We’re the two closest neighbors in the solar system, have similar chemical compositions, and are roughly the same size. One crucial difference: Venus probably cannot support life. Venus is the second-brightest natural object in the night sky. If you can only make out one object in the night sky other than the moon, it’s almost certainly Venus. It has the highest albedo — a term used by astronomers to describe a planet’s brightness — of any planet in the solar system, reflecting approximately 70% of the sunlight that hits it and its highly reflective clouds. (Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, outshines it by reflecting a full 90% of sunlight, making it the most reflective body in our solar system.) Venus is also relatively nearby and can sometimes be seen during daytime with the naked eye. Because it’s easiest to see just before sunrise and just after sunset, Venus has been nicknamed both the morning star and evening star (ancient people actually thought it was two separate planets). Source: Venus spins backward.

What's the Word: SAGACIOUS pronunciation: [sə-GEY-shus] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment. Examples: "She could always rely on her mentor to provide sagacious feedback." "The op-ed provided a sagacious viewpoint on the recent city council controversy." About Sagacious To be sagacious means to be wise, but specifically showing keen judgment. It's not just about intelligence; it's showing discernment, too. Being sagacious could be described as using "street smarts" in addition to "book smarts." Did you Know? Sage is commonly known as the herb that provides a heavy dose of flavor at Thanksgiving, but the Latin word "sagax" also means "wise." Use "sage" as an adjective meaning "wise," or as a noun for "a wise person." "Sagacious" becomes the adjective if you feel it's wise to use a longer word.

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Fact of the Day - MARBLES Did you know.... If you think the Electoral College is confusing, perhaps you’ll take a liking to The Gambia’s method of choosing its leaders: marbles. The small West African nation eschews paper ballots in favor of this novel approach, which was introduced in 1965 due to the country’s low literacy rate. Voters are given a marble upon checking in at their polling station, with each candidate represented by a photo affixed to a color-coded drum. Once the marble has been dropped into the voter’s drum of choice inside a private booth, a bell sounds to confirm it went through — and prevent anyone from attempting to vote twice. As simple as it is effective, the system has even been credited with ending The Gambia’s former dictatorship and keeping its democracy thriving. Other countries have adopted unique electoral processes as well. Aspiring presidential candidates in France need to secure 500 endorsements from elected officials, a time-consuming process meant to discourage fantasy candidates. In neighboring Germany, the Bundestag (lower house of the Parliament) requires two votes per ballot: one for a district representative and one for the voter’s preferred political party, which determines how many seats each party gets in the Bundestag overall. In general, half of the Bundestag’s 598 seats are determined by the first vote and half by the second. Only two countries’ names officially begin with “The.” And The Gambia is one of them. The use of the definite article isn’t entirely uncommon when referring to countries — the Netherlands and the United Kingdom come to mind — but it’s mostly used on an informal basis or because the grammar of the sentence requires it. According to such authoritative sources as the U.S. Department of State and the Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, the only two countries that should officially be referred to with the definite article are The Gambia and The Bahamas. (It’s also appropriate when the place in question is a geophysical entity, such as groups of islands like the Maldives, but that’s again a matter of grammar rather than official naming practices.) The Gambia’s article comes in part because it was named after the River Gambia, and in part because of a request from the prime minister to avoid confusion with another African country that also earned its independence in the 1960s — Zambia. Source: The Gambia conducts elections using marbles instead of paper ballots.

Fact of the Day - IS IT SAFE? Did you know... Look before you leap. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with iconic, vibrant autumns, you’re probably familiar with the other side of that experience: leaves everywhere. Watching those orange, yellow, and red leaves fall to the ground can feel a little less gratifying knowing you’ll have to rake them all into piles later. Still, those raked leaf piles present their own opportunities for fun. From Charlie Brown and Snoopy to Calvin and Hobbes, leaping full-force into a mound of leaves is a classic way to enjoy the outdoors once summer wanes. It’s hard to imagine that this iconic pastime could pose any serious threat, but there are actually some risks involved for both children and adults. Below, we’ll go over some of the biggest concerns around jumping in leaf piles and what you can do to be as safe as possible while soaking up the autumn season. Beware of hidden creatures—especially ticks. Unfortunately, leaf piles are the perfect environment for ticks to thrive. When jumping in, you may inadvertently present yourself as their next meal on a silver platter. It’s an increasingly likely risk because of the explosion in tick numbers due to the warming climate, especially in the Northeast United States. Out of all the dangers, ticks may be the most serious concern for potential leaf-jumpers due to the risk of contracting Lyme disease. A recent Dartmouth study found that the percentage of blacklegged (deer) ticks carrying Lyme disease in the Northeast has risen. This means that not only are there more ticks out there, but each one is more likely to transmit the disease if it bites you. There are measures you can take to protect yourself from ticks if you still want to jump in, though. Firstly, cover as much skin as possible by tucking your pants into your socks and your sleeves into gloves. It’s also a good idea to put on tick repellent. In addition, it’s ideal to wait until temperatures have dropped below 40°F, as that’s when ticks enter semi-hibernation. And of course, always perform a thorough tick check once you get inside. A tick needs to latch to your skin for roughly 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease, so if you spot one quickly, there it should reduce the danger after effectively removing it. If a leaf pile has been sitting around for awhile, though, other animals may also have found it a perfect place to call home. From the innocuous, like frogs and harmless insects like beetles, to the more serious, like spiders and snakes, there’s no telling what may be dwelling in the leaves until you’re actually in them. And the longer they sit out, the longer the pile has to acquire new residents. For that reason—in addition to the risk of mold growth over time—it’s best to jump into fresh leaf piles exclusively. Location matters. Finally, it’s important to consider the location of a leaf pile before jumping in and playing around. For one, the surface under it could pose an injury risk. If the leaves have all been raked onto concrete, for example, they may not provide enough cushion to soften a jump, and the ground underneath won’t be forgiving. Similarly, you want to avoid any leaf piles raked onto the curb or otherwise near roads. It’s tempting to put the leaves there for removal, or just to get them off the lawn, but you should resist if you or any children may jump in them later. The leaves can make it difficult for drivers to see that there’s someone there. It’s better to be safe than sorry and only interact with leaf piles far removed from any moving vehicles. So is jumping in leaf piles safe? Jumping in leaf piles, like many other outdoor activities, poses risks. But with the proper precautions, it doesn’t have to be particularly dangerous. Instead, it can be the key to enjoying a crisp fall day—just make sure to check for ticks afterwards. Source: Is Jumping in Leaf Piles Safe?

What's the Word: RHAPSODY pronunciation: [RAP-sə-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. An effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling. 2. A free instrumental composition in one extended movement, typically one that is emotional or exuberant in character. Examples: "The story captured the rhapsody of first love and the emotions that go along with it. " "He wrote a rhapsody inspired by the colors of the changing autumn forest." About Rhapsody As a song, a rhapsody is exuberant and bold, full of feeling. It’s written as one instrumental composition. But you can also apply rhapsody outside of the music world. You might recognize “rhapsodies of praise” or a “rhapsody of spring.” Any expression of intense emotions and enthusiasm can be a rhapsody. Did you Know? In ancient Greece, a rhapsody was an epic poem, usually recited in one sitting. Over the years, a rhapsody became a song instead of a poem, but still exuberant and often quite long. You can find rhapsodies all throughout the history of classical music and in more modern forms, such as Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Fact of the Day - IT'S A SAUSAGE? Did you know... When you think of Volkswagen, sausage probably isn’t what comes to mind. But since 1973, the car company has been producing its own prize-winning currywurst at its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, which also happens to be the globe’s largest car-manufacturing plant. The location was once considered remote, so the company has always provided on-site meal options; today, thousands of currywursts are made daily at the plant, using a secret recipe of pork, curry, pepper, ginger, and other spices, and typically served ladled with spicy ketchup. (Both the sausage and the ketchup even have their own VW part numbers.) The currywurst is not just a staple dish among assembly line workers and executives — five-packs are often given to customers and sold at dealerships, sports stadiums, and grocery stores. In 2018, Volkswagen sold 6.2 million cars and about 6.5 million of the 10-inch sausages; in 2024, it sold 5.2 million Volkswagen-branded vehicles and a record 8.5 million sausages. (The Volkswagen Group, which includes several other car brands, collectively sold 9 million cars in 2024.) The sausages are so popular, in fact, that when the company announced in August 2021 that it was removing meat products, including the traditional currywurst, from its menus at the Wolfsburg canteen, there was an uproar. Even former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder weighed in, and the sausages were eventually brought back in 2023. Don’t look for them in the U.S., though: While the currywursts are available in at least 11 countries, Volkswagen is not on the list of suppliers allowed to export processed pork stateside. You can still get a taste of another European company with a surprise food bestseller, though: IKEA’s bestselling product is actually its meatballs. Oscar Mayer Wienermobile drivers take a crash course at Hot Dog High. Each year, a class of 12 Hotdoggers — recent college grads chosen to steer the promotional Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles across the country — relish the chance to learn the inner workings of their new vehicle. Before hitting the road in a 27-foot-long, 11-foot-high fiberglass frankfurter, the Hotdoggers attend a two-week training camp in Madison, Wisconsin, home of Oscar Mayer’s headquarters. The Hotdogger program was established around 1987; in 2019, the company received thousands of applications for the paid, full-time, year-long brand ambassador positions. During their time at Hot Dog High, attendees become well-versed in wearing their “meat belts,” riding “shotbun,” and operating the “bunroof.” They also select Hotdogger names, such as Jalapeño Jackie, Cookout Christian, and Spicy Mayo Mayra. Afterward, six Weinermobiles roam the U.S., spending every week in a different city and piling on about 50,000 miles annually. Source: Volkswagen’s bestselling product isn’t a car — it’s a sausage.

What's the Word: MOIL pronunciation: [moyl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. Work hard. 2. Move around in confusion or agitation. Examples: "You'll need to moil to get the bulbs planted before a frost, but it will be worth it in the spring." "She seemed lost as she moiled around the street corner." About Moil As a verb, "moil" primarily means "to work very hard." But if you work too hard, you might get overwhelmed or overheated. In comes the second definition of "moil," meaning "to move around in agitation." Did you Know? The modern definition of "moil" is the opposite of its roots. In Latin, "mollis" means "soft," and "moil" originally meant "to moisten or soften" a substance. But if you're laboring in mud, it's probably pretty hard work, and that's likely how "moil" came to mean "strenuous work."

Fact of the Day - DIVE BARS Did you know.... We dive in to this not-very-sobering linguistic mystery. If you’re in a tavern and find yourself surrounded by ripped upholstery, a stained counter, and dirty glasses, chances are you’re in a dive bar. As drinking establishments go, dives aren’t necessarily a bad thing: Some people enjoy the gloomy ambiance of a well-worn pub and its well-worn patrons. But why do we refer to these lived-in spaces as dive bars? The Origin of Dive Bar According to the Oxford English Dictionary, dive bar was preceded by dive, a colloquial term for “an illegal drinking-den, or other disreputable place of resort, often situated in a cellar, basement, or other half-concealed place, into which frequenters may ‘dive’ without observation.” The term first saw print in 1871, when the New York Herald observed that a local bar was “one of the gayly decorated dives where young ladies ... dispense refreshments to thirsty souls.” Dive in this context took on two separate—but often related—meanings. One was literal: In order to gain entry to a dive, one must descend into a subterranean location the way an ocean explorer must dive into the depths. The other was more metaphorical; entering a dive meant lowering oneself into a less reputable area of society where vices like drinking, narcotics, and gambling prevailed. To dive implied that you’d sooner not be seen or recognized. Because dive could refer to any number of seedy locations, it became necessary to distinguish them from one another. The OED dates dive bar, a “shabby, cheap, or disreputable bar,” to 1940, but printed mentions appeared long before that. In a 1902 edition of The Daily News out of Perth, Australia, a travel column featuring its author in London mentioned that “Australians who are not quite at the top of the finance go to the Fleapit, a dive-bar and billiard-room and restaurant ... ” What Makes a Dive Bar a Dive Bar Not all dive bars start out as dive bars. “Their first [life] is as a tavern, mom-and-pop shop, roadhouse, speakeasy, juke joint, nightclub, honky tonk, club, lounge, pub, beer hall, fern bar, gay bar, tiki joint, inn, or saloon,” wrote T.J. Flynn in Thrillist in 2016. “At some point in time, unforeseen circumstances lead to compromises in upkeep, inventory, and clientele. This can occur slowly or swiftly, but the consequences are lasting. Often it is the result of changes occurring in the neighborhood in which the bar is situated, but many a dive was borne of divorce, health crises, or legal judgments. Flynn’s additional criteria for a dive bar: no craft beers, no branded bar merchandise, no kitchen menu, and plenty of dirty windows. In 2015, a (loosely) organized dive bar crawl in Syracuse, New York, offered some other parameters, as did citizens of Reno, Nevada, in 2025. A sampling: Feature Regular Bar Dive Bar Pickled Bar Food X Clean Bathrooms X Franchise X Indoor Smoking X Worn Furniture X Cheap Drinks X Open for Two Decades or More X Condom Vending Machines in Bathroom X Craft Beers X Weird Smell X Drunk People X X Is Dive Bar an Insult or a Compliment? Whether dive bar is a pejorative term or a compliment depends a lot on who’s using it and why. For some, dive bars conjure up images of a homey, unpretentious setting. For others, it’s like saying you might get stabbed. The lack of pretense is usually the selling point. “It’s our view that today the term has mostly and rightly shed its negative connotations, and we take a flexible approach in part to avoid the exhausting semantics of it,” wrote Chris Drosner in Milwaukee Magazine in 2022. “A dive bar needn’t be lowbrow; it’s just a brow without judgment. A dive is natural, authentic, comfortable in its (usually wrinkled) skin ... And because people make a bar tick, not feeling judged is one of the things that really makes a great dive bar.” For some, dive bar is a synonym for neighborhood bar—a place that doesn’t need any fancy décor or a particularly clean bathroom in order to attract customers. “A dive bar,” wrote the Staten Island Advance in 2019, “is a low-key neighborhood spot were locals gather to drink and socialize—often sipping on a simple selection of drinks. Dive bars are the beloved pubs and taverns that have operated within a community for years because they have their regulars and know how to keep it simple.” In this context, dive bar means “longevity.” If a bar owner wants to cultivate a reputation for being a dive bar, however, they probably need to avoid calling themselves a dive bar. Opening Dave’s Dive does not automatically bestow dive status. That’s up to the customers. Source: Why Do We Call Sketchy Pubs “Dive Bars”?

What's the Word: BILDUNGSROMAN pronunciation: [BIL-dungz-ro-mahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, early 20th century Meaning: 1. A novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education. Examples: "She had an entire shelf in her home library devoted to Bildungsroman." "The Bildungsroman told the story of his journey from a one-room schoolhouse to graduating from medical school." About Bildungsroman Bildungsroman is an intimidating word for a literary style popular with all types of readers. "Bildung" is German for "education," and "roman" is a novel. Simply put, it's a coming-of-age story. Since the noun is borrowed directly from German, it's usually capitalized (following the German rule), but it's still correct in English if it's not. Did you Know? Emma by Jane Austen, "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Huston, and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee — all Bildungsromans. Any story that concerns the moral, educational, and philosophical development of a young person falls into this family of novels. A more modern term for this genre is "coming-of-age story" and it applies to narratives across literature, TV, film, and theater.

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