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That's interesting, you don't often see this kind of word in english; more so in other languages. In a way you could say the word is adscititious to the language in and of itself

I'm currently playing Goemon's Great Adventure. On February 8th, I decided to download it, after having beaten Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon the day before. The latter game was per @Zemekis's suggestion. No regrets whatsoever.....except maybe for playing Goemon's Great Adventure, because that one's a straight-up ass-kicker.

Virtual City Playground®: Build Your Metropolis is currently free on Steam. Also, not dead- just busy. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3760180/Virtual_City_Playground_Build_Your_Metropolis/?snr=1_5_1100__1100&utm_source=steamwidget

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https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/firestone-online-idle-rpg-bfd04b Firestone Online Idle RPG is currently free on Epic Games Store. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/nightingale Nightingale is currently free on Epic Games Store. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/doodle-devil-dark-side-android-2b0231 https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/doodle-devil-dark-side-ios-307eea Doodle Devil Dark Side is currently free on Epic Games Store for Android and iOS devices. https://freebies.indiegala.com/game-of-mafia Game of Mafia is currently free on IndieGala. https://freebies.indiegala.com/bad-cat-sam Bad Cat Sam is currently free on IndieGala. https://freebies.indiegala.com/whiskeymafia-leos-family Whiskey Mafia Leo's Family is currently free on IndieGala. https://freebies.indiegala.com/mrbrocco-co Mr.Brocco & Co is currently free on IndieGala. https://freebies.indiegala.com/scamster-kombat Scamster Kombat is currently free on IndieGala.

What's the Word: ADSCITITIOUS pronunciation: [ad-sih-TISH-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Forming an addition or supplement; not integral or intrinsic. Examples: "When the dense fog stranded hundreds of travelers, the resort struggled to feed the adscititious crowd." "The Sunday papers used to come with more than a half-dozen adscititious magazines and promotional flyers." About Adscititious “Adscititious” is based on the Latin “adscitus,” meaning “admitted.” Did you Know? The word “adscititious” has a two-part definition: “forming an addition or supplement” and also “not integral.” While both parts make up the definition, they can be at odds with each other — something that is not integral can be seen as unneeded. However, supplements are usually helpful additions, and sometimes even necessary. Consider the nutritional supplement folic acid. This might fit both sides of the definition of adscititious; it’s not integral to most adult diets, but it’s extremely important to supplement as a prenatal vitamin.

Stunning AND brave!

Crowalt Traces of the Lost Colony free on steam at the moment https://store.steampowered.com/app/1269500/Crowalt_Traces_of_the_Lost_Colony/ Also, if you own Parkitect there is a free dlc for it right now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1353170/Parkitect__Booms__Blooms/ The base game is on a free trial currently until March 9th it looks like if you're wanting to try it out.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286560/BROTHER_Save_him__Hardcore_Platformer/ Brother !!! Save him! - Hardcore Platformer is currently free on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4246980/World_of_Tanks_Blitz__Smart_Progress_Pack/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4271840/World_of_Tanks__Kimono_Pack/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4261710/World_of_Warships__Publisher_Sale_Gift/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4273720/World_of_Warplanes__Swift_Takeoff_Pack/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4108450/Voidtrain__Tour_de_Void/ World of Tanks Blitz - Smart Progress Pack, Kimono, Publisher Sale Gift, Swift Takeoff Pack, and Tour de Void DLC are currently free on Steam.

Fact of the Day - KILLER WHALES Did you know.... When they aren’t busy attacking yachts or starring in beloved children’s movies, killer whales have an even more impressive hobby: making their own tools. Scientists were initially unfazed by footage of the imposing creatures rubbing against one another for up to 15 minutes at a time because “whales do weird things,” as behavioral ecologist Michael Weiss told CNN. But a closer look revealed the animals were actually rubbing strands of kelp between their bodies. Researchers observed at least 30 instances of a behavior they dubbed “allokelping,” in which orcas detach bull kelp from the seafloor and manipulate it with their teeth before rubbing it between themselves, which scientists expect is a form of grooming, social bonding, or both. Cetaceans (a group of mammals that includes dolphins, whales, and porpoises) keep their bodies smooth and aerodynamic by frequently shedding dead skin, and allokelping could aid in that process. The discovery marks the first time any cetacean has been observed using tools, but it isn’t altogether surprising — in addition to being, well, a little unusual, orcas in particular are known for their high intelligence and close social bonds. Killer whales are found in every ocean. Though best known for residing in the cold waters of locales such as Antarctica, orcas are found in every ocean: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Antarctic (also known as Southern), and Arctic. This makes them the most widespread cetacean. Of the approximately 50,000 killer whales in the wild, roughly half of them live in the waters near Antarctica. Other large population centers include such far-flung locations as Alaska, Argentina, Norway, and New Zealand. Source: Killer whales make their own tools.

Fact of the Day - EARTHS INSIDE THE SUN Did you know..... From 93 million miles away, it can be easy to forget just how big the sun is. With a diameter of 864,938 miles and a circumference of about 2,715,396 miles, the brilliant ball of hydrogen and helium at the center of our solar system is large enough to fit about 1 million Earths inside of it. It’s also some 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface and, thanks to nuclear reactions, 27 million degrees in its core, producing the same amount of energy every second as 100 billion tons of dynamite. Don’t let that give you earthlings an inferiority complex, however — in about 5 billion years, the sun will run out of hydrogen, and eventually collapse into a white dwarf roughly the same size as the Earth. (Earth won’t survive that, but luckily we don’t need to worry about it for quite some time.) In the meantime, the sun will remain almost unfathomably larger than anything orbiting it — about 1,000 Jupiters could fit inside it, for instance, as could 64.3 million of Earth’s moons. Some stars are hundreds of times larger than the sun. Though the sun is obviously massive from our earthbound perspective, it’s not especially large in the (very) grand scheme of things. In fact, it’s fairly average. The sun pales in comparison to Betelgeuse (no relation to the Michael Keaton character), a red giant that’s approximately 700 times larger and 14,000 times brighter. Because it’s 724 light-years away from us, however, Betelgeuse is only around the 10th-brightest star in our night sky. If you want to feel really small, there are a number of videos showing the relative sizes of different heavenly bodies that may just leave your head spinning. Source: About 1 million Earths could fit inside the sun.

Fact of the Day - MESSENGER PIGEONS Did you know.... Pigeons tend to have poor reputations, treated as winged pests that are shooed away from park benches and windowsills. However, these sometimes-annoying avians — which were first domesticated by humans at least 5,000 years ago — are also known for being adept messengers. That’s why police in Odisha, a coastal state in eastern India, have used pigeons to relay important messages in situations where modern lines of communication no longer work. About 150 homing, racing, and carrier pigeons make up the region’s pigeon patrol. They begin their training at just 5 to 6 weeks old, and can fly up to 500 miles at a time, at top speeds of 34 miles per hour. Fleets of carrier pigeons aren’t at all new to India. The feathered couriers were used throughout the country for centuries, and in more recent history by police stations during British colonial rule. Odisha launched its official bird messaging service in 1946 as an experiment, since the region had no telephone access. The program’s earliest pigeons were tasked with regularly transporting messages written on lightweight onion-skin paper between police stations in a state that spanned more than 60,000 square miles. Even with today’s accessible phone and internet services, there’s been no rush to retire the courier pigeons. While the birds tend to serve a ceremonial role during functions of state, handlers keep the pigeons trained and ready to respond in natural disasters when communication towers are wiped out, and the birds are believed to have helped save lives during catastrophic flooding in 1982 and in the aftermath of a super cyclone in 1999. The last known passenger pigeon was named for Martha Washington. The demise of the passenger pigeon has served as a century-long warning about the role humans play in the natural world. At one time, the species dominated the skies of North America, accounting for 25% to 40% of the entire American bird population. But by the early 1900s — following decades of overhunting and habitat destruction — only a few passenger pigeons survived in captivity. One in particular gained notoriety: Martha. Named for the nation’s original first lady, Martha Washington, the pigeon was housed at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, where crowds regularly gathered to view the bird that would eventually become the last living passenger pigeon. Amazingly (and likely with the help of regular medical attention) Martha far surpassed her winged counterparts’ average lifespan of 15 years, living to the ripe age of 29. Today, it’s possible to still get a glimpse of her at the Smithsonian, where she has been taxidermized and is occasionally on display. Source: Police in India still use pigeons to relay messages.

Been playing Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake. Played 3 back in Winter 2024, then finished up 1 last month... hoping to be done with 2 by the time 7 releases next month but I don't think I will be.

Initial Drift Online is free currently on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1456200/Initial_Drift_Online/

What's the Word: CEASELESSLY pronunciation: [SEES-ləs-lee] Part of speech: adverb Origin: Latin, late 16th century Meaning: 1. Continuously and without end. Examples: "She worked ceaselessly to improve her skills as a chef." "If you don't fix that screen door, the banging will continue ceaselessly." About Ceaselessly You might be familiar with the verb "cease," meaning "bring to an end." When you add "-less," it turns into an adjective meaning "without end.” The further addition of "-ly" gives us the adverb "ceaselessly." This means something is done without end. Did you Know? F. Scott Fitzgerald used the word "ceaselessly" in the last line of "The Great Gatsby": "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." Nick used the metaphor to depict Gatsby's futile struggle to revive his love with Daisy and, on a grander scale, the human struggle to escape the clutches of our own history.

Fact of the Day - BOXING DAY Did you know... Relax, Hallmark conspiracy theorists: Boxing Day isn’t some prank to confuse America. It’s a real holiday in the United Kingdom and other countries that dates back to the days of Queen Victoria. Here are some facts to get you up to speed. Boxing Day occurs on December 26. Boxing Day is observed annually on December 26. If it falls on a weekend, the public holiday itself will be celebrated on Monday. It became an official holiday during the reign of Queen Victoria, though some historians trace its origins back much further—to medieval times. Today, it’s largely an extension of the Christmas holiday and a big day for sporting events and shopping. No one really knows where the name Boxing Day originated. Many historians think Boxing Day’s name is derived from the church practice of opening alms boxes the day after Christmas and distributing money to the poor. Historically, British employers followed the church’s lead by sliding workers and servants gifts or cash on December 26. Others believe the “box” refers to the boxes of gifts employers gave to their servants on the day after Christmas. (In wealthy households, servants were often required to work on Christmas Day but given December 26 off to celebrate the holiday on their own.) Boxing Day is a big day for shopping. Historically, Boxing Day’s post-Christmas sales have long made it one of the UK’s busiest shopping days of the year. And while it still falls within that category, the popularity of online shopping has reduced the overall spending people do on December 26. “Fifteen years ago it was pretty much guaranteed that you would only get big sales a few times a year—Boxing Day and the big summer clearance,” Bryan Roberts, an analyst at Kantar Retail, told The Telegraph in 2015. “That is no longer the case.” “The Boxing Day sales are pretty much dead,” Roberts added. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday illustrate Christmas sales are starting earlier and earlier. There is a possibility prices will just keep on dropping in the run-up to Christmas. This makes the Boxing Day sales incredibly diluted.” There is no boxing involved in Boxing Day. Despite the name, British observances of Boxing Day involve no fisticuffs. For patricians, however, another sport rules the day: fox hunting. Though it’s a long-held tradition, many animal rights activists and groups would like to see the practice done away with altogether—especially because it’s technically illegal. In the days leading up to Boxing Day, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is often very vocal in reminding citizens that “The chasing or killing of foxes and other British mammals with a pack of dogs was banned because the overwhelming majority of the UK public rejected this so-called ‘sport’ as cruel and abhorrent.” Some other countries do take the name more literally. In other countries, Boxing Day celebrations are more literal. Some nations in Africa and the Caribbean that used to be British colonies celebrate the holiday with prizefighting events. In Ireland, December 26 is sometimes known as Wren Day. Ireland sometimes refers to December 26 as Wren Day, a nod to an old tradition in which poor children would kill a wren, then sell the feathers to neighbors for good luck. In today’s celebrations, the wren is fake. Source: Surprising Facts About Boxing Day

What's the Word: QUEENLY pronunciation: [KWEEN-lee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Old English, 15th century Meaning: 1. Fit for or appropriate to a queen. Examples: "She was queenly and confident as she walked down the aisle." "Her queenly accent was the only hint of her childhood in London." About Queenly That “-ly” tacked onto the end of the noun “queen” turns it into an adjective. The real world doesn't have as many monarchs as fairy tales do, so you can use this royal adjective to describe anyone with queenlike qualities. Did you Know? “Queenly” can be used in different forms to represent comparisons. It means “like a queen.” “Queenlier” means “more like a queen.” “Queenliest” is the superlative form, meaning “more queenly than any other queens out there.”

Fact of the Day - CARGO HOUSE Did you know... The world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, almost had a very different name. According to a 2008 Seattle Times interview with the company’s co-founder Gordon Bowker, the famous java chain was once “desperately close” to being called “Cargo House,” a name meant to tie the first store (in Seattle’s Pike Place Market) to the idea of beans coming from far away. Anxious for another, more pleasing moniker, a brand consultant working with Bowker mentioned that words starting with “st” felt especially strong. Bowker ran with the idea, listing every “st” word he could think of. The breakthrough moment occurred after the consultant brought out some old maps of the Cascade mountains and Mount Rainier — both close to the company’s hometown of Seattle — and Bowker stumbled across an old mining town named “Starbo.” The name lit up a literary reference embedded in his mind: Starbuck. The name comes from Herman Melville’s 1851 masterpiece Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. In the novel, Starbuck is a Quaker and trusty first mate of Captain Ahab, and serves as the voice of reason aboard the whaling ship Pequod (another name the Starbucks co-founders considered). Melville himself likely got the name Starbuck from a real whaling family that lived on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Bowker readily admits that the character has nothing to do with coffee, but the moniker stuck, and the company doubled down on the nautical theme by introducing a mythological siren, likely influenced by a seventh-century Italian mosaic, as its now-famous green-and-white logo. Coffee beans are not actually beans. Two types of flowering shrubs from the family Rubiaceae, Coffea robusta and Coffea arabica, make up most of the coffee consumed in the world. These plants produce a sweet, reddish-yellow cherry-like fruit, and its seeds or pits — when roasted from light to dark — make the coffee beverage we know and love today. However, calling these seeds “beans” is a misnomer, since a “bean” technically refers to an edible seed from the plant family Fabaceae (also called Leguminosae), which includes foods such as soybeans, peas, chickpeas, and peanuts. Coffee seeds look much like a typical bean, but from a strict botanical perspective, they’re not. In fact, since coffee cherries are fruits, you might argue that your usual cup of joe has more in common with a smoothie than any sort of legume-heavy delicacy. Source: Starbucks Coffee was almost called ‘Cargo House.’

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 - 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: 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 - 'TZATZIKI' PRONOUNCIATION Did you know... Get the scoop on the history, ingredients, and multiple pronunciations of this delicious Greek dip. Tzatziki sauce: it’s a mouthful, both literally and figuratively. Let’s dig into the dip’s origin, ingredients, and, of course, the proper way to say it. What is Tzatziki Sauce? Tzatziki sauce is a yogurt-based sauce that’s quite common in Greek culture. The main ingredient is Greek yogurt; some additional ingredients include cucumber, olive oil, salt, garlic, and sometimes lemon juice. You can also find herbs, such as dill, thyme, parsley, and mint, in the dip. Although there are tons of versions of tzatziki, many people typically describe the dip as tangy, creamy, and refreshing. One dish that pairs well with tzatziki sauce is the gyro (pronounced as “year-oh,” by the way), a pita wrap with meat sliced from a vertical rotisserie. It’s usually topped with onions, tomato, and a decent helping of the yogurt sauce. Another food that pairs well with tzatziki sauce is souvlaki, a skewer of marinated and cubed meat pieces. How Do You Pronounce Tzatziki? There’s more than one way to pronounce the Greek dip. According to Merriam-Webster, some people pronounce it as “dzad-zee-kee,” with the “d” sound at the beginning of the word just barely coming through. Other sources, such as Cambridge, indicate that it’s pronounced as “tsat-see-kee.” This way of saying the word merges the “tz” sound and makes the second “z” sound more like an “s.” The Oxford English Dictionary reports that the earliest known use of tzatziki was in the 1960s, when Robin Howe wrote a recipe book called Greek Cooking. Many sources, including Sporked, credit cacik—the Ottoman Empire’s version of the food—as the origin of tzatziki, despite the dip being associated with Greek cuisine. Cacik usually features labneh, a tangy “yogurt cheese” that’s strained for a long time, resulting in a consistency between that of cream cheese and yogurt. Source: How to Properly Pronounce ‘Tzatziki‘

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 - COCKROACHES Did you know.... Cockroaches have a reputation for being indestructible. But they may not be as totally immune to radiation as people think. Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice; still others say in a nuclear apocalypse that will annihilate humanity while leaving cockroaches intact. It’s an unhappy picture, Homo sapiens being completely wiped out by its own technology as the little pests inherit the Earth, but is the possibility fact, or just science fiction? Long Live the Cockroach Unfortunately, it looks like the bugs win this one. They’ve already survived one nuclear attack: The cockroach survival theory surfaced in the wake of the 1945 atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when reports began to circulate that the only signs of life remaining between the two cities were cockroaches scurrying among the ruins. With that kind of evidence, it’s reasonable enough to infer that even more nuclear weapons won’t be enough to keep them down, but it always helps to test a hypothesis. As usual, that’s where the Mythbusters stepped in. The Discovery Channel team conducted an experiment on German cockroaches to see just how much radiation they can stand before kicking the tiny bucket, and it’s a lot—more than we frail humans can handle, for sure. A month after their initial exposure to 1000 radon units (rads) of cobalt 60—an amount sufficient to kill a human in just 10 minutes of exposure—about half of the cockroach sample was still alive and thriving, which is all the more impressive considering the normal mortality rate of insects with only a 6-to-9-month life span. The second condition upped the dose of radiation to 10,000 rads, about the equivalent amount of exposure that would result from an atomic bomb, and 10 percent of the cockroaches were still around to tell the tale a month later. The 100,000 rads condition proved that at least cockroaches aren’t invincible: None of them made it through, which would be more tragic if they didn’t still possess superhuman levels of radiation immunity. Could Other Animals Survive Extreme Radiation? Detractors from the theory that roaches will someday rule the Earth don’t disagree with the findings that the little creepy-crawlies would easily outlive us after nuclear fallout; their argument is that there are other, even more radiation-resistant organisms out there. Tardigrades—which have been shown to survive in space—would have a good chance. Some wood-boring insects, as well as their eggs, can survive exposure to as much as 68,000 rads, while it would take about 64,000 to take out the common fruit fly. Habrobracon hebetor, a type of parasitic wasp, easily takes the radiation-resistance championship with its ability to survive up to 180,000 rads—somewhere around 200 times as much resistance as any human possesses. But, even if they did make it through a gnarly nuclear blast, a lack of food (and a severely changed environment) could hinder their ability to survive longterm. “It is difficult to know what the long term impacts of the radiation would be on those animals and how this would ripple up the food chain,” Corrie Moreau, a professor of arthropod biosystematics and biodiversity at Cornell University, told Newsweek. “We really have to hope we do not see this experiment play out.” Source: Could Cockroaches Really Survive a Nuclear War?

What's the Word: REDOLENT pronunciation: [RED-ihl-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something). 2. Strongly smelling of. Examples: "The small homes are redolent of the original ones in the city." "The aromas of spring are redolent with flowers and freshly cut grass." About Redolent You can use "redolent" to describe anything that reminds you of something else, but the original usage was related to smell. In Latin, "red" means "back, or again," and "olere" means "to smell." That gives us "redolent" in Latin, meaning "giving out a strong smell." The spelling and meaning passed through to Old French and into Middle English in the 15th century. Did you Know? Scent is one of the most powerful triggers for memory. Incoming smells pass through the olfactory bulb in your nose, directly to the hippocampus and amygdala. These areas in your brain are responsible for emotion and memory. This pathway explains why a kitchen redolent of baking cookies might remind you of your grandma.

What's the Word: REALIA pronunciation: [ree-AL-ee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. Objects and material from everyday life, especially when used as teaching aids. 2. Real things or actual facts, especially as distinct from theories about or reactions to them. Examples: "The visiting firefighter dazzled the schoolkids with his realia, which included his helmet, ax, and oxygen tank." "In science class, Daria learned best from lessons involving realia, such as demonstrations of dramatic chemical reactions." About Realia “Realia” is directly from the Latin “reālia,” meaning “real things.” Did you Know? The first realia many babies encounter is a simple set of wooden blocks, which were developed as teaching tools in 18th-century England and popularized by German educational philosopher Friedrich Fröbel (best known for inventing and naming “kindergarten”). “Fröbel gifts,” a set of mostly wooden blocks he developed, became massively popular educational toys for babies, offering them real-world experiences with basic shapes, gravity, and building or stacking. These toys provide pieces of the real world small enough for babies to handle and safely experiment with. Used as realia, building blocks have been the foundation of early learning for hundreds of millions of people.

What's the Word: MOXIE pronunciation: [MAHK-see] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Force of character, determination, or nerve. Examples: "Arlene had no experience but lots of moxie, and her attitude got her hired." "Mark held onto his youthful moxie even though he was decades past his teen years." About Moxie “Moxie” as an adjective is taken directly from the name of the New England soft drink Moxie, which was marketed as strengthening drinkers’ nerves. Did you Know? The first appearance of the word “moxie” was as the name of the soft drink Moxie, patented by Augustin Thompson in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1885. Its flavor was a combination of root beer with a bitter aftertaste of gentian root, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine. Moxie was originally sold as “Moxie Nerve Food,” and, in its early marketing, it was said to cure “paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness, and insomnia,” which strengthened its association with strong nerves and forceful character.

What's the Word: MACROSCOPIC pronunciation: [mak-rə-SKA-pik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Visible to the naked eye; not microscopic. 2. Relating to large-scale or general analysis. Examples: "A macroscopic view of U.S. food trends considers the practices of all restaurants, caterers, and food-producers." "The mold growth was microscopic at first, but after several days it became macroscopic and clearly visible." About Macroscopic The word “macroscopique” appeared in French in 1865. English speakers may well have brought it into the language as an obvious opposite to “microscopic,” which had been in use since the 17th century. In both French and English, “macroscopic” combines the prefix “macro-,” meaning “large” or “long,” with the suffix “-scopic,” which refers to the act of watching. Did you Know? In its initial form, “macroscopic” referred specifically to the opposite of “microscopic,” things so small they could not be viewed with the naked eye. “Macroscopic” things were simply those that could be seen. Over time, however, the term has taken on a metaphoric implication, invoking “a long view” or “the big picture” — both of which are variations on the word’s two roots of “macro” and “scopic,” which together refer to the act of watching in a broad manner.

Fact of the Day - OVERCOOKED MUSHROOMS? Did you know.... Overcooking ingredients is one of the most common mishaps in the kitchen and can result in mushy vegetables, tough meats, and other gastronomic woes. Mushrooms, however, are incredibly forgiving, being almost impossible to overcook. Their ability to maintain an agreeable texture over a wide range of cooking times is all due to the unique cellular structure of fungi. The secret lies in chitin, the material that forms the cell walls in mushrooms. Chitin, which is also found in insect exoskeletons and crustacean shells, is very durable and heat stable — unlike the cellulose found in plant cells or the proteins in animal tissue. In most foods, cooking often produces dramatic structural changes. The proteins in meat go through a process of denaturation and coagulation, causing the meat to firm up and, when overcooked, become tough. Vegetables, meanwhile, are held together by pectin, which starts to break down during cooking, releasing the bond between cells and making the vegetables turn soft — potentially too soft if overcooked. But thanks to the magic of chitin, mushrooms maintain their structural integrity, and therefore their firmness, when cooked for even long durations. Any textural change that occurs in mushrooms while cooking is more likely due to water loss than cellular breakdown. Mushrooms have a high water content, and this liquid is released while cooking, which concentrates the flavor and changes the texture slightly without compromising structure. So while it is possible to burn mushrooms through overly high heat and negligence, it’s difficult to overcook them, whether you’re sautéing a chanterelle or roasting a portobello. The Armillaria ostoyae honey mushroom is the heaviest living organism on Earth. Deep within the Malheur National Forest of Oregon lives the heaviest living thing on Earth: a giant mushroom playfully dubbed the “humongous fungus.” This gigantic specimen of Armillaria ostoyae honey mushroom is estimated to weigh somewhere between 7,500 and 35,000 tons and occupies a total area of 2,385 acres — equivalent to 1,350 soccer fields. DNA testing has revealed this to be a single organism, consisting of a massive mycelial network located mostly underground. While the humongous fungus can claim to be the heaviest living organism in the world, it’s not necessarily the largest in terms of area. A specimen of Posidonia australis seagrass, located in Shark Bay in Western Australia, covers an area of approximately 77 square miles — equivalent to around 28,000 soccer fields. Both the Oregonian Armillaria ostoyae and the Shark Bay seagrass rank among the oldest living organisms on Earth. Based on current growth rates, the seagrass is estimated to be around 4,500 years old, while the honey mushroom is estimated to be at least 2,400 years old and possibly even as ancient as 8,650 years. Source: It’s nearly impossible to overcook mushrooms.

Fact of the Day - GAS STATIONS Did you know... Do we really need three gas stations on one street? Economic theory says yes. While people are often struck by Starbucks storefronts being mere blocks from each other, the real mystery in consumerism is the gas station. Drive down a town’s main artery and you’re likely to see competing pumps located just hundreds of feet apart or even positioned across the street from one another. Don’t these businesses cannibalize each other? Why wouldn’t they choose another area where they can monopolize sales? A concentration of gas stations (or other businesses) is called clustering, and there’s some economic theory on why it’s actually beneficial. Hotelling’s Law Presh Talwalkar, author of The Joy of Game Theory: An Introduction to Strategic Thinking, offers one of the more concise explanations of store clustering. Talwalkar cites Hotelling’s Law, an economic premise devised by economist Harold Hotelling. The theory states that when competitors are vying for customers, they’ll naturally flock to a common middle ground. Imagine, as Talwalkar does, hot dog vendors setting up their wares on a beach. At first glance, it might make sense for a vendor to position themselves as far from their business rival as possible to serve beachgoers who won’t want to make the trek to the other location. Call them the left side stand. Business is good, but a vendor will soon realize it would be better to move closer to the middle to vie for customers in that area. They won’t lose existing patrons and only stand to gain. The right side stand has (or will quickly assume) the same idea. The result is two hot dog stands in relatively close proximity to one another. They’ve achieved a kind of equilibrium, one in which a vendor starting out appeasing beachgoers further off-center will eventually migrate to the middle, with the other quickly following suit. The same principle applies to storefronts of all kinds, with “the beach” standing in for various kinds of prime real estate. When it comes to gas stations, operators want to be near high-traffic areas, or wherever they feel demand will be highest. That means a main street, possibly near a highway off-ramp or a popular tourist spot. In any case, the station has no incentive to deviate from a prime location, even if it means being in a congested area of competition. Moving a gas station five blocks away could mean losing business to patrons who have no incentive to seek them out. But suppose the gas station did succeed outside the cluster, becoming highly profitable. That monopoly wouldn’t last because other stations would recognize their success and quickly branch out, creating a new cluster of competition. Many businesses look at similar data: foot traffic, construction costs, and population density all help determine desirable real estate. It’s why you’re likely to see a McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King all within walking distance of the other; it’s also why you’ve probably seen a row of bars near a college. Competing in a centralized location is better than not competing at all by moving out of the cluster. Standing Out So if three gas stations are all within sight of a driver, how do they stand out? One obvious ploy is in gas pricing, though once again equilibrium tends to win out here. If one station undercuts another, the rival station will have to quickly adjust pricing to remain competitive, thus canceling the advantage. Stations may use other incentives. On a warm day, that could mean rolling out coolers full of cold drinks. Others might share a building with a popular coffee or fast food chain. Some may even use their own branding. Buc-ee’s, for example, has become a cultural touchstone thanks to its reputation for convenience store food and spotless bathrooms. There is one adverse consequence of gas station clustering: health issues. A paper published in the Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering in 2021 argued that there might be an increased risk of cancer for those living near multiple stations due to the increased volume of benzene and other toxic emissions. Sound economic theory? Sure. Sound health practice? Maybe not. Source: Why Are Gas Stations So Close to One Another?

What's the Word: ARRAS pronunciation: [AR-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, unknown Meaning: 1. A rich tapestry, typically hung on the walls of a room or used to conceal an alcove. 2. A town in northeastern France; population 43,663 (2006). In medieval times it was a center for the manufacture of tapestries. Examples: "The castle is rumored to conceal secret passageways behind colorful arras." "While no longer known for tapestries, Arras is still a lovely town to visit in France." About Arras This term came from the French town Arras, which was known for specializing in creating tapestries. Over time, the word came to refer to the tapestries themselves. Did you Know? In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character Polonius conceals himself behind a tapestry, specifically an arras, to listen in on Hamlet and the Queen’s conversation. In more modern times, the cartoon cast of “Scooby Doo” often conceals themselves behind an arras — usually with humorous results, like leaving legs and feet visible.

Fact of the Day - 20% COVERED Did you know.... It’s easy to think of major cities such as London and New York as sprawling grids of concrete, brick, and metal — but it may surprise you to learn that both cities also maintain roughly 20% tree canopy cover. That’s an urban forest of more than 8.4 million trees across Greater London and approximately 7 million trees in New York City. While other major cities have even higher tree canopy coverage — including Oslo at ~72%, Atlanta at ~50%, and Singapore at ~29% — what sets London and New York apart is the amount of greenery they contain given their massive size, population density, and global urban footprint. The London plane, a hybrid tree that received its name from its ability to withstand the city’s air pollution during the Industrial Revolution, is the most common street tree in both London and New York City. Other widely planted species include sycamore, oak, and silver birch in London and littleleaf linden, Norway maple, and green ash in NYC. These urban trees aren’t just decorative. They reduce air pollution, lower urban temperatures, and absorb stormwater that would otherwise flood drains. In New York alone, trees remove around 1,100 tons of air pollution each year and intercept more than 890 million gallons of stormwater, easing pressure on the city’s infrastructure. Greater London’s trees provide around £132.7 million worth of ecosystem services annually, which include air purification, temperature regulation, building energy savings, and rainwater interception. And of course, tree cover also supports and shelters city wildlife. So while their skylines may steal the spotlight, it’s the tree canopy that quietly keeps these cities cooler, cleaner, and more inviting. Tree Preservation Orders have been protecting U.K. trees since 1947. Introduced under the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) give local authorities in the U.K. the power to legally protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands if their removal would negatively impact the local environment or public enjoyment. TPOs make it an offense to cut down, top, lop, uproot, or willfully damage a protected tree without permission. Today, thousands of trees across London are safeguarded by TPOs, ensuring the city’s urban forest continues to thrive for generations to come. Source: London and New York are each around 20% covered by trees.

Fact of the Day - LEANING TOWER GOING STRAIGHT Did you know.... Between the 13th and 20th centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s tilt increased from around 0.2 degrees north to 5.5 degrees degrees south — 5.7 degrees of movement in total. But since the 1990s, that incline has reverted roughly 1.5 degrees back toward center, thanks to a project meant to stabilize the landmark and prevent its potential collapse. The engineering operation was launched in 1990, marking the third attempt at straightening the tower. Two prior efforts were made in 1838 and 1934, but the failure of those attempts actually added to the precarious incline. But the third time, not only did engineers succeed, but the tower also continued to straighten afterward. The stabilization process involved installing counterweights on the tower’s north side so the structure would tilt back toward an upright position. Engineers also extracted soil from the higher side of the foundation and used steel cables to pull the building upright. By 2001, the incline was reduced by 15 inches and measured around 4 degrees — less than the first recorded measurement from 1817 of 4.9 degrees. Engineers considered the project a success, and a 2005 assessment declared the tower safe for the next 300 years. But even though the stabilization project itself ended in 2001, the tower continued to lean toward a more upright position due to the unstable soil underneath. By 2018, the landmark had straightened an additional 1.6 inches, according to a study conducted by an Italian preservation organization. Researchers at Stuttgart University believe the tower will continue to straighten, though the landmark will likely start to lean back toward the south over time due to its weak foundation. While a precise timeline is hard to pinpoint, some engineers estimate the tower will remain stable for at least 200 years, but additional stabilization work may be required thereafter. Napoleon once crowned himself king of Italy. In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte — then serving as first consul of the French Republic — was persuaded to serve as president of the newly formed Italian Republic. But on May 17, 1805, Napoleon proclaimed the republic to be a new kingdom under the dominion of his Napoleonic empire. Subsequently, fewer than six months after being crowned French emperor, Napoleon declared himself king of Italy at a coronation ceremony in Milan on May 26, 1805. After nearly nine years, Napoleon’s reign came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau on April 11, 1814. As per the conditions, he abdicated the Italian and French thrones and was banished to Elba. Source: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is getting straighter.

Fact of the Day - NORTH ALWAYS AT THE TOP ON MAP Did you know.... If anyone is responsible for modern maps’ northward focus, it’s Claudius Ptolemy. North doesn’t always mean “up” when it comes to geophysics. Scientists have known for decades that magnetic north, a spot once located in Arctic Canada, is moving toward Siberia. And magnetic north is different from geographic north, a place where all the meridians of longitude intersect in the Northern Hemisphere. But even these facts don't quite explain why modern maps always feature north at the top. There’s nothing inherently upward about north. Some ancient Egyptian maps put south on top; in medieval Europe, Christian cartographers tended to give that distinction to east, since you had to turn that way to face Jerusalem. Others placed east on top because of the rising sun (that’s why we “orient” ourselves). And early American settlers sometimes used maps with west on top, because that was the direction they often traveled. If anyone is responsible for maps’ northward focus, it’s Claudius Ptolemy. His Geographia, written in the 2nd century CE, featured a map of the known world with north on top. Why he positioned it that way is not clear, but it may be that the Library of Alexandria, where he did his research, just didn’t have much information on the Southern Hemisphere. Renaissance scholars revived Ptolemy’s work, and by then, the phenomenon of magnetic north had been discovered, making his layout even more appealing to mapmakers. The magnetic north pole, however, was not located until 1831. On an otherwise disastrous expedition to Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage, British explorer James Clark Ross discovered the pole—the spot where a compass needle on a horizontal axis points straight down—on the west coast of Canada's Boothia peninsula. "I must leave it to others to imagine the elation of mind with which we found ourselves now at length arrived at this great object of our ambition," Ross wrote. "Nothing now remained for us but to return home and be happy for the rest of our days." Source: Why is North Always At the Top on a Map?

What's the Word: NOCUOUS pronunciation: [NAHK-yoo-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Noxious, harmful, or poisonous. Examples: "The lab techs wore close-fitting face masks to protect them from the nocuous liquids they were mixing." "Removing the nocuous plants growing behind the garden was a complicated job." About Nocuous “Nocuous” is based on the Latin “nocuus,” an adjective based on the verb “nocere,” meaning “to hurt.” Did you Know? The definition for “nocuous” in the Oxford English Dictionary includes the words “poisonous” and “venomous.” But talk to a veterinarian or park ranger, and they’ll tell you that those two words are not synonyms. A poison is a toxin that enters the body by inhalation, swallowing, or absorption through the skin (think: poison ivy). Venom is a toxin that enters the body through injection: snake bites, bee stings, spider bites, etc. So, while both venom and poison are nocuous in that they are harmful, they are not synonymous with each other.

What's the Word: PENTIMENTO pronunciation: [pen-tə-MEN-toh] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, 19th century Meaning: 1. A visible trace of earlier painting beneath a layer or layers of paint on a canvas. Examples: "Beneath the image of the bull in the center of the painting, there was a pentimento of a ship’s mast." "Robyn left a pentimento of the image he had painted over peeking out from beneath his painting." About Pentimento The Italian “pentimento” means “to repent,” or “to make a correction or update.” In English, it describes the visible memory of a previous image beneath a more recent painting as an artifact of artistic correction or update to the previous work of art. Did you Know? Often, a pentimento (“pentimenti” is the plural form) is the product of correction in a painting. In some cases, a painting may be entirely painted over with a new work, leaving behind the ghost of the original image as a pentimento. However, pentimenti may reveal aspects of the artist’s process. Works by most of the great masters rarely contain these remnants, but Caravaggio and Rembrandt tended to paint more experimentally, with less prior planning. They more frequently made changes on canvas as they worked, sometimes leaving pentimenti.

Fact of the Day - THIRD EYELID Did you know... If you look closely in the mirror at the inside corner of either of your eyes, you’ll notice a pinkish protuberance. This thin, curved membrane sits directly adjacent to the eyeball and is called the plica semilunaris, which is an evolutionary remnant of the nictitating membrane, known colloquially as the “third eyelid.” (This is not to be confused with the lacrimal caruncle, a tiny bump at the very edge of the eye that helps keep the eye moist.) Though the third eyelid is useless for us modern humans, it once served a purpose for our prehistoric ancestors. Many animals, including dogs, cats, and some birds, reptiles, and fish, still have a functioning nictitating membrane. This translucent membrane protects the eye while still allowing the animal to see, and also essentially acts like windshield wipers by removing debris and maintaining moisture. Birds rely on their nictitating membrane while in flight and fish while swimming. Its purpose in prehistoric humans remains unclear due to the lack of definitive fossil records. Charles Darwin waited more than two decades to publish his theory of evolution. From 1831 to 1836, naturalist Charles Darwin traveled the world researching evolution — but even after his return to England, he didn’t reveal his findings to the public for another two decades. Some claim Darwin feared a negative reaction from scientific and religious communities, while others suggest he used the gap to ensure his theory was irrefutable, hoping to compose an extensive, unassailable treatise before informing the world. In 1858, Darwin received an essay from naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace that proposed similar evolutionary theories to his own. This unexpected development prompted Darwin to divulge his findings to the scientific community alongside Wallace. In 1859, he introduced his theory of natural selection in his work On the Origin of Species. Later, in 1871, Darwin published The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, in which he first publicly posited that humans descended from apes. Source: You can still see part of your third eyelid.

Fact of the Day - DAKOTAS AND CAROLINAS Did you know.... We have an even 50 states thanks to these geographic decisions. If the colony of Carolina and the Dakota Territory hadn’t decided to split themselves up a few hundred years ago, we’d have only 48 states right now. But why did these particular places become geographic variants of each other? Here are the answers. Why Is there a North and South Carolina? John White’s painting of an Indigenous village at the time of the English settlers’ arrival at Roanoke Island, in present-day North Carolina, 1585. | Print Collector/GettyImages Though French officials had attempted to establish forts along the coast, permanent European settlement of the Carolinas began with Juan Ponce de León claiming most of the present-day southeastern U.S. for Spain in 1513 and calling it La Florida. Indigenous peoples resisted the Spanish incursion for decades and Spain eventually abandoned its efforts to settle the region. In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh convinced a group of English settlers to establish a colony on Roanoke Island, but by 1590, their fort had been abandoned and the people had mysteriously disappeared. Then, England’s Attorney General Sir Robert Heath managed the Carolina territory for King Charles I of England. Heath made no attempts at colonizing the area and, following the king’s execution in 1649, Heath fled to France. Heath’s heirs would eventually try to reassert their claim to the territory, but King Charles II ruled the claim invalid and gave ownership to a group of eight noblemen known as the Lords Proprietors. The Lords—helmed primarily by Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, who was influenced and assisted by the philosopher John Locke—retained control of the area from 1663 to 1729, with members of the eight-man group being replaced as necessary with other lords. A 1676 map of Carolina prior to the split. | Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain The Lords Proprietors set up a framework for governance and settlement of Carolina and dispatched an expedition of colonists. Mostly, though, they fought constantly and were unable to make decisions that made sense for the economic development of the enormous territory. None of the original eight lords ever set foot in North America. They hired and fired a laundry list of governors, noted in their papers: “John Jenkins was deposed,” “Thomas Miller was overthrown and jailed by ... ‘armed rebels,’ ” “Thomas Eastchurch was forbidden to enter the colony,” and “Seth Sothel was accused ... of numerous crimes for which he was tried, convicted, and banished.” On top of all that, wars broke out with the Tuscarora and Yamasee tribes. The lords, realizing that this strategy wasn't working, appointed a governor to oversee the entire territory and a deputy governor to handle the northern half in 1710. Two years later Carolina was permanently divided into north and south territories. The English Crown eventually took back South Carolina from the Lords Proprietors and made it a royal colony; the Crown also convinced the reluctant Lords to sell back their shares of North Carolina, and it was made a royal colony in 1729. Both retained this status until they ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788 (South Carolina) and 1789 (North Carolina). The Origins of North and South Dakota A flotilla of covered wagons and military equipment accompanies George Armstrong Custer’s 1874 expedition to the Black Hills. | Historical/GettyImages Most of the land that would become North and South Dakota was acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. After Minnesota was admitted to the Union in 1858 and the federal government and Sioux officials signed the Yankton Treaty the same year, the remaining land and ceded territory was organized into the Dakota Territory. But it wasn’t until the 1874 discovery of gold in the Black Hills, the sacred land of the Sioux, did prospectors and the military really begin invading the area. (Ironically, Dakota means “friend” or “ally” in the Dakota language.) Railroads followed the gold rush; settlers poured into the upper Great Plains. Until 1883, Yankton in the far southeastern corner served as the capital of the whole territory, but northern settlers refused to recognize the remote town as the center of governance. They declared their own capital, Bismarck, in 1872. This caused enough tension to require a split down the 46th parallel into two territories—but there were other factors in play. President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, and the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives resisted giving the Dakotas statehood, since the overwhelmingly Republican states would likely elect Republicans to Congress. The situation changed when Republican Benjamin Harrison was elected president and Republicans gained majorities in both houses of Congress, paving the way for a statehood bill to pass. On November 2, 1889, North and South Dakota were admitted to the union, becoming the 39th and 40th states, respectively. Source: Why Are There Two Dakotas and Two Carolinas?

Fact of the Day - COSMIC LATTE Did you know..... We tend to think of space as cold and dark, but that’s only because most stars are light-years away from the pale blue dot we call home. The universe is actually quite bright on the whole, and its color has been given an appropriately celestial name: “cosmic latte.” In 2002, astronomers at Johns Hopkins University determined the shade after studying the light emitted by 200,000 different galaxies. They held a contest to give the result — a kind of creamy beige — its evocative moniker. (Other entries in the contest included “univeige” and “skyvory.”) As with just about everything in the universe, however, the color isn’t fixed: It’s become less blue and more red over the last 10 billion years, likely as a result of redder stars becoming more prevalent. In another 10 billion years, we may even need to rename the color entirely. NASA didn’t really spend millions of dollars developing a pen that could write in space. The second half of this oft-cited myth contrasts NASA’s supposed approach with that of the Soviet Union, who are said to have simply given their cosmonauts pencils. American astronauts did likewise, though NASA wasn’t always thrilled about it — pencils are flammable, and their tips breaking off could lead to damage on sensitive equipment. The so-called space pens actually came from the Fisher Pen Company, which offered its AG-7 “Anti-Gravity” pen to NASA in 1965. None of the investment money came from the government, however, and astronauts and cosmonauts alike ended up using the writing tools at a cost of $2.39 per pen. Source: According to astronomers at Johns Hopkins, the color of the universe is “cosmic latte.”

Fact of the Day - DRAGONFLIES Did you know... On a statistical level, some of the world’s most fearsome predators aren’t actually that fearsome. Wolves succeed in about only 20% of their attempts to catch prey, whereas lions enjoy a success rate of around 30% when working as a pack. Those numbers, though respectable, pale in comparison to the success rate of the mighty dragonfly, which catches about 95% of the prey it pursues — making it the world’s most successful hunter. These insects do all their hunting in midair, of course, making the feat even more impressive; they mainly prey on small insects such as mosquitoes, flies, or butterflies. Scientists attribute this prowess to dragonflies’ nearly 360-degree field of vision, their individually controlled wings, and their brains’ unique ability to coordinate these instantaneous actions. Other surprisingly adept hunters include the harbor porpoise, whose success rate hovers at around 90% (allowing them to chow down on more than 500 small fish per hour), and African wild dogs, which capture their prey more than 60% of the time — though they often lose them to larger predators such as lions and hyenas. One dragonfly species’ migration has been called “the most extraordinary journey in nature.” The more you learn about dragonflies, the more astonished you’ll be by these tiny creatures. Consider the globe skimmer, for instance, which more than lives up to its name: The “winged wanderer,” as it’s often referred to, completes the longest migration of any insect, an 11,000-mile journey between India and Africa that Discover Magazine called “the most extraordinary journey in nature” — in part because it takes several generations to complete, meaning no single dragonfly can complete it itself. At just a few centimeters long, globe skimmers can fly for 90 hours straight — albeit with a fair bit of assistance from wind, which is why the journey can only be undertaken at certain times of year. To keep their energy up, they eat small insects and aerial plankton. Their exact route has yet to be plotted, however, because globe skimmers are literally too small for any existing tracking devices. Source: Dragonflies are the world’s most successful hunters.

Fact of the Day - EXPRESSION Did you know... Pipe organs have a little something to do with it. If we say that someone is “pulling out all the stops,” then we mean that they’re holding nothing back and making every conceivable effort to do or accomplish something. The expression is familiar to most speakers of the English language—but where did the phrase come from? What exactly are these stops, and for that matter, why are we pulling them all out? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, stop in this sense was initially “sometimes vaguely used for ‘note’, ‘key’, ‘tune’ ” as far back at the 16th century. Eventually, though, it came to refer to the rounded handles, switches, or button-like stoppers typically found around the keyboard of a pipe organ, which are called “organ stops” or “stop knobs.” To understand why someone might pull them all out, though, we first need to know a little bit more about how an organ actually works. In simple terms, the pipes of an organ are essentially gigantic whistles, and make a sound only when air is forced or blown through them. Each individual pipe makes a different note (corresponding to the keys or pedals of the organ), while the pipes themselves are arranged in multiple musical sets, called “ranks,” each of which produces a different kind of tone or musical effect. The notes produced by some ranks will have a softer, mellower tone, for instance, while others might be brasher, shriller, or far more resonant. Depending on its size, the number of ranks or sets of pipes an organ has might range from just a few to in the hundreds, allowing an organist to produce a host of different sounds and tonal textures on the same instrument. Using the organ stops, they can switch between different ranks as required throughout a performance. The stops on an organ control the airflow into the pipes, thereby allowing them to produce sound. “Pulling out” a stop removes a slider at the base of each rank of pipes, opening them up to the air passing through the instrument (either by bellows or an electronic blower), and ultimately changing the tone of the music being played. Each stop has a name corresponding to the kind of tone color or musical effect that the pipes to which it is connected produce. Stops labeled things like trumpet, tuba, and trombone, for instance, produce harsher, brassier sounds, while the unda stop, or unda maris, produces a softer, undulating sound, meant quite literally to evoke a “wave of the sea.” A skilled player will often open several stops at once to combine sounds from multiple ranks of pipes to create a richer tone overall. With lots of pipes sounding at the same time, the volume of the organ increases. Pulling out all of the stops—so that every rank of pipes sounds simultaneously—would therefore theoretically produce the loudest, grandest, and most impressive sound of all (if not a rather cacophonous one). That’s the idea behind the expression pulling out all the stops. The figurative use meaning “make a considerable effort” emerged in the mid-1800s, with the English poet Matthew Arnold credited with its earliest use in an essay published in 1865. “Proud as I am of my connection with the University of Oxford, I can truly say, that knowing how unpopular a task one is undertaking when one tries to pull out a few more stops in that powerful but at present somewhat narrow-toned organ, the modern Englishman, I have always sought to stand by myself, and to compromise others as little as possible,” he wrote. Since then, different versions of the phrase have cropped up, but the idea—and the musical theory behind it—remains the same. Source: Where Does the Expression ‘Pull Out All the Stops’ Come From?

What's the Word: TITTLE pronunciation: [TIT-əl] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 12th century Meaning: 1. A tiny amount or part of something. 2. A small written or printed stroke or dot, indicating omitted letters in a word. Examples: "The cake looked delicious, but I could only eat a tittle of a slice." "Even a tittle of bicycle grease can permanently stain a garment." About Tittle Tittle is based on the Middle English "titel," from the Latin "titulus," meaning "a small mark." Did you Know? Originally, "tittle" referred to any tiny typographical mark over a letter — for example, accents or the dots of the lowercase letters "i" and "j." These marks are tiny, and that tininess is reflected in the modern usage of "tittle" as a minuscule measure. In some cases, tittles were used to indicate the omission of letters, predating the modern use of apostrophes for that purpose.

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What's the Word: KNURL pronunciation: [nurl] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 17th century Meaning: 1. A small projecting knob or ridge, especially in a series around the edge of something. Examples: "I have several razor handles but prefer the one with knurls that help me keep my grip in soapy water." "Many hand tools are designed with strategically placed knurls to make them easier to hold." About Knurl Knurl is based on the Middle English noun "knur," a variation on "knar," meaning "knot in wood." Did you Know? Knurling, the process of creating knurls, uses a machining tool to cut lines and textured patterns into metals and other hard objects. One of the key advantages of knurls is that they make objects easier to grip without adding any material or weight; they are created by removing some material instead. Knurling is not always functional — sometimes it’s just a final aesthetic step to make a tool look nicer — but most knurls serve a purpose, such as the functional knurls scored into a knob to make it easier to grip and turn.

Fact of the Day - CANARY IN THE COAL MINE Did you know... Canaries were used in coal mines much more recently than you might have thought. In 2013, as certain butterfly populations plummeted across North American prairies, Canadian conservationist Cary Hamel explained why people should care. “Butterflies are a bit of a canary in a coal mine,” he told The Canadian Press. “They’re really sensitive to changes in weather. They’re sensitive to changes in habitat loss. They’re sensitive to invasive species and land management. The fact that the Poweshiek skipperling and other prairie butterflies are all declining should really have us stand up and take notice that something is going wrong with our native prairies.” It’s a textbook example of a canary in a coal mine: something that serves as an early warning sign of a larger issue. These days, anything can fit the bill, from the aforementioned insects indicating a troubled ecosystem to struggling small businesses indicating a troubled economy. But the original canary was a literal one—and it didn’t indicate trouble in a coal mine by chirping. From Pet to Pit Mines are a hotbed for dangerous gases collectively known as damps—from Dampf, the German word for “vapor.” Hydrogen sulfide is stinkdamp, so named for its rotten-egg-like odor; the ever-flammable methane makes up firedamp; a carbon dioxide mixture is black damp because flame lamps won’t stay lit in those conditions; and carbon monoxide, the invisible killer, is white damp. The cocktail of gases produced by a mining explosion (i.e., the afterdamp) often features carbon monoxide, and rescue missions can’t succeed or even proceed without knowing whether the atmosphere is unsafe. Before modern detection technologies existed, people relied on canaries to tell them. The idea is generally credited to John Scott Haldane, a pioneering British physiologist whose experiments—some done on himself and his teenage son—gave us oxygen therapy and a greater understanding of how various gases affect the human body. (The family motto was “Suffer.”) In the late 19th century, Haldane observed that small, warm-blooded animals are affected by carbon monoxide poisoning much more quickly than humans. He recommended that men use them as a natural alarm system in mines. But celebrating Haldane as the sole genius behind so-called “pit canaries” poses a couple of problems. For one thing, his initial reports in the 1890s centered on the use of mice. Only in the early 20th century, when the existence of pit canaries was already hitting print, did he start mentioning birds in his published work. Moreover, researchers have pointed out that canaries had accompanied miners for decades, if not centuries, before the practice went mainstream. According to writer Jerry Dennis, Austrian Alpine miners adopted canaries as early as the 1690s, and some brought the birds with them when they later migrated to Germany’s Harz Mountains in search of work. Harz miners began breeding canaries to sell as domesticated songbirds—a side hustle so successful that by the 19th century, the region was a premier canary exporter. All that said, Haldane’s science-backed endorsement of little creatures in general as carbon monoxide monitors no doubt helped legitimize and institutionalize the custom. A 1911 British law mandated that every mine with at least 100 underground workers keep “two or more small birds” on hand. It’s unclear exactly how canaries so quickly eclipsed other birds as miners’ choice companions, but what made them such a popular pet probably also made them such a popular mining tool. They were singsongy, sociable, bright-yellow birds—the kind you’d notice going sullen and dropping from its perch, even in darkness. That’s what they did when exposed to carbon monoxide, signaling rescuers to beat a hasty retreat. Miner’s Best Friend Pit canaries didn’t perish on every journey underground; plenty were revived once they had clean air in their lungs, sometimes thanks to a special cage outfitted with an oxygen pump. But it was hardly a risk-free gig, especially for canaries reused on mission after mission. “In the office of Francis Keegan, state mine inspector, sings a little yellow canary—weakly, very weakly.” one Kansas newspaper reported in 1914. “It hops feebly about but soon tires and returns to its cage. It is waiting to die so that some men may live. … Perhaps the next trip into the mine will be its last.” Officials did test out other animals. Sparrows briefly seemed promising as “comparatively little sentiment attaches to” them, as Texas’s El Paso Herald put it in 1912, but one mining report claimed that they “do not lend themselves easily to captivity.” The Herald also explained that mice didn’t suffice “because when confined in cages, they are liable to sulk, and it is not always possible to know whether their behavior is attributable to this cause or to gas distress.” Some coal mines, according to a 1913 story out of Washington, D.C., employed “nimble and sinewy” rats to run on tiny treadmills, “presumably after a bit of cheese forever out of reach.” The treadmills powered lights—convenient in dark mines—and if the light went off, it was immediately clear that your rat may have inhaled noxious fumes. But none of these alternatives could quite compete with the tried and true canary. World War I tunnelers, many of whom were miners by trade, even used the birds to detect gas as they hacked toward enemy territory. Canaries continued to participate in mining operations for the better part of the 20th century; Britain didn’t stop requiring mines to keep them on site until the mid-1980s. Some miners were loath to see their feathered friends replaced with electric monitors. “There is no more reassuring sight down a mine during an emergency than seeing a canary sitting happily on its perch. Anyway, I would much rather trust a bird than batteries,” one former miner told the Leicester Mercury in 1986. The Canary After the Coal Mine Canaries’ mining legacy lives on in the phrase canary in the coal mine (and other iterations, e.g., canary in a coal mine), which gained more widespread popularity toward the end of their tenure underground. The Oxford English Dictionary’s earliest citation is from a 1970 journal article in Audubon: “The epidemic rise of emphysema plus a plague of respiratory diseases—these are but the canary in the mine. They alert us to the ultimate catastrophe.” But the expression existed at least a little before then. Kurt Vonnegut used it in an address to the American Physical Society in February 1969: “I often wondered what I thought I was doing, teaching creative writing, since the demand for creative writers is very small in this vale of tears. I was perplexed as to what the usefulness of any of the arts might be, with the possible exception of interior decoration. The most positive notion I could come up with was what I call the canary-in-the-coal-mine theory of the arts. This theory argues that artists are useful to society because they are so sensitive. They are supersensitive. They keel over like canaries in coal mines filled with poisonous gas, long before more robust types realize that any danger is there.” Vonnegut mentioned his “canary-bird-in-the-coal-mine theory” again in a 1973 interview with Playboy. Artists, he explained, had “chirped and keeled over” in reaction to the Vietnam War before society at large had cottoned on to its horrors. While figurative canaries can be found in any sphere, many live in the natural world. Sentinel species, as they’re known, are organisms that scientists track in order to learn about the broader well-being of an ecosystem—including threats that can, like carbon monoxide in a mine, endanger humans. Mussels clue us in to water contaminants, and lichens know whether we’re breathing dirty air. Sentinel species can also help industries operate more effectively and less disruptively within ecosystems; the weight fluctuations of northern elephant seals, for example, can tell fisheries more about where and when to fish than you might have thought. The canary’s own watch may have ended, but it gave us an easy way to grasp what sentinel species do. In fact, they’re even sometimes called “ecosystem canaries.” Source: The Dark History Behind the Phrase ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’

What's the Word: CONCINNITY pronunciation: [kən-SIN-ih-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. The skillful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something. 2. Studied elegance of literary or artistic style. Examples: "The combined effect of the performances, stage sets, and dazzling lighting made the Broadway show a model of concinnity." "Masha seeks out art that displays a complex concinnity of African influences." About Concinnity “Concinnity” is based on the Latin “concinnitās” (meaning “skillfully put together”). Did you Know? Year after year, critics rate the 1972 film “The Godfather” as one of the finest movies ever made. Perhaps its concinnity elevates Francis Ford Coppola’s classic film above all other gangster movies. The film's masterful script contains memorable and easily quotable lines, and it’s also legendarily well acted by Marlon Brando, as the titular Godfather, and Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and James Caan, among others. The film is carefully shot to exude a unique aesthetic that creates a world of its own — and the soundtrack is likewise notably memorable. The concinnity of these forces is at the root of the success of “The Godfather.”

Fact of the Day - WHY A BUCK? Did you know... An old slang term for money has bucked the trend and remains relevant today. There’s a lot of slang for American currency, from moolah to dough to greenbacks to dead presidents. (Though not all bills carry presidential faces: The $10 bill features Alexander Hamilton, technically making it a dead Secretary of the Treasury.) But the most pervasive example might be referring to cash as a buck. Gas is three bucks a gallon; it costs 12 bucks to see a movie; you give the pizza delivery driver eight bucks for a tip. So when and why did we start to refer to money in denominations of bucks? Buck Through the Centuries Buck is one of the more versatile words in the English language. Perhaps the oldest use is its role in Old English, where it was then (and now) used to describe a male goat or deer, among other male animals. It was co-opted circa the 14th century to describe a libidinal young man, and later was used to describe an ambitious person (whom we might now call a “young buck”). In the 1800s, it was also used as a slur against Black or indigenous men. One could also use the phrase buck up, meaning “dress well,” or say “buck up” in reference to having the motivation to get things accomplished. From Buckskin to Buck The precise etymology of buck as currency—specifically a dollar—is unclear, but there are theories. Because deer were known as bucks, their hides were called “buckskin,” which was a form of currency in the 18th century. According to Huffington Post, a mention of buck in this context can be found in a 1748 journal entry in which Pennsylvania Dutch pioneer Conrad Weiser values whiskey at “5 bucks.” The Oxford English Dictionary dates buck in the context of a dollar to 1856, the earliest known printed mention. The Democratic State Journal in California made note of a crime in which “Bernard, assault and battery upon Wm. Croft, [deprived] the sum of twenty bucks.” The slang term persisted into the 20th century. The OED notes this sample from McClure’s magazine in 1903: “A man ... passed around some gold watches…twenty bucks they cost you over the counter.” The Value of a Buck There was no direct conversion rate between one single buckskin and a denomination. That value depended on how thick the pelt was, and this varied from animal to animal. At the time of Weiser’s entry, the U.S. dollar didn’t even exist yet. But because buckskin did represent some form of monetary value, it became synonymous with printed money. It makes sense, but so does another explanation: that buck was derived from sawbuck, the slang term for a $10 bill and so named for the Roman numeral X that appeared on early bills that reminded people of a wood-chopping frame known as a buck. However it came to be, the usage of buck meaning “money” has risen steadily from the mid-19th century. If you invoke the term, it’s likely most everyone will know what you mean—but if you want to be a little more creative, you can also opt for bread, bank, or clams. Source: Why Do We Call a Dollar a “Buck”?

What's the Word: LAISSEZ-PASSER pronunciation: [LES-ey-pass-EY] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 20th century Meaning: 1. A document allowing the holder to pass; a permit. Examples: "Some countries allow travel across borders using a laissez-passer instead of an official passport." "The consulate helped Victoria secure a laissez-passer to help her get home after her passport was stolen." About Laissez-passer “Laissez-passer” is a loanword from French, where it means “a pass,” or literally, “allow to pass.” Did you Know? “Laissez-passer” is a French word referring to a pass, but more than that, it translates literally to “allow to pass.” This is useful for understanding that a laissez-passer is a document separate from a passport, but that allows the bearer to travel as if it were an official passport. The term came into English use following World War I, during which passes were necessary for travel even inside some countries. The modern application of “laissez-passer” is usually diplomatic and refers to a document used to cross an international border.

With the Steam version releasing tomorrow I figured now is a good time to remind everyone of the play order in case anyone is unsure or questioning it. I've seen a lot of people confused on the Steam forums because there are so many entries in the series and it's a pretty confusing structure if you're not familiar with the series. Here is the release order with everything you need: KH 1.5+2.5 Collection: KH Final Mix (2002) KH Re:Chain of Memories (2004) KH2 Final Mix (2006) KH 358/2 Days (2009) [Cutscene movie] KH Birth by Sleep Final Mix (2010) KH Re:Coded (2011) [Cutscene movie] KH 2.8 Collection: KH Dream Drop Distance HD (2012) KH X Back Cover (2017) [Movie] KH 0.2 A Fragmentary Passage (2017) KH Union X (2016-2021) (Shutdown mobile game, cutscenes only) Here is a nice fandub of the cutscenes up to the part prior to KH3. KH3 + ReMind DLC (2019-2020) KH Union X (2016-2021) (Shutdown mobile game, cutscenes only) Here is a nice fandub of the cutscenes that are post KH3. KH Melody of Memory (2020) (Rhythm game) At the moment it's not on Steam. You can buy it on the Epic Store. KH Dark Road (2020-2022) (Mobile game) You can play this game, but I recommend watching it: Upcoming Unreleased Games: KH Missing-Link (Mobile game) (2024) KH4 (TBA)