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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.

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Lol... well, I bought a month's supply of baby diapers... I have a newborn.

Fact of the day - FOMO Did you know.... You've felt it. You've probably said it. Here's what "fomo" really means and where it came from. It's Friday night, pillows fluffed, pajamas on, and pizza on the way. Then your phone flashes—and so do images of your friends having the best night of their lives, the new bar you haven't tried, or even a potential love interest waiting in plain sight. That anxious feeling that everyone else is having fun without you is called "fomo," short for "fear of missing out." Side effects can include compulsively scrolling through social media, second-guessing your relationships, heightened stress, and lower self-esteem. Give in to the doomscroll devil on your shoulder, and you'll likely find exactly what you feared: a nonstop highlight reel of everyone you know, every night, like clockwork. Spot a pattern? If you guessed social media, you'd be right. The Origins of "Fomo" "Fomo" was coined in 2004 by Harvard Business School student Patrick J. McGinnis, around the time social networking was taking off. It starts with the awareness that you might be missing out, followed by a compulsive urge to stay socially connected. As platforms like Facebook and Twitter became part of everyday life, the term quickly spread beyond academic circles. In 2013, "fomo" was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as the "fear of missing out: anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website." Factor in the rise of Instagram, livestreams, and group chat culture, and the definition has expanded beyond missed parties: it now captures the anxiety of being left out, out of touch, or out of the online conversation. Today, "fomo" perfectly describes the modern unease of watching others' lives unfold online—and feeling like you're always a step behind. The Psychology Behind Fomo Social media keeps us connected 24/7, but instead of strengthening relationships, it often does the opposite. Constantly scrolling through friends' highlight reels can make gaps in your social life feel bigger, emphasizing missed events, unshared experiences, and even perceived social shortcomings. Psychologists say this cycle of comparison fuels "fomo," driving compulsive behaviors like obsessively checking notifications or overcommitting to social events out of fear of being left out. "Fomo" thrives in the digital age, but it’s rooted in a timeless human need: connection. And while everyone craves connection, some are more vulnerable to "fomo" than others. Those with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or concerns about body image may feel it more often and more intensely. The trick is satisfying that need offline instead of letting every notification dictate your sense of worth. So go ahead—put down the phone, enjoy your Friday night, and maybe let "jomo" (the "joy of missing out") take over instead. Source: What "Fomo" Means—And Where the Term Came From

What's the Word: MERINO pronunciation: [mə-REE-no] Part of speech: noun Origin: Spanish, late 18th century Meaning: 1. A breed of sheep with long, fine wool. 2. A soft woolen or wool-and-cotton material resembling cashmere, originally of merino wool. Examples: "The merino grazed peacefully on the side of the hill." "Frank wears that merino wool sweater every time the weather gets chilly." About Merino While "merino" comes from 18th-century Spanish, its exact origins are a mystery. You can use the word "merino" to refer to a sheep or your sweater and be completely correct in both cases. Did you Know? A single merino sheep produces a lot of wool in its lifetime — around 227 pounds, in fact. The wool is not only cozy for sweaters and blankets, but also wicks up to 30% of its weight in moisture without getting damp, so it's perfect for socks, scarves, and other outerwear.

Fact of the Day - IT GLOWS! Did you know.... Tonic water is best known for adding a little bite to cocktails, though it has a hidden talent: It glows when exposed to ultraviolet light. While modern tonic waters often include citrus flavors or sweeteners to ease their bitter taste, the mix is traditionally crafted from just two ingredients — carbonated water and quinine, the second of which is capable of illumination. Quinine’s ability to glow, technically called fluorescence, occurs only when the substance is exposed to the right conditions, particularly when its molecules absorb invisible ultraviolet light (such as that projected by a black light). The excited molecules then quickly release that energy, which appears as a blue hue to the human eye in a darkened room. Though tonic water is now a bar cart staple, its initial purpose wasn’t enjoyment — it was to prevent and treat malaria. Quinine, which comes from the bark of the South American cinchona tree, was first used by the Indigenous Quechua people as a cure-all for stomach ailments; by the 1600s, Europeans had documented its fever-reducing properties. In the 1700s, Scottish doctor George Cleghorn discovered it could also effectively treat malaria. As the only known treatment for nearly 300 years, quinine was paired with water to create a “tonic” and distributed to British soldiers stationed in India and other malaria-prone regions. Some historians believe soldiers began adding the medication to gin and other alcohols to make the bitter flavor more palatable, eventually creating the “gin and tonic” drink we know today. However, other researchers suggest it wasn’t until the 1860s that the classic drink emerged, served to victorious patrons at horse racing tracks in India. The search for a quinine alternative created the first synthetic dye. Quinine’s legacy isn’t just in the beverages we drink, but also in the clothes we wear. The medicine led one scientist to discover mauveine, a synthetic dye that lends its name to the shade of purple we call mauve. In the 19th century, getting ahold of quinine was costly, since the compound was created from cinchona tree bark imported from South America. Some researchers, like chemist William Perkin, attempted to create bark-free synthetic versions. One of Perkin’s attempts, using a chemical called aniline, resulted in a goopy dark substance that didn’t easily wash away. Realizing its staining abilities, Perkin patented the substance as the world’s first synthetic dye — easier to use than natural dyes, and with the benefit of being more colorfast. Shortly after his discovery, Perkin opened his own textile dyeing factory, helping to launch a fashion craze that featured his newly created hue. Even Queen Victoria got in on the act, wearing a mauve-colored dress at the International Exhibition of 1862. Source: Tonic water can glow in the dark.

What's the Word: AVANT-GARDE pronunciation: [ah-vant-GARD] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, early 20th century Meaning: 1. Favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas. Examples: "The student art show was sure to include many avant-garde pieces." "The fashion show was a little too avant-garde for my tastes." About Avant-Garde Avant-garde is used as an adjective to describe something unusual or experimental. It can also be used as a noun to refer to certain out-there ideas, or the people introducing them. You might meet the avant-garde at an avant-garde art gallery. Did you Know? The adjective "avant-garde" — commonly used to refer to the arts — can also describe cultural change. Social change and shifting values can be considered avant-garde in one decade, then accepted as the norm in the next.

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Fact of the Day - DRUNK CHILDREN? Did you know.... As strange and perhaps alarming as it sounds, children in most of the United Kingdom are legally allowed to consume alcohol at home at the age of 5. (The exception is Scotland, which doesn’t have any minimum age for at-home alcohol consumption.) But that doesn’t mean a 5-year-old can go to an off-licence (a British liquor store) and buy a six-pack of beer — they certainly wouldn’t be served. In most circumstances, the legal drinking age in the U.K. is 18, meaning below this age, it’s illegal to buy alcohol or drink it in public, including in pubs and restaurants (with some exceptions' for 16- and 17-year-olds if accompanied by an adult). However, the 1933 Children and Young Persons Act specifies it’s illegal to give alcohol to “any child under the age of 5 years.” Ergo, it’s technically permitted to give a child an alcoholic drink if they meet that age minimum, and, importantly, if they’re not in public. So in the privacy of one’s own home, it’s not against the law — though certainly not recommended — to give a drink to children 5 and up. Strange as the law may seem, in some parts of the world (such as Scotland) there’s no minimum age at all for children drinking at home — including some states in the U.S. In 29 American states, minors of any age are legally allowed to drink in a private residence under parental supervision. The intent behind a low (or no) minimum age limit for drinking at home is harm reduction and making alcohol appear less like a tempting “forbidden fruit.” With no age restrictions, parents can teach responsible drinking in a controlled environment. In some countries, the consumption of small quantities of alcohol at home is also part of the culture — in France, for example, it’s quite normal for kids to drink a glass of watered-down wine at family meals. Beer coaster collecting is known as “tegestology.” The hobby of collecting beer coasters, also known as beer mats, is tegestology. The first known written usage of the word dates to 1960, but the history of beer mats is much older. Coasters as we know them today first made an appearance in the late 19th century, and around 1880, the German printing and board mill company Friedrich Horn began making small cardboard mats specifically for beer. Using cardboard allowed for greater absorption of spills and also opened up a whole new world of advertising. It was cheap and easy to print ads on the disposable coasters, and the mats soon appeared in pubs and bars across Europe. Breweries began making their own coasters to distribute to pubs along with their ales, and the designs became increasingly colorful and ornate — and, ultimately, collectible. Perhaps the most notable tegestologist is Leo Pisker of Langenzersdorf, Austria, who assembled a collection of around 152,860 different beer mats from 192 countries — a feat recognized by Guinness World Records. Source: The legal age to consume alcohol in the U.K. is 5.

What's the Word: SUBITANEOUS pronunciation: [sə-bə-TEYN-ee-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. That occurs or is manifested suddenly, spontaneously, or in haste; sudden, hasty, unexpected. 2. Of an egg (of certain invertebrates): Hatching very soon after being laid, without a period of dormancy. Examples: "He woke at 3 a.m. with a subitaneous solution for that nagging problem." "The pop star's arrival was subitaneous but still excited the crowd." About Subitaneous This noun comes from the classical Latin word "subitāneus," which means "sudden." Any situation, thought, or action that is unexpected can be considered subitaneous in nature. Did you Know? Mathematician Archimedes is the master of the subitaneous idea. Archimedes was struck by sudden inspiration for a difficult math problem. Overjoyed, he ran through the streets of Greece shouting "Eureka!" — Greek for "I have found it!"

Fact of the Day - FLOUR CURRENCY Did you know..... In January 1865, four months before the Civil War’s end, Harper’s Weekly published the story of a peculiar flour sack credited with raising thousands of dollars for injured soldiers. The tale — entirely true — began in Austin, Nevada, the previous year. On the eve of city elections, two wagering men, area merchant Reuel Colt Gridley and Dr. Henry Herrick, placed a bet on the vote’s outcome. The loser would pay up with a 50-pound sack of flour, but not before a dose of public humiliation: Whoever lost had to ceremoniously march down the town’s main strip with the bag, all to the tune of “John Brown’s Body” (a patriotic melody that would later inspire “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”). Within a day, the losing bettor, Gridley, was being cheered on by his fellow townsfolk — who turned out in numbers to watch the spectacle — as he followed a brass band down the city’s center, flour sack over his shoulder. At the end of his march, he handed the sack to the bet’s winner, Herrick, but not without first recommending it be donated to the Sanitary Commission, a relief agency that provided care for sick and injured Union soldiers. Herrick agreed, and soon after the hefty sack of flour was auctioned for $350. But in an act of gallantry, the winner asked that the sack be sold again, raising another $250. Surrounding towns joined in, and before long Gridley and the “Sanitary Sack of Flour” had gone as far as San Francisco and raised $63,000. Newspapers spread the story, leading the flour sack across the country, raising upwards of $275,000 (more than $4 million today), and ending up as far as New York City. Gridley, who had started the journey as a Confederate sympathizer, returned to Nevada an ardent supporter of the Union; the famed Sanitary Sack returned with him and remains on display in Reno at the state’s Historical Society Museum. President Hoover’s presidential library has a flour sack collection. Before he sat in the Oval Office, Herbert Hoover was a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist living in London at the outbreak of World War I. Using his political connections and social standing, Hoover founded the Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB) in 1914, a volunteer organization that raised food and funds for more than 9 million starving Belgian and French citizens trapped in a blockade between German and British troops. Through negotiations with both militaries, the CRB was able to distribute more than 5.7 million tons of food across 2,500 towns, while keeping a watchful eye on the sacks of flour involved. By distributing the empty cotton bags to sewing workshops, convents, and artists, the sacks were kept from the Germans, who used cotton in the manufacture of ammunition. Many of the bags were turned into clothing and pillows, but others were embroidered or painted with the purpose of being sold for relief funds that supported prisoners of war. In a show of gratitude, hundreds of the decorated flour sacks were sent to Hoover with hand-stitched sentiments from Belgian and French citizens — and today, 366 remain at his presidential library in West Branch, Iowa. Source: During the Civil War, a sack of flour was repeatedly auctioned off to raise money for wounded soldiers.

What's the Word: TERRINE pronunciation: [tə-REEN] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, early 18th century Meaning: 1. A meat, fish, or vegetable mixture that has been cooked or otherwise prepared in advance and allowed to cool or set in its container, typically served in slices. 2. A container used for a terrine, typically of an oblong shape and made of earthenware. Examples: "The special of the day was a salmon terrine served with rice." "The chef carefully arranged the vegetables in a ceramic terrine." About Terrine In its original French, "terrine" was written as "terrin," and referred to a large earthenware pot where food items were stored. Think of it as an ancient version of your favorite mason jars. Did you Know? A terrine can also be referred to as a pâté. This French word translates to "paste," and the dish is made by grinding materials into a spreadable paste that can be served with bread, crackers, or whatever the diner prefers.

Fact of the Day - MORE SICK IN WINTER Did you know... It’s not just because you’re spending more time indoors. While it’s possible to catch a viral illness any time of the year, winter seems to bring an influx of sickness. Flu shots are normally given in anticipation of seasonal spread; anecdotally, you may find people who have “come down with something” or “caught a bug.” We often think of cold weather bringing people indoors as a big reason why colds and the flu seem to spread, but is that the only reason? Or is it something else? The Science Behind a Winter Uptick in Illnesses While it’s certainly true that spending more time indoors can put you in closer proximity to others and thereby raise the risk of transmission, there are other factors at play. According to the National Institutes of Health, the lipid (or fatty) coating of influenza cells tends to turn into liquid at higher temperatures, making it less stable and transmissible. In colder weather, however, the lipid membrane remains intact, allowing for a sturdier and more persistent virus. When it comes in contact with the respiratory tract, the coating dissolves and begins to infect its host. That’s not the only way viruses can benefit from cooler temperatures. Winter also means less humidity in the air, both indoors and outside. Less moisture means viruses can travel farther and remain in the air longer without binding to water molecules. Less indoor ventilation can also lead to stale air and persistent, lingering germs. Does Cold Weather Weaken the Immune System? What about physiological reasons? It’s possible that cold weather may impact our immune systems. A 2023 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology looked at the possibility of immune defense in the nose growing less effective as temperatures drop, though only four subjects were studied and no firm conclusions were drawn. There’s also no general consensus over whether simply being cold affects our immune systems. Although it’s possible that fluctuating body temperatures can affect our ability to fight off illness, heading outside with wet hair or grabbing the mail in a T-shirt are unlikely to be major factors in getting sick. While winter may increase your risk of catching something unpleasant, the same general principles to stay healthy still apply. Frequent handwashing can help reduce the spread of germs, as can regularly disinfecting surfaces; try to avoid sharing utensils or drinking glasses with others, too. Vaccinations can also lower your risk of infection. Source: Why Do More People Get Sick in the Winter?

What's the Word: NOCTURNE pronunciation: [NAHK-tərn] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. (Music) A short composition of a romantic or dreamy character suggestive of night, typically for piano. 2. (Art) A picture of a night scene. Examples: "Chopin's nocturnes were specifically composed to evoke the ethereal feeling of the night." "Vincent Van Gogh is best known for his beautiful nocturne 'The Starry Night.'" About Nocturne Nocturne developed in French by way of the Latin word "nocturnus," meaning "of the night." Did you Know? There's something so peaceful and even romantic about the night sky. Use the poetic noun "nocturne" to describe any art you produce inspired by the evening and midnight hours.

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Fact of the Day - CENTER OF THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES Did you know... Many states consider themselves the heartland of America, but where exactly is the geographic center of the U.S.? If you’re including only the lower 48 states, look no further than a nondescript field north of Lebanon, Kansas, located at 39° 50' 00" N 98° 35' 00" W. Not much marks this otherwise typical stretch of Midwestern farmland, except for a nearby historical marker noting that the location was determined by the U.S. Geological Survey, and that the point is “where a plane map of the 48 states would balance if it were of uniform thickness.” In earlier times, this accolade garnered enough tourists for a motel to be built nearby, selling souvenirs and a night’s rest at the center of the country. While the souvenirs remain (in downtown Lebanon), the motel has since closed up shop. Of course, this isn’t the center of the entire U.S., which drastically stretched its borders when it welcomed Alaska and Hawaii into the union at the end of the 1950s. In 1959, a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey concluded that the new center of the U.S. (excluding territories) had lurched northwest toward the small town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, which today posts a similar plaque regarding its centralized status. How long Belle Fourche keeps its title remains to be seen, as many contenders to be the 51st state — whether Puerto Rico, Guam, or some other territory — could once again relocate the bullseye of the U.S. Helium gas was discovered on Earth in a Kansas field in 1903. One of the biggest discoveries in chemistry began with a party foul. In May 1903, residents of Dexter, Kansas, planned a major celebration in honor of a “howling gasser” that had recently been drilled nearby, and which was unleashing 9 million cubic feet of gas a day. Excited for what they believed were vast natural gas reserves, the residents dreamed of the forthcoming economic opportunities, and held a big bash complete with a parade, speeches, and games, all leading to the final event of the night — lighting the gas in celebration of the town’s good luck. The town mayor set a bale of hay on fire that slowly moved toward contact with the gas, and then … the fire went out. The mayor tried to light the gas again. No luck. While dreams of economic prosperity quickly dimmed, scientific curiosity took over. Intrigued by this strange gaseous event, the state’s geologist, Erasmus Haworth, sent a sample of the gas to the University of Kansas. It was there that chemist David F. McFarland discovered an “inert residue” that essentially made the gas nonflammable — and part of that “inert residue” was helium. Although helium had been discovered decades earlier, scientists initially believed the gas was found only in high concentrations in the heavens. This happy (or, for the residents of Dexter, somewhat unhappy) accident in a small town in Kansas proved them wrong. Source: The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is a field in Kansas.

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Fact of the Day - BEES Did you know.... Humans have known about bees for a long time: 8,000-year-old cave paintings in Bicorp, Spain, show early humans scaling trees to collect honey. But modern scientists wanted to know if bees recognize us, which is why researchers have put the insects’ microscopic brains to the test. In a 2005 study, honey bees were trained to memorize pictures of human faces by scientists who rewarded them for correct matches with droplets of sugar water. While a bee’s-eye view isn’t as clear as our own gaze, the buzzing insects were able to correctly differentiate between faces up to 90% of the time — even two days after first seeing them, and when the sweet incentives were removed. The emerging research into bee brains shows that not all living creatures need the complex brain systems humans have in order to recognize and recall environmental differences, but some researchers say that’s not entirely shocking. The Apis mellifera (aka the European honey bee) can visit up to 5,000 flowers in one day, distinguishing between buds that give off beaucoup nectar and those that don’t. So, it makes sense that bees have some form of working memory. And unlocking how bee brains work has practical applications for both us and them: Tech developers may be able to fine-tune artificial intelligence systems (in part by understanding how such tiny brains work so efficiently), and entomologists can better focus on supporting these crucial insects — which are responsible for an estimated 80% of food crop pollination. Arctic bees hibernate for nine months. Most researchers agree that bees are weather-sensitive; species living in four-season environments generally appear with warming spring temperatures and disappear into their hives to wait out winter. But that doesn’t mean all bees are delicate — some pollinator species are able to withstand the colder temps of the Arctic Circle. In the short summers between rugged winters, arctic bumblebees do the heavy lifting of pollinating wildflowers and berries that other animals rely on. Bombus polaris have adapted to the unforgiving climates of northern Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, and elsewhere with thicker fur and the ability to shiver their muscles to raise internal temperatures, but they also have shorter lifespans than bees in warmer regions. Queen arctic bumblebees emerge from a nine-month solitary hibernation in May with one task in mind: quickly laying eggs to jump-start a colony that will live only a few months, save for one new queen — who will replace her in August to start the process all over again. Source: Bees can recognize human faces.

What's the Word: GAB pronunciation: [gab] Part of speech: verb Origin: Late Middle English, 18th century Meaning: 1. Talk at length, typically about trivial matters. Examples: "Come over for a cup of coffee and let's gab." "If my mom starts to gab in the grocery store, we'll never make it home." About Gab This short and sweet word basically means to chit-chat. You might gab with your friends about everything, or nothing at all. It's just a casual chat. Did you Know? The original Late Middle English word "gab" meant "to mock or tell lies." Pleasantly, the meaning has shifted to account for a casual sort of chat. You're not telling lies; you're just passing the time with a bit of conversation.

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Fact of the Day - NOT THE EXACT SAME COLOR Did you know.... Not unlike snowflakes and fingerprints, human eyes are never exactly alike from person to person — in terms of color, that is. While brown may be the most common eye color, there are so many shades of it — not to mention blue, green, and other hues — that no two irises are identical, even among identical twins. Eyes get their color from the two-layered iris, with the back layer (officially known as the pigment epithelium) almost always containing brown pigment. The amount of pigment in the front layer (stroma) usually determines a person’s eye color — a lot of brown pigment results in brown eyes, whereas people with blue eyes have no pigment at all in their stroma. Those with just a bit of pigment end up with green or hazel eyes. And there’s always just the tiniest amount of variation in the results: If you’ve ever tinkered with a color slider, you’ll have a better understanding of how rare it is for any two colors to actually be the same, even if the difference between them is so minute as to be barely detectable by, well, the naked eye. Then there’s heterochromia — when one person has eyes of two different colors. Complete heterochromia is when both eyes are different (one brown and one blue, for example), while sectoral heterochromia is when one section of the iris is different from the rest. Central heterochromia is when the iris has a ring around it that’s different. Though it can sometimes be a sign of an injury or other condition, heterochromia is most often a harmless — and cool-looking — genetic anomaly. More than 50% of the worldwide population has brown eyes. Brown is the most common eye color, and by a lot — more than 50% of all people worldwide have brown eyes, including 45% of people in America. In the U.S., blue eyes are in second place at 27%, followed by hazel at 18%, and green at 9%. All other eye colors account for just 1% of the domestic population. The numbers are quite different elsewhere, with blue being the most common eye color in countries such as Iceland (75%) and the Netherlands (61%), and brown eyes even more dominant in Uzbekistan (91%) and Armenia (80%). Source: No two people’s eyes are exactly the same color.

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.

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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: FINITE pronunciation: [FAHY-nahyt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Having limits or bounds. 2. (Of a verb form) Having a specific tense, number, and person. Examples: "My patience is finite — I won’t wait around forever." "Use finite verbs in order to avoid any confusion." About FINITE In "Toy Story," Buzz Lightyear exclaims, "To infinity and beyond!" The opposite of this unlimitless prospect is "finite." There's a clear and defined end, which isn't a bad thing, unless you're a toy astronaut. Did you Know? In a grammatical sense, finite verbs give information about the subject. They can inflect the gender, person, number, tense, aspect, mood, and voice of the subject. You're probably most familiar with changing the tense (present, past, future) and person (I, you, it, they) of finite verbs.

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Fact of the Day -ARACHNOPHOBIA Did you know.... Arachnophobia is among the most common phobias, and not just among humans. Spiders can have it too, and with good reason — spiders of certain species regularly eat each other (for food, after mating, and for other reasons scientists don’t fully understand). A 2021 study found that fear of fellow arachnids is prevalent among common zebra jumping spiders (Salticus scenicus), who were observed leaping away from larger jumping spider species in recognition of the latter’s status as potential predators. Even when placed near deceased Marpissa muscosa and Phidippus audax, the spiders froze up or ran away. The same effects were found even when baby Salticus scenicus were presented with 3D models that somewhat resembled the predators. Like their adult counterparts, baby jumping spiders have extremely strong eyesight and use their keen vision to detect and avoid threats — even when those threats aren’t actually moving. When it comes to humans, acrophobia (fear of heights), aerophobia (flying), trypanophobia (needles), and social phobias like public speaking also consistently rank among the most common fears. Approximately 19 million Americans have at least one phobia, most of which emerge when a person is between the ages of 15 and 20. Exposure therapy has been shown to help reduce these fears, at least when it comes to humans — jumping spiders may not be as lucky. There’s a (mostly) vegetarian spider. There are more than 45,000 species of spiders, and all but one of them are carnivores. The sole known exception is Bagheera kiplingi, which prefers a plant-based diet — for the most part, at least. Found across Latin America, the jumping spider is named in honor of both The Jungle Book’s black panther (Bagheera) and the book’s author (Rudyard Kipling). The arachnids reside in acacia trees and dine on nutrient-rich delicacies known as Beltian bodies (tips of the leaves of certain acacia species), which they steal from the ants who protect said trees. While these nutritious nodules make up 91% of their diet in Mexico and 60% in Costa Rica, B.kiplingi will occasionally drink nectar and, much more rarely, eat ant larvae, flies, or fellow spiders. Source: Spiders can have arachnophobia.

What's the Word: PERCENTILE pronunciation: [pər-SEN-tiyl] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Each of the 100 equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable. 2. Each of the 99 intermediate values of a random variable that divide a frequency distribution into 100 groups. Examples: "Melvin was above the 95th percentile for height as a baby, and he remained taller than his classmates all the way to graduation." "She ranked between the 90th and 94th percentiles on the SAT, meaning she scored better than between 90% and 94% of other students." About Percentile Bibelot originated from the French word "bel," which means "beautiful." It developed over time to become a descriptor of the baubles, tchotchkes, and doodads you might find scattered around your house. Did you Know? While “percentage” and “percentile” sound nearly identical, they mean very different things. A percentage is a number out of 100 indicating rate or performance, in which the higher the number, the greater the rate or performance. Percentiles, on the other hand, break any group of data into 100 equally sized segments for easy comparison with other data from the same group. For example, a person who scores 85% on a 100-question test has answered 85 out of 100 questions correctly. A person who scores in the 85th percentile on a test has scored higher than 85% of other people taking the test. As a result, a person taking a very difficult test might score 85% and discover they are within the 97th percentile of test-takers, because more than 97% of other test-takers scored below 85%.

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Fact of the Day - CHINESE TAKEOUT CONTAINERS Did you know... In the U.S., plenty of Chinese restaurant fare features produce that doesn’t grow in China, such as broccoli. Thus it shouldn’t be terribly surprising that Americans also took liberties with how Chinese food is packaged. While plastic containers are utilized to hold delivery and takeout dishes in China, diners in the States prefer a folded, six-sided box with a slim wire handle. Chicago inventor Frederick Weeks Wilcox patented this “paper pail” on November 13, 1894. Borrowing from Japanese origami, Wilcox elected to make each pail from a single piece of paper. This decision eventually proved critical in the transportation of Chinese cuisine, lessening the likelihood of leaks and allowing steam from hot foods to escape through the top folds. Another probable source of inspiration was the oyster pail, a wooden bucket with a locked cover that people used to carry raw oysters in the 19th century. Shortly after 1900, the company Bloomer Brothers started mass-producing Wilcox’s design specifically for toting oysters. As Americans began taking more advantage of suburban living and consumer conveniences after World War II, Chinese food delivery became an increasingly popular dinner option, with Wilcox’s containers of leftovers soon lining refrigerator shelves. During the 1970s, a graphic designer at Bloomer Brothers’ successor, the Riegel Paper Corporation, embellished the boxes to include a pagoda and the words “Thank You” and “Enjoy” — all in red, a color that represents luck in China. The Riegel Paper Corporation evolved into Fold-Pak, the world’s top producer of takeout containers, which assembles millions of cartons per year. Composed of solid-bleached-sulfate paperboard and boasting an interior polycoating, each food carrier expands into a handy plate if you remove the wire handle. It’s very likely that fortune cookies were invented in Japan. Numerous descendants of Chinese and Japanese immigrants to the U.S. contend that their relatives created or sold fortune cookies in California between 1907 and 1914. However, Dr. Yasuko Nakamachi, a Japanese researcher who wrote her thesis on the origin of fortune cookies, has found evidence that the crispy treats were present in her home country many years prior. Fortune cookies in Japan go by several names, including tsujiura senbei (“fortune cracker”). They are mentioned in a story written in the early 1800s called “Haru no wakagusa,” known in English as “The Young Grass of Spring,” and in an illustrated storybook from 1878 called Moshiogusa Kinsei Kidan. In the book, a bakery apprentice is pictured working at a station labeled “tsujiura senbei,” grilling wafers in irons while surrounded by baskets of the finished product. This image is similar to what Nakamachi witnessed when she visited centuries-old family bakeries outside Kyoto: Cooks working over flames would dispense batter into grills containing round molds. Eventually, tiny paper fortunes were placed inside the warm cookies. Source: Chinese takeout containers were invented in America.

What's the Word: DILUVIAL pronunciation: [də-LOO-vee-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Relating to a flood or floods, especially the biblical flood. Examples: "The diluvial rain transformed the barren field into a temporary lake." "City planners needed to ensure nothing was built on the diluvial plains." About Diluvial Diluvial” has its roots in the Latin verb “diluere,” which means “to wash away.” “Percentile” is a word created in English out of several parts. Its basis is the expression “per cent,” which came into English in the 13th century from the Italian “per cento.” This expression is derived from the Latin “per,” meaning “for each,” and “centum,” meaning “hundred.” The addition of the suffix “-ile” indicates the division of that hundred into multiple groups of equal size. While hyperborean" came into English through Middle English and Latin, its roots are in the Greek word "huperboreos." That word can be broken down into "huper" ("beyond") and "boreas" ("north wind"). Did you Know? Beginning around the mid-17th century, geologists and archaeologists used the adjective “diluvial” to refer to a distinct geological turning point associated with Noah’s biblical flood. It acquired its modern meaning in the 1800s; an early example of modern usage is found in Caroline M. Kirkland’s essay “Forest Life,” from 1850.

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