Science Made These Dreams Come True

by Dictionary Scoop    Humans love to predict the future. None of the things we have been able to create throughout history, from pyramids to airplanes, would have been possible without first imagining them.    During the 20th century, as the turn of the millennium approached, scientists, writers, and illustrators imagined technological innovations that, if …

How Walla Walla, Other Cities Were Named

by Dictionary Scoop    Sometimes, names reveal much about the history of the lands as native communities and original settlers knew them. Arguments, infestations, practical arrangements, mythology, and landscapes, all inspired the current denominations of these ten cities that are thriving today. 1-Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania    Punxsutawney’s name might bring a certain charming groundhog to mind, but its …

These Vocabulary Words Are Out Of This World

by Dictionary Scoop    Have you ever dreamed of traveling to space?    While we are all familiar with stars, planets, moons, comets, and eclipses, there is a fascinating lexicon of lesser-known astronomical terms you have probably never heard of. Today we’ll unveil ten of these terms. 1-Magnetar    Isn’t it amazing to look up and see the …

Judge Sued For Handcuffing Sleepy Teen

from CBS News and AP reports    The family of a Michigan teen is filing a lawsuit against Detroit Judge Kenneth King after he ordered her to be handcuffed for falling asleep in his courtroom.      The lawsuit comes after 15-year-old Eva Goodman was handcuffed while she was on a field trip with a …

Ten American Idioms Used Around The World

by Dictionary Scoop     In different parts of the world, people often express the same ideas in very similar ways, while using different languages. Join us to discover the foreign counterparts of these 10 everyday American idioms. 1-Beggars can’t be choosers    When you’re faced with a situation where you have to take what is …

Six Fascinating Facts About The Telephone

by interestingfacts.com    Most of us are familiar with the story of the first telephone call: On March 10, 1876, Boston University professor Alexander Graham Bell reached for the curious invention on his desk, rang up his trusty assistant, and said, “Watson, come here… I want you to look at this text.”    OK, maybe …

Happy Birthday Little Sister, I Love You

by Kevin Burton    There was a day in the 70s when my younger sister Patricia asked me a question. I knew the correct answer to the question, but I lied to her.    We were in the basement of our father’s house in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Nobody else was around.    “When am I …

American Slang Phrases Through The Decades

by Dictionary Scoop     Have you listened to teenagers talk lately? Their vocabulary is full of words we don’t quite understand. But come on, we did it too: every decade has had its own set of slang words and expressions.    Today, we look back at ten slang words and expressions that have defined each decade from …

Good Riddance To (Most Of) These Words

by Kevin Burton    My first reaction upon reading that Merriam-Webster plans to eliminate words from the dictionary was protective: “keep your hands off my words!”    Then I read the list.    Well all right then, go ahead and chop them. Except for mugwump.  I need that one to stay.     The Mugwumps was …

What Does Blind Barbie Mean Really?

by Kevin Burton    I was on the road playing beep baseball when the e-mail notifications about the first blind Barbie doll came pouring in. And I mean they poured in, from every quarter.     I thought, that’s a story. But then I realized, I had no idea what to think or say about it. …