by Kevin Burton Words do not respect borders, nor do they need passports to move from country to country. We don’t think of Japan so much as an origin for English words, but plenty of words are borrowed from Japanese. Merriam-Webster dictionary has served up a basketful, some of which I bring today. …
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The Science Behind Flying Time And Aging
by Kevin Burton This is a story about “approach motivation” and “the ganas,” also known as time flies when you’re having fun. See also: time flies all the time. “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Nobody had to explain that one to you, even the first time you heard it. Here’s some …
Come On Cavs! Recalling Miracle Of Richfield
by Kevin Burton Some memories have a soundtrack and this one has the best. On April 29, 1976 the Cleveland Cavaliers played in what they now call The Miracle of Richfield. It was the first playoff berth for the Cavs, who were born as an NBA expansion team in 1970. In the first …
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Multiple English Idioms By The Numbers
by Dictionary Scoop In every language, there is a type of gem known as idioms that add spice to our conversations, relying on context and shared understanding to convey messages in a not-so-direct way. Today, we’ll explore ten idioms in English that play with numbers. 1 One-horse town Many idioms begin as a literal phrase that …
Could You Wait Until 10 To Have Your Coffee?
by Kevin Burton Do you know what cortisol is? Well I didn’t. But now a dietician is saying that you and I should delay our morning coffee because of it. Supposedly 10 a.m. is the optimum time for your first coffee. Sorry, but by the time the little hand reaches the …
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Eight Words Named After Real People
by interestingfacts.com Words named after specific people are known as eponyms. After enough time passes, the namesake is often forgotten while the word sticks around, so many eponyms no longer even register as someone’s name. These eight eponyms are among the most surprising, and cover subjects from musical instruments to facial hair to …
Here’s The Very Definition Of Happiness
by Dictionary Scoop For Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, happiness is a warm puppy. For some, it’s a habit. For others, it is a philosophy, a quest, or an ideal, among many other things. Join us on a linguistic journey through the lexicon of happiness, discovering the many shades and …
Playing Musical Instrument Good For The Brain
by Kevin Burton I’m still hanging on to a notion, planted by a Steely Dan song. If you know some of that Steely Dan imagery, that sounds kind of dangerous. Let me explain. I love Steely Dan and I love “Deacon Blues.” I have judged the United States as a nation because …
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Blind Nebraska Woman Denied Postal Delivery
by Kevin Burton Dialogue magazine for the blind used to have a column called Abapita. Abapita is an acronym standing for “ain’t blindness a pain in the anatomy.” Sadly that magazine stopped publishing in 2019. Also sadly, for the blind, the pain in the anatomy continues. I get all manner of news …
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Five More Unbelievable But True Stories
by Kevin Burton The best fiction writers will have to go some to match these strange-but-true tales, compiled by Dictionary Scoop. We told five of their stories yesterday. Today we mostly have tales of war, but not always the customary kind. We briefly dip into the cola wars, sort of: 6 The year …
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