A Little Fresh Air (Scientifically) Good For You

by Yasmin Rufo BBC News    If you’ve ever felt calmer after a walk in the park or a stroll through the woods, it’s not your imagination – it’s biology.    Spending just 20 minutes in nature can trigger measurable changes inside your body, from lowering stress hormones, to easing blood pressure and even improving …

Challenge And Opportunity On Sweetest Day

by Kevin Burton    Guys, Sweetest Day is Saturday. I am posting this on a Wednesday to give you time to react and prepare appropriately, as is my wont.    Let me break it down for you in a way you can understand:    According to social.com, 36 percent of sales in the $7.9 billion …

Plant Names That Sound Like Insults

by Kevin Burton    If you’re not good at gardening, you can say that you have a “brown thumb.” You can say it, I won’t.    Yes the antonym of “green thumb” which speaks to people who are good at gardening is “brown thumb.” But that sounds much worse than it needs to, so I’ll …

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

by Kevin Burton    Apologies right up front for all you lawn rangers, fighting the good fight for greener, pristiner front yards. Merriam-Webster calls the dandelion a flower.    And I supposed by some measures it is. But don’t try giving your wife dandelions on your anniversary. You may end up with dandelion soup for …

Flowers Can Wait, They’ll Be Here Tomorrow

by Kevin Burton    Now flowers come from seeds. But flower etymologies come from every linguistic corner under heaven, ubiquitous as the flowers themselves it seems.    On a beautiful Spring day, imagine an average couple driving the highways and byways of the heartland in a beautiful 2012 Toyota. And the wife might say, “Do …

A Fearful List Of Ten Unusual Phobias

by Dictionary Scoop     The word “phobia” does not merely mean “fear of” as some believe. There is more to it.    A phobia is an irrational fear, “an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation,” according to Merriam-Webster dictionary.    Here are ten uncommon fears and …

Why Valentine’s Day Is A Fake, And Worse

by Kevin Burton    A co-worker of Jeannette’s told her that he and his wife didn’t celebrate Valentine’s day, calling it a “fake holiday.”    Many people agree. But as it turns out it’s worse than that.    “Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of …

Valentine Celebrations Around The World

by Dictionary Scoop    Love stories have enchanted human existence since ancient times. Whether it’s the beauty of flowers, the sweetness of chocolates, or the soft glow of candlelight, love has the power to transform even the coldest hearts.    While the language of love is universal, the ways we celebrate it are as diverse as the cultures that …

For All Mothers, A Musical Bouquet

by Kevin Burton    Don’t you dare forget Mother’s Day. It’s coming real soon. Why not make it happen for mom the way she made it happen for you?    This post is especially for the mothers out there.  I hope others will enjoy it too, but a special shoutout to the mothers.     This …

Here Comes The Spring, I Say It’s All Right

by Kevin Burton    Little darling, welcome to sunshine. Welcome to new beginnings.    We have breaking news on Page 7 today and it’s news you can use: In the northern hemisphere, spring begins tomorrow at 10:33 a.m. Central Time USA.    You might be in church at that time, so you can let your …