Trivia: Non-hyphenated
Today’s deep thought…
On Words: Etymology & Trivia
Editing Rudolph
Every year at Christmas time, I find myself wanting to edit a few famous lyrics.
Because, come on, folks, if you know “Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,” and then you’re asked about this other reindeer you may or may not recall, that doesn’t scream famous for that other guy, does it?
Writing Tip 197: What is the Plural of “Mongoose”?
When the conversation drifts from wild chickens in Kauai to the mongoose population across the Hawaiian islands, one question comes up every time. Actually, a lot of questions come up every time—ranging from reckless introductions of invasive species to the potential collection of wild chicken eggs—but most importantly for our discussion is the question of the word “mongoose.” When you have one, we have no doubt about the singular form, but…
What is the plural of “mongoose”?
The Origin of “Knuckling Down”
Did you know that the phrase “knuckling down” derives from the game of marbles where players who focused on putting their knuckles down would be able to produce the best shots? You see, they had to choose their shooter marble, which was most likely a marble bigger than all the others, and then proceed to knock the other marbles out of the ring. That’s roughly the end of my knowledge of the game, but I suddenly want to find someone who can teach me. (There’s not an app for that, or if there is, I’m sure it doesn’t do the schoolyard practice justice.)
Politics, Anagrams & Predictions
These days, there’s a lot of talk about politics, and if we meet over a drink I’ll have that conversation with you. But today, I want to take a step back to a political era of long ago.
Did you know that King Louis XII of France had a Royal Anagramist? Yes, an “anagramist.” Anagrams, or words created by rearranging the letters of a first word, were thought to be mystical in his time, not just word games. In fact an anagram of someone’s name was thought to have predictive properties about their character, their motives, and their destiny. Coolest job ever? Definitely in the running…
Are you suddenly working on anagrams of the names of your favorite or least favorite politicians? If you have some time on your hands, have fun with that. I will give you a starting point.
The Origin & Value of “Look Before You Leap”
Today, like so many days, I urge you to look before you leap.
Maybe it’s a matter of what you choose for breakfast. Maybe it’s what you decide to speak up about to your boss. Maybe it’s a matter of who you decide to vote for.
We make so many decisions big and small on a daily basis, but they can’t all be taken lightly. We can’t just eat our Wheaties because that’s what everyone else is eating or because someone who may or may not have been fully trustworthy told us that this was the best choice for our future health.