FULL HUNTER’S MOON on October 13
The full moon on October 13, 2019 is the Full Hunter’s Moon. Historically, month names are names of moons in lunisolar calendars. Such names have gained currency in American folklore. They appear in print more widely outside of the almanac tradition from the 1990s in popular publications about the Moon.Continue Reading
Celebrate MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR.
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Born in Atlanta, King is best known for advancing civil rights throughContinue Reading
Celebrate the 71st PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD
Exploring words-within-words often involves finding terms within personal names. However almost any term can be used – dates, titles, even slogans. The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will honor the best in U.S. prime time television programming from June 1, 2018 until May 31, 2019, as chosen by the Academy ofContinue Reading
Celebrate THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (also known as Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a 1993 American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy Halloween-Christmas film directed by Henry Selick, and produced and conceived by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town” who stumbles throughContinue Reading
SEPTEMBER EQUINOX on September 23
The September Equinox (or Southward equinox) is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. Due to differences between the calendar year and the tropical year, the September equinox can occur at any time from September 21 to 24. At the equinox, the Sun asContinue Reading
NATIONAL PUNCTUATION DAY on September 24
National Punctuation Day is a celebration of punctuation that occurs each year on September 24 in the United States of America. Founded by Jeff Rubin in 2004, National Punctuation Day simply promotes the correct usage of punctuation. Rubin encourages appreciators of correct punctuation and spelling to send in pictures ofContinue Reading
In Memoriam: COKIE ROBERTS
Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts (née Boggs; December 27, 1943 – September 17, 2019), known as Cokie Roberts, was an American journalist and bestselling author.Her career included decades as a political reporter and analyst for National Public Radio and ABC News, with prominent positions on Morning Edition, The MacNeil/LehrerContinue Reading
FULL CORN MOON on September 14
The full moon on September 14, 2019 is a Full Corn Moon. This month’s moon is also known as a Harvest Moon. Historically, month names are names of moons in lunisolar calendars. Such names have gained currency in American folklore. They appear in print more widely outside of the almanacContinue Reading
Hunger pangs or pains?
Q: What is the difference between a “hunger pang” and a “hunger pain”? I see both terms, but I can’t find them in my dictionary. A: “Pain” is an older, broader term than “pang,” but people use “hunger pains” and “hunger pangs” pretty much the same way—for the feeling ofContinue Reading
Easy E’s Puzzle
Making great wordplay with lexagrams uses many types of language skills. Success involves more than having a large vocabulary – it helps to recognize letter patterns and to visualize how words interact. To help build these skills, take a look at his great puzzle quiz. Each answer is a familiarContinue Reading