​​Lazy language occurs more often in verbal than in written communications. At least we can proof read written words if we care enough. Most people can’t unhear spoken words, even if further explanations or corrections follow. They make an impact.
​
Writers and authors are expected to be more careful with their use of language, and we owe it to our reading audience to make our best effort to choose the correct words and phrases. Getting them in the correct order is part of our creative process.
             Image Source: www.cartoonstock.com  

​Some of these can get picky. The whole purpose of this discussion is to avoid sounding (and being) ignorant. A lot of words fall into the category of improperly used words, but I’ve picked ones that I have seen recently in novels, and a few from my own earlier works.

Affect vs. Effect
“Affect” used as a  verb means to have an influence on something. For example: "The weather affected my mood."

"Affect” used as a noun refers to feeling or emotion.                       Image Source: www.cartoonstock.com 
For example, “Her face bore a dismal affect.”                                                               
 
"Effect” is most commonly used as a verb meaning to cause something (stronger verb than “affect,” which refers to merely having an influence on). Thus, you would “effect change,” and could be described as “effective.”

"Effect” used as a noun refers to the end result of the influence: "The weather had no effect on my mood."

"It’s A Doggy-Dog-World" vs. "It’s a Dog- Eat-Dog World"
Correct version: “It’s a dog-eat-dog world”.
The expression “A dog-eat-dog world” alludes to the kind of ruthless, red in tooth and claw world of wild animals. The implication of such a scenario is that either you destroy your competitors or they will destroy you.

"On Accident" vs. "By Accident"
The correct usage of the phrase "by accident" is when describing something that nobody saw coming. It was an unforeseen happenstance; a surprise. The phrase has been around for a long time. “On accident” has become popular in American colloquial speech, especially in regional dialects and informal conversations, during the 20th century.

"I Could Care Less" vs. "I Couldn’t Care Less"
Most people say they “could care less” in an attempt to show how little they care about an issue. Actually, saying you could care less implies that you not only care, but you care enough that you would have the ability to care less if you wanted to. If you don’t care at all “I couldn’t care less” is more accurate.

As I said before, some of these grammarians get very picky. The common usage seems clear enough.
​
"On Tender Hooks" vs. "On Tenter Hooks"

​Correct version: “On tenterhooks” which means “under stress or tension.
“Tenterhook” is an archaic word that isn’t used anymore outside of this expression.
A “tenter” is a wooden frame which was used in the past to dry cloth attached to the frame with hooks.
                                  Image Source: www.phrases.org.uk

"One in the Same" vs. "One and the Same"
Both phrases are idiomatic expressions used to suggest equivalence or identity.

“One and the same” is the phrase used to emphasize that two things are identical.
“One in the same” is incorrect, although commonly used, but should be avoided in writing.

​"Shoe-in” vs. “Shoo In"
“Shoo in” is the correct term. This was a new one to me, so I have probably been using the phrase incorrectly forever. The word “Shoo” is a verb that means “To usher in.”
"Shoo in” (as a noun) means a candidate who is very likely to win a contest or other competition.
“Shoo in” (as a adjective) describes such a candidate.

The phrase is a “shoo in” dates back to horse-racing days when you could urge — or shoo — something toward victory. Hyphenated, the word takes on a modified meaning. A “shoo-in” someone who is likely to be ushered into victory. writingexplained.org/shoo-in-or-shoe-in.

               Image Source: www.cnn.com/2025/band-of-holes                                            Image Source: www.usf.edu/news/mysterious-band-of-holes.aspx

According to Jacob Bongers of the University of Sydney, the high-resolution aerial images showed clear patterns in how the holes were organized. The rows appear segmented and mathematically structured — a layout that mirrors quipu, a knotted-string devices the Inca used for counting and recordkeeping.

Archeologists realized the slender, snake-like structure is made up of more than 60 sections separated by strips of land. The blocks contain varying numbers of rows and holes.

“There are these interesting mathematical patterns,” Bongers told New Scientist’s Chris Simms. “You have some [sections with] multiple rows of eight holes, and then you have other sections that have alternating counts. Eight holes, then seven, then eight and seven, then eight. It hints that there was some sort of intention behind it."
 www.smithsonianmag.com/

With a clearer understanding of what the site was used for, researchers have their work cut out for them and plan to build on the work by studying the types and origins of plants found in the holes — including those with potential medicinal properties. There is much more work to be done to fully understand the implications of the “Band of Holes."
www.usf.edu/2025/band-of-holes.aspx

Note:
“A quipu usually consists of cotton or camelid fiber cords, and contains categorized information based on dimensions like color, order and number. The Inca, in particular, used knots tied in a decimal positional system to store numbers and other values in quipu cords. Depending on its use and the amount of information it stored, a given quipu may have anywhere from a few to several thousand cords.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quipu

JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-mysterious-holes-dot-the-landscape-in-peru-archaeologists-say-they-may-finally-know-why-180987681/
https://allthatsinteresting.com/nazca-lines
https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/11/iconic-andean-monument-may-have-been-used-for-indigenous-accounting
https://vimeo.com/1138603829
https://thecoloradodaily.com/science/new-study-reveals-monte-sierpe-as-indigenous-accounting-tool/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_of_Holes
https://montanainsider.com/science/new-findings-suggest-monte-sierpe-was-indigenous-accounting-hub/
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/01/12/the-unexplained-band-of-holes-in-pisco-valley-peru/
https://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Pisco/forecasts/latest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quipu
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/there-are-thousands-of-aligned-holes-in-peru-archaeologists-now-think-they-know-who-made-them/ar-AA1QT9Jl?cvid=3a7ef41d0bc2451488db40a8cf8dcc51&ei=10
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/5-200-peruvian-mystery-holes-under-investigation-after-scientists-crack-600-year-old-code/ar-AA1QFd4c
https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-interpretation-of-monte-sierpe-indigenous-accounting-system
https://www.usf.edu/news/2025/new-study-suggests-accounting-not-aliens-explains-perus-mysterious-band-of-holes.aspx
​Inca mythology - Wikipedia
Gods, demons and beasts from the Andes
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of-holes-in-the-pisco-valley-peru/41D83389D230D99CFF18194CF274A9A3
 
​

​HENNESSY’S FOLLY
Police Chief Hennessy tangled with the Italian community in May 1890 when a group of dockworkers were shot at and wounded. The victims were members of the Italian stevedore company controlled by the Matranga Family. The Manrangas blamed the killings on their competitors, the Provenzanos.
◄ Image Source: themobmuseum.org/columbus-day

When the Matrangas pursued criminal charges, Hennessy provided witnesses from the police force to back up the defendants’ alibis, since he was friendly with the Provenzanos, allegedly for shady business reasons involving brothels. When the court convicted six of the Provenzanos for the shootings, the Police Chief promised to aide in their appeal, and it was rumored that Hennessy himself would testify.

Four days before the retrial, on October 15, 1890, Hennessy was ambushed walking along Basin Street to his home. The assailants shot him with sawed-off shotguns, but he returned fire. Some resources say he bled to death on the street where he was overheard by a witness. Some say he died in the hospital 10 hours later. I didn’t pursue the issue. Either way, the only thing anyone heard him say was, “The Dagoes shot me.”

Immediately, Mayor Shakspeare ordered the New Orleans police to “arrest every Italian you come across, if necessary,” and organized the Committee of Fifty, a citizens’ group to investigate and eliminate “Mafia” groups in the city.

"Shakspeares’ Mafia crusade was born from nativist fervor rather than actual evidence. Nevertheless, the prevailing anti-Italian sentiments in the community expected that the courts would avenge the slain chief of police.” themobmuseum.org/columbus-day

Any Italian who owned a fire arm or was remotely associated with the Matrangas was under suspicion and many were arrested.
​
THE LYNCH MOB
All but nineteen of those arrested were eventually released. Nine men went to trial in February 1891. Six were acquitted, including the family head Charles Matranga. The other three had hung juries which ended in mistrials.

​The Committee of Fifty was outraged and organized a public meeting for the following morning. Thousands of angry citizens came. William Parkerson, a local attorney, political leader and ally of the mayor, addressed the crowd saying, “When courts fail, the people must act. What protection or assurance of protection is there left us when the very head of our police department, our chief of police, is assassinated in our very midst by the Mafia society and his assassins are again turned loose on the community? Will every man here follow me and see the murder of Hennessy avenged?”     ​

​In answer to the challenge, the rabid mob stormed to the Orleans Parish Prison, breached the walls and proceeded to lynch 11 of the prisoners. The exact mode of death for each of the victims varies a little with the source, but apparently some were shot first, one reportedly 42 times. The descriptions of some of the witnesses are stomach-turning.

Eight prisoners escaped the carnage, including Matranga, who hid under a mattress.Local newspapers praised the actions of the mob, while publications in other states condemned them but conceded that it was a necessary evil.

Parkerson later referred to the lynchings as “a wonderful thirty-minute experience.”

In a letter to his sister dated a week after the lynchings, future US president Theodore Roosevelt wrote: “‘Various dago diplomats were present, all much wrought up by the lynching of the Italians in New Orleans. Personally I think it a rather good thing, and said so.”

Ironic that it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who proclaimed Columbus a National federal holiday on September 30, 1934. www.presidency.ucsb.edu/  Or, if you want to believe Yhoosearch.com’s AI, it was 1937. [Close enough for artificial intelligence?]

THE VICTIMS
The following people were lynched
● Antonio Bagnetto, fruit peddler: tried and acquitted.
● James Caruso, stevedore: not tried.
● Loreto Comitis, tinsmith: not tried.
● Rocco Geraci, stevedore: not tried.
● Antonio Marchesi, fruit peddler: tried and acquitted.
● Pietro Monasterio, cobbler: mistrial declared.
● Emmanuele Polizzi, street vendor (mentally impaired): mistrial declared.
● Frank Romero, ward heeler for the Regular Democratic Organization: not tried.
● Antonio Scaffidi, fruit peddler: mistrial declared.
● Charles Traina, rice plantation laborer: not tried.
● Joseph Macheca, American-born former blockade runner, fruit importer, and political boss of the New Orleans Italian American community for the Regular Democratic Organization: tried and acquitted.

The last-gasp effort failed and Cleveland defeated Harrison in a landslide victory. While it was the end for Harrison, Columbus Day was just beginning.

The 77-foot monument in the center of Columbus Circle in New York is topped with a 13-foot granite sculpture of Christopher Columbus.
Image Source: themobmuseum.org/columbus-day
​
Subsequently, the Knights of Columbus lobbied for the day to become a yearly tradition. In , and in 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt declared October 12 as Columbus Day. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation making it an official federal holiday beginning in 1971, now occurring on the second Monday of October.

TAKE AWAYS
I told you the holiday had little to do with Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue in 1492 or the recognition of his discovery.

Granted, it was because the Italians in general heralded [in the 1800s] the man’s achievements that he became the symbol of the contributions made to the world by Italians and Italian emigrants. But the creators of the holiday didn’t have that in mind.

“While today’s holiday has become a point of contention regarding its namesake, its origins had little to do with 1492. It emerged as a recognition of the Italian American and Catholic communities, established by a president who urgently needed support in an upcoming election.” themobmuseum.org/columbus-day

The holiday today should serve as a reminder how quickly prejudice can turn into unwarranted, unthinking violence, and an opportunity to memorialize the 11 Italians slain in 1891, victims of an angry mob that saw Italian immigration as nothing more than a pipeline of criminals invading New Orleans.

JUST SAYIN’ 

Note: "The word 'dago' is a derivative of the Spanish name 'Diego', which means 'James'. It was originally coined in the 17th century by British sailors to indicate Spanish or Portuguese people, especially sailors. Despite the hispanic origin of the word, in the 19th century the word 'dago' became more commonly used in the USA as a derogatory term for Italians, due to the large immigration from that country. However, it is still used to indicate Spanish or Portuguese people as well, but rarely the French."  funtrivia.com/

Sources:
https://orderisda.org/culture/stories/the-innocent-11-and-the-creation-of-columbus-day/
https://themobmuseum.org/blog/columbus-day-and-its-mafia-origins/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1891_New_Orleans_lynchings
https://www.britannica.com/event/New-Orleans-lynchings-of-1891
https://www.history.com/articles/the-grisly-story-of-americas-largest-lynching
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1890s_in_organized_crime
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1636&context=etd
https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/italian/the-great-arrival/
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-2101-columbus-day
https://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question106725.html#google_vignette
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hennessy
https://orderisda.org/culture/stories/our-darkest-hour-anarchy-a-lynch-mob-and-11-souls-lost/
https://archives-nolalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16880coll45
 

​The Sámi languages belong to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic language family. Of the eleven Sámi languages, two are virtually extinct, and the remaining nine, which are still in use to some degree, are divided into three subgroups: southern, western, and eastern.

Sources differ in opinions about whether or not most people of the Sámi culture speak their native language. Some claim the Sámi do but are definitely bilingual; others assert that very few speak their native language. It makes sense that in the cities, those people may not remain fluent in their native tongue, but most likely in the far north and more isolated areas, Sámi do. However, only one person with knowledge of Kemi and Akkala, the extinct languages, was alive in 2020. www.britannica.com/Sámi

Estimates of current Sámi populations vary. According to britannica.com/, in the late 2010s and early 2020s there approximately 95,500 Sámi.
Norway         53,000
Sweden        20,000 to 40,000
Finland         11,000
Russia          1,530

en.wikipedia.org places the Sámi population at an estimated 108,000 maximum (no specific date given).
Norway         37,890–60,000
Sweden        14,600–36,000
Finland         9,350
Russia          1,530
US                480 First ancestry; 945 First and Second
Ukraine         136 (in 2001)

THE ORIGINAL NOMADIC PEOPLE
Modern science tells us the human species originated in Africa and likely reached Europe from the southeast no later than 42,000 years ago. During the last ice age, 33,000-20,000 years ago, when a permanent ice sheet covered northern and parts of central Europe, humans in southwest Europe were isolated from groups further to the east.

When the ice sheet retreated, some of these hunter gatherers eventually colonized Scandinavia from the south, making it one of the last areas of Europe to be inhabited. Recent studies lead to the conclusion that there were two groups that migrated into Scandinavia starting about 11,700 years ago; the first from what is modern day Denmark and Germany into Sweden and the second from populations east of the Baltic Sea moving northeast following the Atlantic coast in northern Finland and Norway.
 theconversation.com/origins-of-the-first-scandinavians

The Sámi origins are obscure, and not all historians agree. From what is known today, these peoples are the descendants of nomadic peoples who had inhabited northern Scandinavia for thousands of years, perhaps since the first migration from the region of the Volga, Oka, and Kama rivers in what is now Russia. When the second migration entered the area in the 8th century BC, Sámi settlements were probably spread somewhat evenly over the whole of that country. In recent times they have been pushed north in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
▼Image Source: http://french.abrahams-legacy.org/scan-migration.html

​LIFE STYLE
Reindeer herding had been the basis of the Sámi economy until very recently. Although the Sámi hunted reindeer from the earliest times and kept them in small numbers as pack and decoy animals, traveling from place to place with large herds began only a few centuries ago. The reindeer-herding Sámi lived in tents or turf huts and migrated with their herds in units of five or six families, their diet consisting of hunting and fishing.

Today the Sámi still herd their reindeer  communally, although each animal is individually owned, but don't be surprised if you see them herding them on snowmobiles.

Of course, not all Sámi herd reindeer. Norwegian Sámi are often coastal fishermen, or, if they live in other areas, earn their livelihoods farming, freshwater fishing, forestry or mining. If they live in bigger cities and towns, many participate as do other Scandinavians in professional, cultural, and academic jobs. However, many Sámi still live in small villages in the high Arctic.

RELIGION
The traditional Sámi spiritual practices and beliefs are based on shamanism, but varied from region to region. The original religion is generally considered to be Animism, meaning that all significant natural objects (such as animals, plants, rocks, etc.) possess a soul. Therefore, the Sámi believed in many spirits, and commonly emphasize animal spirits, including bear worship and spirits such as the Haldi who watched over nature.

Considering the location and the nature of their existence, they were very in touch with the natural environment. Some Sámi people worshiped a thunder god, a forest spirit, and a daughter of the green fertile earth. Their symbol of the world tree, reaching up the the North Star is similar to ideas found in Finnish mythology.

Shamanism is important in non-Christian Sámi society, and some shamanistic healing rites are still performed. However, today Finnish and Russian Sámi belong to the Russian Orthodox faith. Most others are Lutheran, but the most northern of the Sámi communities have a strong evangelical congregationalism.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Like many indigenous peoples in the world, the Sámi have not fared well under the domination of stronger regimes which, in Scandinavia, were those peoples who migrated from northern Europe (the blonde haired, blue-eyed Scandinavians) and founded the kingdoms of Norway and Sweden.

The Sámi have a complex relationship with the Scandinavians. “The Scandinavian countries periodically tried to assimilate the Sámi, and the use of the Sámi languages in schools and public life was long forbidden. In the second half of the 20th century, however, attention was drawn to the problems of the Sámi minority, which became more assertive in efforts to maintain its traditional society and culture through the use of Sámi in schools and the protection of reindeer pastures. In each country there are Sámi political and cultural societies, and there are a few Sámi newspapers and radio programs.” www.britannica.com/Sámi

“The Sámi are still coping with the cultural consequences of language and culture loss caused by generations of Sámi children being taken to missionary or state-run boarding schools and the legacy of laws that were created to deny the Sámi rights (e.g., to their beliefs, language, land and to the practice of traditional livelihoods). The Sámi are experiencing cultural and environmental threats, including: oil exploration, mining, dam building, logging, climate change, military bombing ranges, tourism and commercial development.” ​ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1mi_people

Natural resource extraction
In more recent history, Norwegian and Swedish authorities essentially ignored the Sámi and did not interfere much in their way of life, even though the northern parts of the countries were colonized to engage in an export-driven fisheries industry prior to the 19th century. They showed little interest in the harsh, non-arable land populated by reindeer-herding Sámi.

As it turns out, Sápmi is rich in natural resources including metals, oil, and natural gas. Activities pursuing these resources have caused conflicts with reindeer grazing and calving areas and other aspects of traditional Sámi life. In some cases, the mining locations infringe on ancient Sámi lands which are designated as ecologically protected areas.

The Sámi Parliament has opposed and rejected mining projects in the Finnmark area, and demanded that resources and mineral exploration benefit local Sámi communities and populations, as the proposed mines are in Sámi lands and will affect their ability to maintain their traditional livelihood.

THE SAMI PARLIAMENTS
While the Sámi peoples are governed by the laws of the country they live in, the constitutions of Finland, Sweden and Norway all recognize certain rights of the Sámi. The Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian constitutions all recognize certain rights of the Sámi, and those of Norway and Finland constitutionally recognize their status as an indigenous people.
​
All three countries have Sámi Parliaments, established by the country’s legislature, with a national assembly elected every four years, an executive board and a committee system, and are housed in their own buildings. They do not self-govern nor have a legislative function, but serve as consultative bodies whose purpose is to promote and preserve cultural self-determination, covering matters such as language, traditional livelihood, land rights and social wellbeing. And apparently they have a strong influence.

They also provide a voice for the Sámi in decisions affecting their communities. They have their basis in international recognition of the rights of indigenous people by the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 27) and the ILO’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (No. 169). The latter includes provisions about states’ obligations to consult indigenous peoples and consider their customs when applying national laws.

​They focus on cultural, social, and economic issues relevant to the Sami community, and have some limited self-governing powers, primarily in cultural and educational matters.

  ▼ Norway Sámi Parliament building                                                                                                      ▼ Members of the Norway Parliament
​                                                                                            Source of Images: www.lifeinnorway.net

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sámi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1mi_people
https://swedenherald.com/article/the-Sámi-people-the-indigenous-people-of-scandinavia
https://www.artofnorway.org/facts-about-the-Sámi-culture/
https://historyrise.com/the-Sámi-people-study-guide/
https://nlsnorwegian.no/the-Sámi-culture-an-insight-into-norways-indigenous-heritage/
https://nordnorge.com/en/topic/the-Sámi-are-the-indigenous-people-of-the-north/
https://www.campervannorway.com/blog/norway-culture/Sámi-people
https://goranus.com/
https://www.beneathnorthernlights.com/Sámi-gods-goddessess-and-mythical-entities/
https://www.holidays-lapland.com/en/post/the-myths-of-the-Sámi-and-the-magic-of-the-northern-lights
https://www.valofinland.com/the-legends-of-lapland-myths-and-folklore-explained/
https://norgeguide.com/en/oppdag-norge-guide/kultur-historie-og-tradisjoner/Sámisk-kultur/Sámisk-mytologi-og-religiose-tro-spiritualitet-sjamanisme-og-myter/https://websites.nku.edu/~humed1/native-nations/instructional-resources/Sámi-of-scandinavia.htm
https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/the-Sámi-side-of-tromso-norway/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1mi_shamanism
https://theconversation.com/ancient-dna-sheds-light-on-the-mysterious-origins-of-the-first-scandinavians-89703
https://ia803107.us.archive.org/30/items/confrontation-matanat-95-114/confrontation-matanat-4-12.pdf
https://www.nordicpolicycentre.org.au/sami_parliaments
 
Photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mortsan/48033905/sizes/l/in/photostream/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13284191
​
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OiTqQHi78VE/Vr9XvfSem2I/AAAAAAACFl4/ew252mzGyLY/s1600/Sámi%2Bpeople%2B%252814%2529.jpg
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/window-traditional-Sámi-culture-reindeer-and-worldview-003493

https://www.jtgtravel.com/
https://www.hca.westernsydney.edu.au/gmjau/?p=3467
http://french.abrahams-legacy.org/scan-migration.html

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (35th President)
“It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the tax rates.”

"One of the major characteristics of our tax system, and one in which we can take a great deal of pride, is that it operates primarily through individual self-assessment.”

Lyndon B. Johnson (36th President)
“I want to turn the poor from tax eaters to taxpayers."

“The most damaging thing you can do to any businessman in America is to keep him in doubt, and to keep him guessing on what our tax policy is.”

Richard M. Nixon (37th President)

THE GODDESS BRIGID
In Celtic mythology, the goddess Brigid plays a central role in Imbolc. She represents the three aspects of womanhood: the maiden, the mother, and the crone.

Her role in nature is to nurture and protect. She was believed to oversee the arrival of spring, warming of the earth, growth of crops, fertility, and healing, casting her in a central role for agrarian societies. Her presence during Imbolc symbolizes the return of light and life after the dark winter months.

CANDLEMAS
Candlemas is a Christian holiday, first observed in the 4th century in Jerusalem, is celebrated on February 2, marking the presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:22–40) and the purification of Mary, forty days after Christ’s birth. Traditionally, it involves the blessing of candles, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World.
​
Candlemas honors the Jewish belief that a woman is unclean (unrein) for seven days after giving birth and isn’t allowed in the temple for an additional 33 days (double this when she gave birth to a girl). Mary went the temple for a purification ritual which is why Candlemas is also called Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Limbourg Brothers: The Purification of the Virgin (1411-1416)
Image Source: morethanbeerandschnitzel.com  ▼​

​​Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania hosted the inaugural Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob, featuring a rodent meteorologist, on February 2, 1887, starting a national tradition.

Canada has no fewer than five groundhogs looking for their shadows: Balzac Billy, Manitoba Merv, Wiarton Willie, Fred la marmotte, and Schubenacadie Sam. And apparently Nova Scotia has a Lucy the Lobster also weighing in on the arrival of spring. https://morethanbeerandschnitzel.com/groundhog-day

THE CONNECTION
The connection is obvious. All these events occur in early February and mark the midpoint between winter and spring, and emphasize the themes of light, renewal, and the anticipation of spring.
● Imbolc and the goddess Brigid celebrate the return of light and warmth, and the beginning of spring.
● Candlemas commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple and involves the blessing of candles, symbolizing light.
● Badger Day and Groundhog Day is a folk tradition that is based on transition from winter to spring.

Today’s Groundhog Day is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural celebration that reflects centuries of evolution, from sacred fire festivals in Ireland to weather-watching events in Pennsylvania. Together they share cultural roots in ancient traditions that honor the changing seasons and agricultural cycles.

GROUNDHOG VS. BADGER
According to most of my research, the groundhog proved to be a poor weather predictor. I speculate that the reason may have to do with the animal being a true hibernator which remains asleep during the hibernation period.           ▼Image Source: www.wildlyanimal.net

​What could be more appropriate for writers than keeping up with changes to our language and the “creation” of new words?
Words are the tools of our trade, and make up at least half of our human ability to communicate with others. Language is all about engaging more closely with the world around you.

New words, changes to the meanings of words, and the demise of some are our technological and sociological thermometers of what is happening in our physical, social, political, and environmental reality. Keeping up is far more than just trying not to sound stupid to our grandchildren when we don’t know what they are talking about.

WHY A WORD FOR THE YEAR?
The tradition of dictionaries selecting a “Word of the Year” started in Germany in 1971 and has become a cherished ritual for individuals and organizations throughout the world. Dictionaries and lexicographers tend to select words which reflect societal trends while individuals and organizations choose personal words to serve as a guiding light for the year ahead.

The American Dialect Society's (ADS) “Word of the Year”, the oldest English-language version, has been designating one or more words of terms to be their “Word of the Year” since 1990.

ADS is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to encourage the study of any aspect of all languages and dialects used or found in North America (as well as associated islands in the Pacific and the Atlantic) and in the Caribbean Basin, and the languages that influence them: spoken, signed, or written, modern or historical, Indigenous or introduced, common or rare.

The ADS selection is made by votes of independent linguists and the decision is not tied to any commercial interests and, unlike most similar competitions, it is the only one announced after the end of the calendar year. The society also selects words in other categories such as "Most Outrageous," "Most Creative," and "Most Likely to Succeed."
​
“Words of the Year” chosen by dictionaries come out before the end of the year and often reflect pivotal moments in language and culture, similar to a linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year.

The phrase “Rage bait” refers to online content that is “deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative or offensive,” with the aim of driving traffic to a particular social media account.

◄Image Source: freepick.com
​
Lexicographer Susie Dent told the BBC, “The person producing it will bask in the millions, quite often, of comments and shares and even likes sometimes… because although we love fluffy cats, we’ll appreciate that we tend to engage more with negative content and content that really provokes us.”’’ This is a result of the algorithms used by social media companies.

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, said that "the fact that the word rage bait exists and has seen such a dramatic surge in usage means we're increasingly aware of the manipulation tactics we can be drawn into online".

Contenders:   aura farming, biohack.

Dictionary.com = 67
Pronounced as two words “six-seven” (and absolutely never as sixty-seven), the term originated with a song called “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla. The word is written as 6 7, 6-7, or six-seven.   ▼Image Source: Newsweek.com

"AI generated slop, which lacks meaningful content or use,” the committee said in the dictionary’s announcement. “While in recent years we’ve learnt to become search engineers to find meaningful information, we now need to become prompt engineers in order to wade through the AI slop. 
◄ Image Source: www.medium.com

The question is, are the people ingesting and regurgitating this content soon to be called AI sloppers?”

Macquarie Dictionary arrived at “AI slop” as the word of the year after first narrowing down the options to 65 words, before whittling it down further to a shortlist of 15, which contained other modern colloquialisms like “ate (and left no crumbs)”—“an expression used to indicate that someone has performed or executed something perfectly”— which can refer to “any of various events, interests, subjects, etc., that one finds themselves frequently thinking about, especially one considered unusual.”

THE “ALSO RAN” CONTENDERS
These definitions and commentary are quoted, with my minor modifications, directly from https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year-2025/.
Agentic
Traditionally, agentic has been used in psychology and sociology to describe human capacity to act independently, make choices, and shape one’s environment. However, as AI continues to advance, the word has evolved to describe technologies that can perform tasks autonomously and make independent decisions — so-called agentic AI.

This emerging sense of agentic captures the blurring boundary between human and machine initiative, reflecting society’s growing fascination and concern about the idea of technology possessing a kind of self-directed capability once thought uniquely human.

Aura farming
The term aura farming saw a sharp rise in usage in 2025. Combining aura (in the modern sense of charisma, style, or personal energy) with farming (meaning “cultivation” or “deliberate effort”), the term refers to the practice of intentionally developing one’s presence or vibe. The term crystallized around the viral “boat kid” meme, which showed a young man dancing at the prow of a racing boat in Indonesia. His confident moves, endlessly remixed and celebrated online, became the emblem of the broader phenomenon of curating one’s image and energy for public admiration.

Broligarchy
Broligarchy is a combination of bro and oligarchy. In 2025 this word has become one of year’s defining political neologisms. Playful yet pointed, broligarchy captures the public frustration felt in some circles with the concentration of power among a small, culturally homogenous elite. The word exemplifies how language evolves to make sense of power structures, offering both satire and social critique in a single, memorable coinage.

Clanker
Once a niche sci-fi term used to describe literal robots, clanker surged in popularity since mid-2025, emerging as a viral, often mocking label for artificial intelligence.  Clanker has been repurposed for the digital age, and is commonly used to deride AI systems, chatbots, and other nonhuman technologies, and its rise mirrors growing unease over the role of AI in society.

Dynamite emoji
The dynamite emoji, traditionally representing dynamite, a firecracker, or TNT, took on an unexpected new meaning in 2025. Once used to convey excitement, impact, explosive energy, or literal firecrackers, the term began to see a playful reinterpretation following the engagement of singer Taylor Swift and professional footballer Travis Kelce. Across social media, the emoji was rebranded as shorthand for the couple themselves — “T ‘n’ T,” or “T & T” — symbolizing a relationship that fans saw as both powerful and endearing. The rise of the dynamite emoji in this context highlights how digital symbols evolve alongside cultural moments.

Gen Z stare
The term Gen Z stare refers to a blank or expressionless look often attributed to members of Generation Z, particularly in workplace or retail settings. While some commentators have tried to analyze the Gen Z stare as a deeper psychological response to post-pandemic social upheaval, most people use the term playfully as part of an ongoing, lighthearted tug-of-war between generations.
 
Kiss cam
The kiss cam, long a staple of sports arenas and concert venues, found new cultural life in 2025 as shorthand for public exposure and digital schadenfreude. The a viral moment that captured global attention occurred on July 16, when two executives from the data company Astronomer were shown together on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert. Their visibly awkward reaction — ducking, hiding their faces, and refusing to play along — quickly turned into one of the year’s most talked-about viral clips.

Overtourism
Overtourism refers to the overwhelming influx of visitors to popular destinations, leading to environmental strain, cultural disruption, and local frustration. The word has been around since 2010, but experienced new highs in usage globally since the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase in tourism has resulted in things like Venice’s new tourist tax and Japan’s restrictions on access to Mount Fuji. Viral clips of visitors behaving badly all brought overtourism to the forefront of public debate.

Tariff
The word tariff has reemerged as a focal point of political and economic discussion in 2025, marking a resurgence for a powerful mechanism that has shaped global commerce for centuries. This past year tariff has taken on new political weight, reflecting how economic instruments once confined to policy circles are now wielded as tools of diplomacy and national strategy.

Tradwife
The term tradwife, short for “traditional wife,” was originally tied to conservative subcultures that idealize a dutiful, domestic model of femininity. This year the word has since broadened into a label for an aesthetic as much as an ideology. While some embrace the tradwife identity as a personal choice, others critique it as reinforcing outdated gender roles.

PRIOR ADS WINNERS
They issue an annual award Word of the Year but also rate candidate for the honor in relation to:
● Most Outrageous
● Most Euphemistic
● Most Likely to Succeed
● Most Useful
● Political Word of the Year
● Digital Word opf the Year
● Most Creative
● Most Unnecessary
● Least Likely to Succeed.

Their selections over the past several years show a definite biases, although it is claimed that they voters are not making judgements about the “quality” of the words, but more on the frequency of use.  The winners of the Word of the Year are as follows:
● 2024 – “rawdog” = (v) To do something hard or boring without any aid, preparation, or diversions
● 2023 – “enshittification” = (n) When a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits
● 2022 – “-ussy” = suffix from “pussy” (as in “bussy” = “boy pussy,” now humorously attached to many words); also “-ussification”: the process of creating new blended words with the “-ussy”  suffix.
● 2021 – “Insurrection” = (v) violent attempt to take control of the government, applied to the Capitol attack of Jan. 6, 2021
● 2020 – “Covid” = (n) Shorthand for Covid-19, the name given to the disease caused by infection from novel coronavirus; also used more broadly to refer to the pandemic and its impacts. Used to sum up chaotic and despondent feelings inspired by the year’s events
● 2019 - “(My) Pronouns,” Word of the Decade is Singular “They” - introduction for sharing one’s set of personal pronouns (“pronouns: she/her”)
● 2018 – “tender-age shelter/camp/facility = (n) government detention center for asylum-seekers’ children.
● 2017 – “fake news” = (n) Disinformation or falsehoods presented as real news. Actual news that is claimed to be untrue. “alternative facts” = Contrary information that matches one’s preferred narrative or interpretation of events.

TAKE AWAY
Following the “Words of the Year” is less about words to use in your writing and more about social trends and issues that sparked interest among a wide variety of people. The nominees and selected words demonstrate how language adapts to our social and physical environment and ignites debate in this modern digital culture.

Language is a work in progress.

JUST SAYIN'

Sources:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/cambridge-dictionary-reveals-word-of-the-year-2025
https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year-2025/
https://goodthingsaregonnacome.com/125-words-of-the-year-for-2025/
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/woty
https://time.com/7334730/word-of-the-year-2025-cambridge-collins-dictionary-oxford-merriam/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/calendar
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-year-tradition-reflection-empowerment-anna-msikc/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_the_year
https://www.allaboutai.com/ai-glossary/ai-slop/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/18/cambridge-dictionary-word-year-2025-parasocial-meaning/87332931007/
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/rage-bait-oxford-university-press-word-of-year-2025/6424446/
https://news.sky.com/story/oxford-dictionary-publisher-reveals-word-of-the-year-2025-do-you-know-it-13477780
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/oxford-university-press-names-its-2025-word-of-the-year-shouldn-t-that-be-2-words/ar-AA1RuKWO
end

​

“WHO ‘YA GONNA CALL?”
Well, it isn’t Ghostbusters!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)   are the government agencies who regulate telemarketing. They face the onerous task of assuring that telemarketers follow the rules. When they receive many complaints about the same telemarketer, they can take legal action to stop illegal practices. They also maintain a data base of complaints about telemarketing which is available to other federal, state, and local agencies.

FTC’s jurisdiction does not cover, such as telephone companies, airlines, banks and credit unions, and insurance companies

● Report Do Not Call violations to the FTC at 1-888-382-1222, TTY (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf), 1-866-290-4236, or go to www.donotcall.gov.

● Report general telemarketing, robocall and Caller ID rights violations to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357, TTY 1-866-653-4261, or go to www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

● Report violations of your “do not call”, general telemarketing, robocall and Caller ID rights by phone to the FCC at 1-888-225-5322, TTY 1-888-835-5322. You can also use the online form at www.fcc.gov/complaints or fax the information to 1-866-418-0232.

If telemarketing calls bother you, you should take the time to report it. Regardless of how you make a report, provide as much detail as you can, such as:
● Date of the call,
● Name of the telemarketer,
● Name of any company or a charity on whose behalf the call was made, if different),
● Phone number that appeared on Caller ID or that was left in a message, and
● A description of the “pitch, what happened after that and how much you paid, if anything.

● You missed jury duty
An arrest warrant has been issued for you as you failed to show up for your jury duty and you have to pay a fee to avoid jail time.

In all cases, Hang Up and Report The Call!

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing/telemarketing
https://www.fcc.gov/general/telemarketing-and-robocalls
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-64#47:3.0.1.1.11.12
https://consumerfed.org/pdfs/Understanding_Telemarketing_Rights.pdf
https://consumer.ftc.gov/topics/telemarketer
https://blog.clickpointsoftware.com/telemarketing-calling-hours-by-state
https://search.yahoo.com/ - ​AI Summary
https://consumer.ftc.gov/topics/telemarketer
https://www.donotcall.gov/report.html
http://www.ftc.gov/robocallshttps://www.wikihow.life/Deal-With-Telemarketers
https://www.wikihow.life/Deal-With-Telemarketers
https://www.rd.com/list/how-to-get-rid-of-telemarketers/
https://www.newinterestingfacts.com/ways-to-get-rid-of-telemarketers/
https://medium.com/@chloed_85285/it-wasnt-always-a-piece-of-cake-the-history-of-telemarketing-0edcbbf2b1f6
https://www.consumerreports.org/consumerist/phone-companies-can-filter-out-robocalls-they-just-arent-doing-it/
https://legalclarity.org/what-is-the-do-not-call-implementation-act/#google_vignette
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/phone/?cmp=KNC-DMP-FRD-Fraud-Seasonal-PhoneScams

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/11/reports-unwanted-telemarketing-calls-down-more-50-percent-2021

https://fastercapital.com/content/Training--How-to-Train-Your-Telemarketing-Team-and-Equip-Them-with-the-Skills-They-Need.html

​This legendary Slavic character and his companion make the rounds every New Year’s Eve to bring gifts to children.

​The similarities between Santa Claus and Ded Moroz are, in part, because of the modern world-wide melding of traditions, but there are noticeable differences which makes this eastern icon different from his western counterpart.

ORIGINS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DED MOROZ
Pre-dating Christianity, Ded Moroz was associated with winter and New Year celebrations in Slavic countries. While his character has evolved considerably since the beginning of the 19th century, he was originally considered the wizard, or demon, of winter called Morozko  or King Frost, the personification of Winter. He was associated with frost and cold, and was believed to be a powerful spirt who could bring both the beauty and harshness of winter.

According to Russia Info Centre, the ancient Morozko was “a powerful hero and smith who chained water with his iron frosts.” Russian folk tales tell of people “feeding” Morozko oatmeal kissel or kutya (boiled rice with raisins and honey) so he would not freeze their plants. Other stories tell how he demanded offerings to protect families during brutal winters.

“The darker side of Ded Moroz is also made apparent in Nikolai Nekrasov’s (1886) poem “Moroz – Red Nose;” a tale telling of Ded Moroz killing a peasant widow and orphaning her children. This cruel wizard of winter was also capable in the past of kidnapping children, and only returning them when their parents provided him with gifts.” www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends
​
He was a fearsome frost spirit who demanded offerings to protect families during brutal winters. In the 1920s, Soviet authorities banned him for being too "religious," but by 1935, they brought him back, rebranding him as a jolly, secular New Year’s figure. By 1937, Ded Moroz was the life of the New Year’s party, fitting perfectly into Soviet ideology.

He was popularized in Russian culture through fairy tales and stories in which he often challenges characters to test their virtue and resilience. The theme of such appearances in literature is frequently associated with transformation and redemption. Today our modern Ded Moroz is more akin to the kind and gentle Santa Claus. But he is also is ready to punish those who are mean or lazy.

    Image Source: www.marvelfoods.com                            Image Source: www.yahoo.com                                      Image Source: http://www.sheetlabels.com

● "Best by" or "Use by" dates are recommended labeling by the USDA for quality, not safety. These dates indicate when the manufacturer believes the product will be at its optimal flavor, texture, or nutritional value (i.e. peak quality) After this date, the quality might decline, but the food is generally still safe to eat if stored properly.

The “Use By” date found on perishable items like meat or dairy, is the closest to a safety-related date. It suggests the last day the product is expected to be at peak quality, though it may still be safe beyond that if stored properly.

● “Sell by” dates are guide to retailers on inventory management. Also, a "Sell-By" date for eggs is required by certain states where the eggs are marketed. California law mandates a "sell by" date on egg cartons of no more than 45 days from the pack date.
  ▼ Image Source: www.fashionlady.in​

​● Trust Your Senses
The USDA recommends that consumers should rely on sensory evaluation for food safety.
• Smell: Spoiled food often smells sour, rancid, or “off.”

• Sight: Look for mold, discoloration, or texture changes such as
                                         slime or mushiness).

• Taste: If it looks and smells okay, a tiny taste can confirm. Spit it out if it’s off.

Next time you spot an “expired” date, don’t just chuck it. Sniff, inspect, and consider the context. You might be surprised how much “expired” food is still perfectly good—and how much power you have to decide for yourself.

● “Void” After Opened
All dates are essentially “void” after the packaging has been opened.

DRUGS
This article is not about drugs expiration dates, but a mention doesn’t hurt. Drug expiration dates reflect the time period during which the product is known to remain stable, which means it retains its strength, quality, and purity when it is stored according to its labeled storage conditions. It has nothing to do with safety.

Certain drugs are exempt; with no dosage limitations that are stable for at least three years not require an expiration date. Homeopathic drug products are exempt from requirements, and allergenic extracts that are labeled "No U.S. Standard of Potency" are exempt from the requirements. www.provisionfda.com/fda-regulation

SAFE AND PROPER FOOD STORAGE IS KEY
Optimal safe and proper storage conditions are more important than expiration dates when it comes to food safety. Even if the date expires during home storage, the U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines say that a product should be “safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly and kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below."

How long food lasts depends on the type of food, length of time the food sat on the store shelf before you bought it, the temperature of the food while it was in the store, its packaging, how efficiently your refrigerator or freezer runs and the temperature in your cupboards. While you can’t control all of these factors, you have some precautions you can take. For example, always read the package labels and buy the products with the most distant expiration dates.
And remember the most basic of rules: When in doubt, throw it out.”
ndsu.edu/agriculture/food-storage-guide                                                                                 ▼ Image Source: www.tv9marathi.com

​Bacteria multiplies rapidly between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, something that can happen anytime, regardless of the date on the package. Food lasts longer if kept at the right temperature (fridge at 35–40°F, freezer at 0°F) and in sealed containers.

Recommendations for storing canned foods:
• Store canned food in a cool, dry place, ideally between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C).

• Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, which can compromise the can integrity.

• Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent heat buildup.

• Do not store cans in damp areas, as moisture can lead to rust and spoilage.

Remember, to avoid illness, food must be stored correctly.

Can Food Be Donated After the Date Passes?
Yes. The quality of perishable products may deteriorate after the date passes but the products should still be wholesome if not showing signs of spoilage. Food banks, other charitable organizations, and consumers should evaluate the quality of the product before its distribution and consumption to determine whether there are noticeable changes in wholesomeness. www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety

HOW TO TELL IF FOOD IS STILL GOOD: A PRACTICAL GUIDE
(Excerpted from thefoodiediary.com/are-expiration-dates-accurate)

Expiration dates guide consumer, but they are not the final word. You must use your senses to evaluate different types of food to decide if they’re still safe and palatable.

​Bacteria multiplies rapidly between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, something that can happen anytime, regardless of the date on the package. And remember, “spoiled” is not necessarily “contaminated.” Know that you can't smell or taste contamination.