heli-mulching n.— «Rice straw dropped from a heavy-lift helicopter rained down like snow Monday on fire-blackened forest land north of Oroville in an effort to control erosion. The process, known as “heli-mulching,” is set to continue...
Brookings effect n.— «Brookings, just north of the California border along the Oregon coast, is known for its sometimes very un-coastal weather that has come to be called the “Brookings effect.”» —“Brookings Oregon bakes...
Welcome to another newsletter from A Way with Words, public radio's lively language show! Next week's show will be brand new, but this past weekend's show was a juicy repeat in which we talked about the demise of the typewriter, surfing...
heel v.— «Once you have selected your tree, take it home and store or “heel” it, as they say in the trade, in the coldest, darkest place you have, such as on the north side of your house or in a cellar. Keep it there until...
omega block n.— «Northern California has been sitting under what meteorologists commonly refer to as an “omega” block—so named because of its distinctive shape—which features troughs of low pressure both to the west and east of a large...
cold smoke n.— «Located 16 miles north of Bozeman, Bridger is renowned for powder so dry and wispy, locals dub it “the cold smoke.”» —“The Attraction of Winter in Bozeman” New West (Missoula, Montana) Nov...