A lemur ball isn’t a formal affair for cute little primates. Lemurs often cuddle adorably in a furry, black and white pile by that name. Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures (Bookshop|Amazon) is a lyrical new...
In Appalachia, if you’re being lazy, stupid, or idle, you may be told to quit your footercootering. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Quit Your Footercootering!” Here’s a handy word I’m adding to my...
Malamute, kayak, and parka are just some of the words that have found their way into English from the language of indigenous people in northern climes. • In the 1970s, some scientists argued that two quarks should be called truth and beauty. • The...
The rustic expression ring-tailed tooter applies to someone or something outstanding in some way. The term ring-tailed does most of the work here, inspired by the way a ring-tailed animal is more striking than one without such distinctive markings...
Synanthropes are creatures that live and thrive close to humans but aren’t pets — animals such as pigeons, raccoons, and rats. Synanthrope comes from Greek words that mean “with” and “human,” and has been around since the 1940s. The Synanthrope...
To bark at a knot means to engage in foolish or futile activity, like a dog yapping at a knothole on a tree. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Bark at a Knot” I came across an expression the other day that describes the...