Wise

Word to the Wise: Cum
by ETR (05/03/2008)

"Cum" (KUM) is Latin for "with." It is often used to mean "combined with."

The Most Stupid of Vices
by Alexander Green (05/02/2008)

Sit down for this one. The majority of participants selected the first option. They would rather make twice as much as others, even if that meant earning half as much as they could have with the second option.

Word to the Wise: Gamine
by ETR (05/02/2008)

A "gamine" (gam-EEN) - from the French for a child who wanders the streets - is a playfully mischievous girl or young woman.

It’s Good to Know: The Vocal Joystick
by ETR (05/02/2008)

University of Washington researchers have developed software that converts sounds into controlled movements of a cursor on a computer screen.

Why I Drive a Stick
by Judith Strauss (05/02/2008)

Growing up in Chicago, there was no need for me to drive at all. Buses and subways were convenient and cheap. But then I moved to Idaho, where public transportation was nonexistent and nothing was in walking distance. So I had to learn. And the person who volunteered to teach me had a VW bug with a manual transmission.

Cut to the Chase… Dammit!
by Rich Schefren (05/01/2008)

Do you ever end your day wondering, "Did I really get the important stuff done today?"

It’s Fun to Know: Contact Lenses Ready for Battle
by ETR (05/01/2008)

DARPA, the agency in charge of U.S. military innovation, has put out a call to researchers for help in designing special contact lenses to be worn by soldiers in battle.

Word to the Wise: Pervicacious
by ETR (05/01/2008)

"Pervicacious" (pur-vih-KAY-shus) means stubborn or obstinate - refusing to change your ideas or behavior.

It’s Good To Know: The Deepest Lake in the World
by ETR (04/30/2008)

At a little over a mile deep, Russia 's 25-million-year-old Lake Baikal is the deepest and oldest lake in the world.

Dear ETR: "How does someone like me fit anything else into a day?"
by Michael Masterson (04/30/2008)

"I have many goals and lots of things I want to do to further my life financially and otherwise - but how does someone like me fit anything else into a day?

Word to the Wise: Truculent
by ETR (04/30/2008)

"Truculent" (TRUK-yuh-lun) - from the Latin for "savage" - means ferocious or cruel.

Word to the Wise: Provender
by ETR (04/29/2008)

"Provender" (PROV-un-dur) is another way of saying "food."

It’s Fun to Know: An Unexpected Cannibal
by ETR (04/29/2008)

Butterflies - sweet, gentle butterflies - are cannibals. Newly hatched butterfly larvae often eat their siblings.

Checking E-Mail All Day? You’ve Got the Wrong Job
by Jason Holland (04/29/2008)

If your job requires you to check e-mail more than twice a day, you should probably be looking for a new position. That's what Michael Masterson told me in a recent editorial meeting.

It’s Good to Know: The Dangers of Poppy Seed Bagels
by ETR (04/28/2008)

If your new employer requires you to take a drug test, you'd better not eat any bagels or other baked goods with poppy seeds for breakfast that day.

Word to the Wise: Bugbear
by ETR (04/28/2008)

A "bugbear" (BUG-bare) is a persistent problem or source of annoyance.

Word to the Wise: Predilection
by ETR (04/26/2008)

A "predilection" (preh-dih-LEK-shun) - from the Latin for "to choose" - is an established preference.

It’s Fun to Know: New Species
by ETR (04/26/2008)

While many species are on the brink of extinction, scientists are discovering species they never knew existed... including these...

The Language Perfectionist: A Misuse That Can Land You in Big Trouble
by Don Hauptman (04/26/2008)

As in the above examples, the word notoriety is sometimes used as if it means fame. In fact, it means fame for the wrong reasons, such as criminality or other bad behavior.

Reader Appalled by My Self-Absorption
by Michael Masterson (04/25/2008)

In a recent article, I revealed the early-morning routine I've used to accomplish my goals. Sonja Mahs from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia wrote in, wondering where family responsibility fits into the mix:

It’s Good to Know: Disappearing Languages
by ETR (04/25/2008)

At least one of the world's estimated 6,000 languages goes extinct every two weeks.

Word to the Wise: Small Beer
by ETR (04/25/2008)

The expression "small beer" - derived from a name for beer with very little alcohol content - refers to something that's insignificant.

Word to the Wise: Shibboleth
by ETR (04/24/2008)

"Shibboleth" (SHIB-uh-lith) - from the Hebrew - is a word, saying, custom, or belief identified with a group or cause.

It’s Fun to Know: Swinging Through the Trees Like Tarzan
by ETR (04/24/2008)

Tree houses and rope swings aren't just for kids anymore. And the action isn't confined to the backyard.

ETR Insider Report: How to Get More Involved With the ETR Community
by Suzanne Richardson (04/24/2008)

Over the past few weeks, we've been running a secret test. (If you're very observant, you may already know what I'm talking about.)

Building Your Power Base at Work
by Brian Tracy (04/24/2008)

The more power and influence you develop on the job, the more you will be paid and the faster you will be promoted. There are three types of power that you can develop at work, all of which can be extremely helpful to you in getting ahead.

Living Rich: How to Read a Poem
by Judith Strauss (04/23/2008)

"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and... speak a few reasonable words."

Word to the Wise: Coeval
by ETR (04/23/2008)

"Coeval" (koh-EE-vul) means of the same age, originating or existing during the same period of time.

It’s Good to Know: About Bug Spray
by ETR (04/23/2008)

Insect repellant with the powerful chemical DEET has been a mainstay of outdoorsmen and campers for 50 years. But until now, nobody really knew how it worked.

Word to the Wise: Brummagem
by ETR (04/22/2008)

Something that's "brummagem" (BRUM-uh-jum) is cheap and showy or counterfeit.
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