Category: Uncategorized
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What is the “tray” in “betray”?
Betray shares its root with treason and tradition. Over concerns of its wisdom, justness, and legality, acting US attorney general Sally Yates nobly defied President Trump’s executive order banning immigrants, including refugees and visa-holders, from seven Muslim-majority countries. On Monday night, Trump fired her, claiming Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice.” It’s a strong, and…
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Why do we call the end of the world “doomsday”?
The original doom wasn’t only about last judgments. This week, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reset its Doomsday Clock, a long-running warning against humanity’s own self-destruction, to two and half minutes to metaphorical midnight. It hasn’t been this close to midnight since 1953, after the US and Russia both tested H-bombs. Oy. Nuclear weapons, climate change,…
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Why is it called an “inauguration”?
The etymology of inauguration is one “for the birds.” Today marks the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. This historic moment raises lots of questions. Like Why? Why does the transfer of power take place on January 20? In 1933, Congress ratified the 20th Amendment, which moved up the…
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Rowing, rivers, and rulers: 5 “Russian” roots
“Russia” isn’t Russian, the Kremlin was once one of many, and Vladimir Putin would really like what his name literally means. With increasing evidence for Russian interference in the US’s 2016 elections, and persistent ambiguity concerning Trump’s relationship with the country, news reports are littered with Kremlin‘s and Vladimir‘s. And at least etymologically, Russia indeed is the one “steering…
Mashed Radish 