Q. What are some striking jobs from days gone by? . A. Barber Surgeon Yes. They did both. A little snip here, a little snip there. Barber surgeons were particularly active with soldiers in the Middle Ages. Some believe that the red and white swirl of the barber’s pole symbolizes

Q. All limits are lifted, do what you have to do, this is a ‘no holds barred’ situation. What’s the origin of this phrase? . A. ‘No holds barred’ is rooted in the world of wrestling. While certain wrestling holds might be otherwise forbidden, this is not the case right

Q. Kraken? . A. Thanks to the Seattle Hockey naming czars, the googly-eyed Kraken is getting even more attention. As if this mythical, massive Norwegian sea creature wasn’t already lording its pop-culture prominence over Jörmungandr, Six-Headed Scylla, Lernean Hydra, and all the other mythological sea monsters. We’ve seen Kraken in

Q. Once again, the New York Public Library system kept close track of the most checked-out books over the past 12 months. Which books were New Yorkers borrowing most over 2024? Did any of these books feature in your reading pile? . A. Looking across the city’s three main public