Q. What are some lesser used words that describe archrivals or opponents? . A. In thinking about archrivals, we can start with the all-out despising, fight to the floor types we find in fiction: Holmes v. Moriarty, The Avengers v. Thanos, Harry Potter v. Voldemort, Jets v. Sharks. Then there

Q. Why is it considered such bad luck to change a boat or ship’s name after it has been christened? . A. Life on the ocean is, as one could well imagine, rife with superstition. The naming of sea vessels is particularly fraught. Ancient Greeks would often assign their vessels

Q. What are your favourite cartoon theme songs? Which cartoon melodies – from your childhood, from last week – stay pleasantly lodged in your head? . A. The world of streaming puts our cartoon show theme love to the test. Do you ‘skip intro’ or do you nod and bop your

Q. Why are they called grandfather clocks? And why do these stately time-keepers haunt so many mystery and horror stories? . A. First: what makes it a ‘grandfather clock?’ Most definitions include four key features: 1) a pendulum, 2) a wooden case, 3) tallness – generally more than 6 feet,

Q. As we emerge from hiding – some inch by inch, some with rocket boosters – many are thinking about how they might live their lives differently moving forward. As Nina Simone, then Michael Bublé sang: ‘It’s a new dawn, It’s a new day, It’s a new life for me…’

Q. 39° Celsius might be no big deal in your neck of the woods, but in air-conditionless Vancouver, 39°C is record-breaking woe. Ice and shade, please. What are some famous paintings that capture the feeling of being Too Darn Hot? And how about some that capture what we dream about doing

Q. Is there anything more tedious than wiping down groceries? Ok, yes. But..ugh. Lockdown life introduced us to new and perfectly awful household chores to add to the list. As a rule, what type of housework do people despise the most? . A. Earlier this year, YouGov surveyed 1775 US

Q. Who are some well-known historic figures with unusual to alarming animal friends? . A. Audrey Hepburn’s Fawn In the 1959 film ‘Green Mansions’, Audrey Hepburn plays Rima, a ‘Bird Girl’ who lives in the forest. Green Mansions was less than a hit, but in the film – and in

Q. Congratulations to the Sussexes on the birth of wee Lilibet! Take it from a decidedly non-royal Elizabeth, certain names – especially those that have been around for a while – have an endless roster of commonly used variants (can we still use that word without cringing?) and nicknames. What

Q. What are some lesser known words related to nature wetness, to oceans, lakes, rivers.. . A. Bedewing Wet with dew, or something like it. Bight An open bay or bend in the coastline. Bore A steep wave, such as that caused by two tides coming together. Billabong Australian roots.