ข่าวร้ายของผู้ใช้งานในองค์กร Microsoft ได้เปลี่ยนการตั้งค่าให้การเก็บข้อมูลจาก Word และ Excel เพื่อฝึก AI อัตโนมัติ Microsoft จะสามารถใช้เนื้อหาที่ผู้ใช้สร้างขึ้น เช่น บทความ นวนิยาย หรือผลงานอื่น ๆ เพื่อฝึก AI โดยไม่ได้รับความยินยอมอย่างชัดเจน โดยการปิดฟีเจอร์ "Optional Connected Experiences" บน Windows PC ต้องทำตามขั้นตอนดังนี้: 1) เปิดโปรแกรม Word หรือ Excel 2)ไปที่เมนู File 3)เลือก Options 4)คลิกที่ Trust Center 5)เลือก Trust Center Settings 6)คลิกที่ Privacy Options 7)ไปที่ Privacy Settings 8) ยกเลิกการเลือกกล่อง Optional Connected Experiences เฮ้อ... Microsoft จะโดน EU ฟ้องแน่นอน และผลคือต้องปิด Feature นี้เป็นค่าอัตโนมัติในภูมิภาคยุโรปเท่านั้น ฟันธง!! https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-word-and-excel-ai-data-scraping-slyly-switched-to-opt-in-by-default-the-opt-out-toggle-is-not-that-easy-to-find

“Karat” vs. “Carat”: The Difference Between How These Measure All That Glitters When you’re buying gold and diamond jewelry, the difference between karats and carats can get confusing—and expensive—really fast. That’s because karat and carat are used in similar contexts in similar ways (as units of measure), and in some cases and places they can even overlap. We’ll break down what each word means, what exactly it measures, and review the different ways they’re used. We’ll even cover the homophones carrot and caret—and why there’s no such thing as 25-karat gold. Quick summary A carat is a unit of measure for the weight of gemstones, as in an eight-carat diamond or The jewel is 1 carat. In the US and other places, the word karat is typically used as a unit of measure for the purity of gold, as in 14-karat gold and 24-karat gold. In the UK and other places, the spelling carat is applied to both gems and gold. Is it karat or carat? Both spellings are used, but they can refer to different things in different places. The spelling carat is typically always used for the unit of measure for the weight of gemstones, as in a three-carat diamond. In the US and some other places, the word karat is used as a unit of measure for the purity of gold, as in 14-karat gold and 24-karat gold. In the UK and other places, the spelling carat is used for both gold and jewels. What does karat mean in gold? Pure gold is a very soft metal—it’s so soft it can be bent without even being heated. This makes it extremely inconvenient to make jewelry out of. It’s also very expensive. For these reasons, gold jewelry is often made from gold alloys, meaning gold mixed with some other metal. The amount of gold in an alloy is measured in karats (or carats, in the UK and some other places). The mix is divided into 24 karats, which are kind of like fractions of the metal. So, 14-karat gold is made of 14 parts gold out of 24 total parts (in other words, it’s about 58% gold). Gold labeled as 24-karat gold is pure gold, which is why it’s so expensive (and malleable). Karat is commonly abbreviated as k. Common karat values are 10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, and 24k (there is nothing above 24k gold, since it is pure gold). What does carat mean in gems? In the context of gemstones, and especially diamonds, carat refers to the weight of the stone. A carat is equivalent to .20 grams. In some systems, the weight of a diamond is divided into 100 points, with 100 points equaling one carat. Diamonds over 1 carat are typically described in terms of their carat value: a 2-carat diamond, a 3.5-carat diamond, and so on. Obviously, the heavier the diamond, the bigger it’s likely to be, so this measurement is often used, on a practical level, as a measure of how large the diamond is. The biggest diamond ever dug up was the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond. But the average size of a diamond in an engagement ring is around 1 carat or less. Carat vs. carrot (vs. caret) Here’s a golden nugget of etymology, a real gem: the word karat is a variant of the word carat, which comes from the Medieval Latin carratus, a term once used by alchemists. It comes from Arabic qīrāṭ, meaning “weight of 4 grains,” from the Greek kerátion, meaning “carob bean,” “weight of 3.333 grains,” or, literally, “little horn.” That little horn might bring to mind the somewhat hornlike appearance of a carrot, and in fact carrot has a distant etymological connection with carat. Carrot is rooted in the Greek kárē, meaning “head.” Interestingly, the mark known as a caret (‸)—the one used to show where something should be inserted—kind of looks like a carrot, but its name is not etymologically related to carrot or carat. It comes from the Latin meaning “(there) is missing,” from the verb carēre, meaning “to be without.” Examples of karat and carat used in a sentence Here are some examples that show how karat and carat are commonly used. - My parents bought me 24-karat gold earrings for my birthday! - At 18 karats, this bracelet is a less expensive option. - They keep a 10-carat diamond in the vault. - The ring will be set with a jewel of three carats. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

What’s In A Name: The Laws That Apply When Naming Your Baby Can you really name your baby that?! Picking a baby name that everyone (from grandma to the grocery clerk) likes can be a fruitless, futile endeavor. Coming up with one that confounds the whole world is seemingly a lot easier. Take Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, and singer Grimes, who recently announced the birth of their daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, or “Y” for short. The “Y” makes more sense when you know that their older son is named X Æ A-12. (Yes, we’re talking about their human son, not the name of a new car or spacecraft.) Sometimes, parents decide a name change is in order—like when celebrity couple Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott announced that they were going to change their son’s name from Wolf to one that better suits him. In other cases, though, a name change is not a matter of preference but of legality. Is a baby name with numbers and symbols legal? Call it peculiar, perplexing, or sensationalistic, but one thing you may not be able to call X Æ A-12 is … legal. When it comes to baby names, the fact is parents don’t always have free rein to choose any name they like. There are laws that limit their choices. These laws vary by state, and they’re arbitrary at best, but they are laws that appear in the books. While some states have strict laws that prohibit obscenities, numbers, and names that are too long, other states have no restrictions. Take laid-back California, which isn’t so laid back when it comes to baby names. In fact, the state won’t even allow accent marks and other diacritical marks in names like José. This restriction originated in 1986, when Proposition 63 established English as the California’s official language. Names must only contain “the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language with appropriate punctuation if necessary.” And guess where little X Æ A-12 was born? That’s right: the Golden State. It seems that for now, a California birth certificate can be completed with single dashes in the spaces for first, middle, and last names, and a legal name can be added later, which is exactly what Elon and Grimes have done for their son. Will he ever need a legal name? Not necessarily. He won’t be arrested for not having one, but he will need one if he wants to obtain a Social Security number, passport, or driver’s license. His parents could consider tweaking his name a bit to make the legal cut, perhaps by spelling out some of the characters as David and Victoria Beckham did with their daughter, Harper Seven. Why are there laws about baby names? Not only are baby name laws inconsistent across the country, but if they are meant to protect children from controversial or embarrassing names, they often miss the boat. For example, in a well-publicized New Jersey case, a couple named their son Adolf Hitler Campbell, which is somehow permissible under the state’s law. The law bans names that contain “obscenity, numerals, symbols, or a combination of letters, numerals, or symbols…”, but naming a child after a mass murderer is A-OK. In most cases, the United States is pretty relaxed about what you can name your child when it comes to the stigma or meaning a name may carry. However there are some really bizarre cases where baby names have not been allowed in the good ol’ US. For example, in 2013, a Tennessee judge ordered that a baby’s name be changed to Martin instead of Messiah. Her reasoning: “The word Messiah is a title and it’s a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ.” That reasoning was later overturned, however, and the baby’s name was changed back to Messiah. And in Georgia, a couple eventually won a legal battle to give their daughter the surname Allah. The court’s original objection to the name wasn’t any implied meaning, but rather that neither parent had that last name. Plus we don’t have to look far for celebrities who chose rather unusual baby names that have gone unchallenged. Penn Jillette named his child Moxie CrimeFighter, and Nicolas Cage chose Kal-El Coppola, to name a few—all of those passed the legal test. Whether or not naming moderation is the government’s business is up for debate. Usually, states challenge names for reasons of practicality; for example, a record-keeping software may only allow a certain number of characters or not allow numerical digits. In Arkansas, you can’t name your child Test, Unk, Void, Baby Boy, Infant, or a handful of other names, because its system won’t accept them. In Hawaii, parents can include symbols in names, but for each one, there has to be at least one number too. In New Hampshire, the baby’s first, middle, and last names can’t exceed 100 characters in total. According to constitutional law expert Carlton F.W. Larson (writing in the The George Washington Law Review), baby naming “is a legal universe that has scarcely been mapped, full of strange lacunae, spotty statutory provisions, and patchy, inconsistent caselaw.” Are there naming laws in other countries? Naming laws around the world vary even more and are often even more stringent than those in the United States. In France, for example, parents have been banned from giving their children names that would “lead to a childhood of mockery,” such as Prince William and Mini Cooper. In Germany, a court ruled that a couple couldn’t name their child Stone because “a child cannot identify with it, because it is an object.” Möwe (“seagull”) was rejected as well, because the bird is “a nuisance and is seen as a pest and would therefore degrade the child.” In Denmark, parents must select from a list of pre-approved names, and if they want to use one that’s not on the list, they must get special permission. In any case, if you’re planning on having a baby, you may want to check the laws in your locale before you get too attached to a name. Of course, even if your favorite name doesn’t make the grade, nicknames are a whole other, unrestricted territory. Anyone who has ever had a sobriquet like Stinky or Pickle Pop may wish there were some more stringent laws governing them, too. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Fancy Spring Words To Breathe Life Into Your Budding Vocabulary As Leo Tolstoy wrote in the classic Anna Karenina, “spring is the time of plans and projects.” To put it more bluntly, spring is a time of new growth, new experiences, and, in most of the world, temperamental weather. To encourage your personal growth during this season of change, why not try out some of these sophisticated vocabulary terms related to spring? verdurous Verdurous is an adjective meaning “rich in verdure; freshly green; verdant.” Verdure is a fancy word meaning “greenness, especially of fresh, flourishing vegetation.” The word comes from the Middle French verd, meaning “green.” (The modern French equivalent of this word is vert.) vernal An adjective that directly relates to the season is vernal, meaning “of or relating to spring.” It is also used figuratively to mean “belonging to or characteristic of youth,” which is just one of many examples of spring being related to new birth or adolescence. Vernal comes from Latin vernālis, meaning “of spring.” recrudesce Many of the words in this list end in the suffixes -esce, -escent, or -escence, which are used to denote the beginning of an action. This makes sense if you consider the overall theme of spring, which is the beginning of new life or new experiences. One such word is recrudesce, “to break out afresh, as a sore, a disease, or anything else that has been quiescent.” Quiescent is another fancy word that means “being at rest.” frondescence Another word that describes plants shaking off their winter slumber and waking up to spring is frondescence, “the process or period of putting forth leaves, as a tree, plant, or the like.” The word comes from the Latin frondescēns, “becoming leafy.” If the frond- part of the word looks familiar, that’s probably because the English frond means “an often large, finely divided leaf,” from the Latin frond meaning “branch.” effloresce Yet another -esce verb on this list is effloresce, “to burst into bloom, blossom.” In chemistry, however, the verb has a specific meaning to describe a surface becoming covered in a “mealy or powdery substance upon exposure to air” or “covered with crystals of salt.” You can imagine it looks like crystals “blooming” on the surface of a substance. juvenescence The word is a noun meaning “youth or immaturity” or “the act or process of growing from childhood to youth.” The juven- part of the word comes from the Latin for “young.” This is ultimately the same Latin root we see in the more familiar juvenile, meaning “young” or “youthful.” renascent In the spring, it seems as if everything is renascent after the long, cold winter. Renascent means “being reborn; springing again into being or vigor.” The Latin root of this word can also be seen in the word Renaissance, a term given to the “great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century,” a time when culture was being reborn after the medieval ages. incalescent One of the most pleasant aspects of spring is that the weather is incalescent, or “increasing in heat or ardor.” While this term can be used literally to describe something becoming warm, it is also used to describe a growing romance or love, when things are “heating up.” provenience The spring is a time when new things begin. In other words, it is the provenience of many creatures. Provenience means “origin; source.” The word provenience is primarily used in archaeology to describe the spot where an object is found or originated, to differentiate from provenance, which describes the chain of ownership of an object. risorgimento A term similar to renascent is risorgimento [ ri-zawr-juh–men-toh ], “any period or instance of rebirth or renewed activity.” When capitalized, it refers to a specific period of Italian history during “the period of or movement for the liberation and unification of Italy, 1750–1870.” As you may have guessed, the word risorgimento comes from Italian for “to rise again.” pullulate Pullulate is a verb with a variety of meanings, including “to send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sprout” and “to exist abundantly; swarm; teem.” In the spring, plants and animals pullulate. The verb pullulate comes from the Latin pullulāre, meaning “to sprout, bring forth young.” Specifically, a pullus in Latin means “chicken,” which is ultimately the root of the French word for chicken, poulet. fecundate A verb related to pullulate is fecundate, “to make prolific or fruitful.” The word fecund and its verb form fecundate is ultimately related to root fētus, “bringing forth of young.” If that word looks familiar, that’s because it’s at the root of the English fetus, “the young of an animal in the womb or egg.” It’s all about the birth of new life. erumpent One of the first signs of spring is when the crocuses grow erumpent from the cold, hard earth. Erumpent is an adjective that means “bursting forth.” It is also used particularly to describe fungi or algae “projecting from or bursting through host tissue.” The way that mushrooms pop up on the bark of decomposing trees is a good visualization of the meaning of erumpent. burgeon Another word that describes the proliferation of new growth that occurs in the spring is burgeon, “to grow or develop quickly; flourish.” Burgeon is generally used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun to mean “a bud; sprout.” The origin of burgeon is pretty interesting; it ultimately comes from the Latin burra meaning “wool, fluff,” likely a reference to the down covering certain buds in spring. redolent With all of the new flowers blossoming, trees leafing, and the rain making the world smell of wet dirt, one good word to describe spring is redolent, “having a pleasant odor; fragrant.” This is an adjective that is also used figuratively to mean “suggestive; reminiscent [of].” For example, Her poems are redolent of Keats’s sonnets, or they make one think of Keats’s sonnets. hyetal Speaking of the general dampness of spring, one good word to describe this weather is hyetal [ hahy-i-tl ], “of or relating to rain or rainfall.” Unlike the majority of the words on this list which have Latin roots, hyetal comes from the Greek hyetós, which means “rain.” This is why the study of rainfall is technically known as hyetography or hyetology. salubrious When the gray clouds of winter lift and a crisp spring breeze blows in, the weather feels especially salubrious, “favorable to or promoting health; healthful.” There’s nothing like a little fresh air to perk you up. Salubrious comes from the Latin salūbris, meaning “promoting health.” The word salutary comes from a similar root, and it means “favorable to or promoting health; healthful.” Chelidonian One way to describe a spring breeze is Chelidonian, which is what the ancient Greeks called it. The name comes from the Greek for swallow, because the appearance of the spring wind augured their appearance. It was believed that the swallows flew from Africa to Europe on the Chelidonian winds. bucolic Another term from Greek we can use to describe the spring is bucolic, which literally means “of or relating to shepherds; pastoral.” However, it is typically used figuratively to describe any pleasant natural or country scene. Historically, a bucolic was a specific kind of “pastoral poem” that describes the peacefulness or beauty of rural life. vivify You may feel particularly vivified in the spring months. Vivify is a verb that means “to give life to; animate; quicken.” The root of vivify is the Late Latin vīvificāre, which roughly translates to “to make live.” Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JxhVsjcrpg บทสนทนาเช็คอินที่โรงแรม (คลิกอ่านเพิ่มเติม เพื่ออ่านบทสนทนาภาษาอังกฤษและไทย และคำศัพท์น่ารู้) แบบทดสอบการฟังภาษาอังกฤษ จากบทสนทนาเช็คอินที่โรงแรม มีคำถาม 5 ข้อหลังฟังเสร็จ เพื่อทดสอบการฟังภาษาอังกฤษของคุณ มาทดสอบความรู้ของเราและพัฒนาทักษะไปด้วยกันเถอะ! คุณพร้อมไหม? มาเริ่มกันเลย! #บทสนทนาภาษาอังกฤษ #ฝึกฟังภาษาอังกฤษ #โรงแรม The conversations from the clip : Anna: Good evening! We have a reservation for tonight. Receptionist: Good evening! Welcome. Could I have your names, please? Mark: Sure. My name is Mark, and this is Anna. Receptionist: Thank you. Let me check... Ah, I see your reservation here for a standard double room for two nights. Anna: Yes, that's correct. Receptionist: May I see your ID or passport for registration? Mark: Of course. Here are both of our passports. Receptionist: Thank you very much. How would you like to pay – by credit card or cash? Anna: We’ll pay by credit card, please. Receptionist: All right. Just one moment... Here’s your keycard for Room 310. Mark: Thank you! By the way, is breakfast included? Receptionist: Yes, it is. Breakfast is served from 7 AM to 10 AM in the dining area. Anna: Wonderful. Does the hotel have Wi-Fi, and is it free? Receptionist: Yes, Wi-Fi is complimentary. The network name and password are printed on the keycard holder. Mark: Perfect. And does the hotel have a pool? Receptionist: Yes, our pool is on the rooftop, and it’s open from 8 AM to 8 PM. Mark: Great! One last question: Is there a late check-out option? Receptionist: Yes, you can check out as late as 2 PM for an additional fee. Anna: Perfect. Thanks for all the help! Receptionist: My pleasure! Enjoy your stay. นักท่องเที่ยว 1 (แอนนา): สวัสดีค่ะ! เรามีการจองสำหรับคืนนี้ค่ะ พนักงานต้อนรับ: สวัสดีครับ! ยินดีต้อนรับครับ ขอทราบชื่อของคุณด้วยครับ นักท่องเที่ยว 2 (มาร์ค): ได้เลยครับ ผมชื่อมาร์ค และนี่คือแอนนาครับ พนักงานต้อนรับ: ขอบคุณมากครับ ให้ผมตรวจสอบก่อนนะครับ... อ๋อ ผมเจอการจองของคุณแล้วครับ เป็นห้องพักแบบดับเบิลมาตรฐานสำหรับสองคืน แอนนา: ใช่ค่ะ ถูกต้องเลย พนักงานต้อนรับ: ขอเอกสารบัตรประชาชนหรือพาสปอร์ตสำหรับลงทะเบียนด้วยครับ มาร์ค: ได้เลยครับ นี่คือพาสปอร์ตของเราสองคนครับ พนักงานต้อนรับ: ขอบคุณมากครับ คุณต้องการชำระเงินด้วยบัตรเครดิตหรือเงินสดครับ แอนนา: เราจะชำระด้วยบัตรเครดิตค่ะ พนักงานต้อนรับ: ได้เลยครับ สักครู่นะครับ... นี่ครับ กุญแจห้องของคุณ ห้อง 310 มาร์ค: ขอบคุณครับ! เอ่อ ขอถามหน่อยครับ อาหารเช้ารวมอยู่ในที่พักไหมครับ พนักงานต้อนรับ: รวมครับ อาหารเช้าจะเสิร์ฟตั้งแต่ 7 โมงเช้าถึง 10 โมงเช้าที่บริเวณห้องอาหารครับ แอนนา: เยี่ยมเลยค่ะ โรงแรมมี Wi-Fi ให้บริการไหมคะ และฟรีหรือเปล่า? พนักงานต้อนรับ: มีครับ Wi-Fi ให้บริการฟรี ชื่อเครือข่ายและรหัสผ่านจะพิมพ์อยู่ที่ซองใส่คีย์การ์ดครับ มาร์ค: สมบูรณ์แบบเลยครับ แล้วโรงแรมมีสระว่ายน้ำไหมครับ พนักงานต้อนรับ: มีครับ สระว่ายน้ำอยู่ที่ชั้นดาดฟ้า เปิดให้บริการตั้งแต่ 8 โมงเช้าถึง 2 ทุ่มครับ มาร์ค: เยี่ยมมากครับ! อีกคำถามหนึ่ง มีบริการเช็กเอาต์ล่าช้าไหมครับ? พนักงานต้อนรับ: มีครับ คุณสามารถเช็กเอาต์ได้ถึงบ่ายสอง โดยมีค่าใช้จ่ายเพิ่มเติมครับ แอนนา: เยี่ยมไปเลยค่ะ ขอบคุณสำหรับความช่วยเหลือนะคะ พนักงานต้อนรับ: ยินดีอย่างยิ่งครับ ขอให้คุณมีความสุขกับการเข้าพักนะครับ Vocabulary (คำศัพท์น่ารู้) Reservation (เรซ-เซอร์-เว-ชั่น) n. แปลว่า การจอง Receptionist (รี-เซพ-ชั่น-นิสท์) n. แปลว่า พนักงานต้อนรับ Standard (สแตน-เดิร์ด) adj. แปลว่า มาตรฐาน Double room (ดับ-เบิล รูม) n. แปลว่า ห้องพักสำหรับสองคน ID (ไอ-ดี) n. แปลว่า บัตรประจำตัว Passport (พาส-พอร์ท) n. แปลว่า หนังสือเดินทาง Registration (เรจ-จิส-เทร-ชั่น) n. แปลว่า การลงทะเบียน Complimentary (คอม-พลิ-เมน-ทา-รี) adj. แปลว่า ไม่มีค่าใช้จ่าย Keycard (คีย์-การ์ด) n. แปลว่า บัตรกุญแจ Dining area (ได-นิ่ง แอ-เรีย) n. แปลว่า พื้นที่รับประทานอาหาร Rooftop (รูฟ-ท็อป) n. แปลว่า ดาดฟ้า Included (อิน-คลูด-เด็ด) adj. แปลว่า รวมอยู่ด้วย Fee (ฟี) n. แปลว่า ค่าธรรมเนียม Check-out (เช็ค-เอาท์) v. แปลว่า เช็กเอาต์/ออกจากโรงแรม Complimentary Wi-Fi (คอม-พลิ-เมน-ทา-รี ไว-ไฟ) n. แปลว่า ไวไฟฟรี

🇺🇦🇷🇺 ประธานาธิบดีเซเลนสกีของยูเครนขู่รัสเซีย หลังได้รับอนุมัติจากสหรัฐฯให้โจมตีดินแดนของรัสเซีย “การโจมตีไม่ได้เกิดขึ้นด้วยคำพูด; และไม่ได้ประกาศให้ทุกคนทราบ ขีปนาวุธจะพูดแทนตัวเองได้—แน่นอนว่ามันจะพูดแทน” . JUST IN: 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukrainian President Zelensky threatens Russia after receiving US authorization to strike Russian territory. "Strikes are not carried out with words; such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves—they certainly will." . 5:31 AM · Nov 18, 2024 · 307.2K Views https://x.com/BRICSinfo/status/1858276895961358763

Prepare For The Lavish World Of Bridgerton With Regency Period Words This spring may be a bit steamier than usual, thanks to the return of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton. This Regency romance with a modern twist took audiences by storm last year with its unpredictable plot, historical setting, and very attractive cast of characters. If you watched the first season last year or you’re catching up now, you may find yourself wondering what some of the historical language in the show actually means. Bridgerton, like a lot of period dramas, is not 100% historically accurate, but the language, costumes, and customs on display do have real roots in the past. Here are 16 words you need to know to get ready for season two and become fluent in the language of Bridgerton. viscount You’ve likely heard of a count, but after catching up on Bridgerton, you may be wondering: what in the world is a viscount? We’ve got your back. A viscount is “a nobleman next below an earl or count and next above a baron.” It’s a hereditary title that was first recorded in English in the mid to late 1300s within a peerage or nobility system. You could think of it as a “vice count,” since it’s believed to have come from the equivalent in Old French, visconte. rake In the world of Regency romance, a rake is not a gardening tool. It’s an insult dating back to the 1600s that means “a dissolute or immoral person, especially a man who indulges in vices or lacks sexual restraint.” It comes from rakehell, an alteration of the Middle English rakel, meaning “rash, rough, coarse, hasty.” Rakes are the “bad boys” of the Bridgerton era. Of course, on TV, that may be a part of their appeal. promenade In 2022, you might make a relationship Instagram official. In the 1800s, you were likely to promenade. Promenade is a verb that means “to conduct or display in or as if in a promenade; parade.” This might mean taking a public walk with the object of your affection to make your courtship known, as Daphne and the Duke of Hastings do in season one. Fun fact: the word prom comes directly from promenade. duke You’ve likely heard the title of duke, but what do they actually do? A duke, in historical British society, is “a nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family, ranking immediately below a prince and above a marquis.” Dukes hold the highest social rank in British peerage, with the female equivalent being a duchess. This term, which dates back to the 1100s, comes from the Medieval Latin dux, or “hereditary ruler of a small state.” countenance Countenance sounds like another fancy title, but it actually refers to “appearance, especially the look or expression of the face.” For example: The duke could scarcely hide his intrigue behind his serene countenance. Historically, countenance is related to control and the idea of keeping one’s cool, especially in polite society. Though it refers more generally to one’s facial expression today, countenance comes from the Old French contenance, or “behavior, bearing.” The Old French noun comes from the Latin noun continentia “self-control, restraint.” coming out In the 19th century, coming out meant something different than it does today. It was customary for young women at the time to come out, or have “a debut into society, especially a formal debut by a debutante.” This typically involved a special ball or series or balls and parties. Essentially, this debut was a signal to the community that the woman was ready for courtship and marriage. ton When you hear talk of “the ton” on Bridgerton, they aren’t mispronouncing the word town. Ton means “fashionable society,” particularly high class society during the Regency era. The word comes from le bon ton, a French phrase meaning “good or elegant form or style.” Members of the ton were generally upper class, wealthy, and respected. Regency Bridgerton is an example of a regency romance, a genre of historical romance set during the Regency era. Regency, in this sense, means “characteristic of or relating to the Regency periods in France or the United Kingdom or to the styles of architecture, furniture, art, literature, etc, produced in them.” This time period is generally believed to fall between 1811–1820. season The season is a big deal to the fictional characters in Bridgerton, but they aren’t necessarily referring to winter, spring, summer, or fall. More likely, they are referring to the social season, or “a period of fashionable social events in a particular place.” The season was a time for coming out, social events, and marriages. It’s thought to have taken place from early spring until around Christmas time. sire Today, sire is a respectful, if a little old-fashioned, form of address. But when the word is used in Bridgerton, it’s more likely meant in the archaic sense: “to beget; procreate as the father.” Men at this time were expected to “sire an heir” to secure their lineage and place in high society. modiste Any lady fit for a Bridgerton-style ball must have a modiste on hand. That’s an older term for “a female maker of or dealer in women’s fashionable attire.” As you may have guessed, English speakers borrowed the word modiste from French. In the Regency era, a modiste could not only make clothes, but also advise women on what was fashionable and appropriate for various events. courses Even Regency-era women had to worry about Aunt Flo crashing the party. Courses is an older, fancier way of saying “menses,” or a period. In the Bridgerton time period, the presence or absence of someone’s period was essentially the only way of determining whether or not she could bear children or was pregnant, so much is made of courses by the women on the show. high in the instep If you wanted to drop a sick burn on someone in the 1800s, you might say they were high in the instep. The instep is “the arched upper surface of the human foot between the toes and the ankle,” and accusing someone of being high in the instep was a way of saying they’re conceited, arrogant, or haughty. virtue In modern times, we think of virtue as personal morals or values. Historically, the term was mostly about sex. Virtue meant “chastity; virginity”, especially in reference to women and girls. It was considered of the utmost importance for a woman to “keep her virtue” until marriage. The word entered English in the late 1100s, and it can be traced to the Latin virtūs, or “manliness.” trousseau Bridgerton is part romance and part historical fashion education. A trousseau is “an outfit of clothing, household linen, etc., for a bride.” The word comes from Old French trusse, literally “a little bundle.” In some instances, a trousseau may also have included jewelry and other items and been a part of a woman’s dowry. While dowries aren’t a part of modern wedding traditions, some brides still prepare a trousseau of things they intend to wear throughout their wedding festivities. swoon Now that your vocabulary is ready for the next season of Bridgerton, it’s time to let the swooning commence. To swoon means “to enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy.” Whether you have a favorite duke, duchess, viscount, or modiste, chances are you’ll be acting out this term at least a few times when they appear on screen. Keep in mind that swoon comes from the Middle English swonen, or “to faint.” You may want to binge-watch carefully. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Should You Say “Octopuses” Or “Octopi”? It’s the internet’s favorite eight-armed plural debate: octopuses vs. octopi. (And that relative newcomer, octopodes.) Is there a “correct” plural for octopus? And what’s with the -i in octopi? In this article, we’ll wrap our tentacles around these questions, break down the differences between each term, and tell you which terms are acceptable and most commonly used. Quick summary Both octopuses and octopi are acceptable plurals for octopus. Of the two, octopuses is the simpler and more commonly used. The proposed plural octopodes is based on the plural of the Ancient Greek word from which octopus ultimately derives. But it’s rarely used outside of the octopuses vs. octopi debate. Is it octopuses or octopi? Like the octopus itself, the English language is, in many cases, very flexible: both octopuses and octopi are acceptable and commonly used plural forms of octopus (despite what anyone on the internet may say). But why octopi? Well, in Latin, there’s a class of words that end in -us. These words get pluralized by replacing -us with -i. Many English words with strong roots in Latin have retained this pluralization pattern—think alumnus/alumni and stimulus/stimuli. Along with octopus, there are a few cases in which both endings are used, including: platypuses/platypi; cactuses/cacti; syllabuses/syllabi; and thesauruses/thesauri (though, if you ask us, a plural is unnecessary here since you really only need one thesaurus). Still, in all these cases, it’s more common to pluralize with a plain old -es. If you’re looking for a tie-breaker, consider this: scientists who study these creatures seem to prefer the plural octopuses (though of course the preference is not universal). What about octopodes? Some people object to the plural -i ending in octopi because octopus actually derives from the Latinized form of the Greek word oktṓpous (meaning “eight-foot”). The plural of this word would be oktṓpodes. Based on this, some have proposed the plural octopodes. Reverse-engineering a word’s plural to match its language of origin is a strange way to go about using language (especially when there are two perfectly good plurals right there), so octopodes is not commonly used. Still, some people like to use it (especially to spice up the octopuses vs. octopi debate). P.S. Don’t confuse octopodes with the word octopods, which refers to the eight-armed cephalopod mollusks of the order or suborder Octopoda, including octopuses and paper nautiluses. P.P.S. (Platypus Postscript) Platypus has an origin similar to octopus (from the Greek platýpous, meaning “flat-footed”), so the equivalent hypothetical plural would be platypodes. But we don’t see platypodes happening anytime soon. Do you know the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Examples of octopuses and octopi used in a sentence You have encountered more than one octopus and you want to know how to describe your situation. Check out these example sentences, in which we show how octopuses and octopi are always interchangeable. - Octopuses/octopi are often solitary. - We saw not one but two octopuses/octopi during our dive today! - Different types of octopuses/octopi can vary greatly in size. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

5 Types Of Character Traits To Help You Create Your Complex Characters Characters are arguably the most important part of any fictional work. Whether in a book, television show, or movie, characters are the ones audiences identify with and the vehicles for telling the entire story. But how do you go about creating characters that people will love, fear, want to know more about, and find utterly unforgettable? It all begins with a character’s traits. Character traits are the essential building blocks of every character in a story, and choosing the right traits can help establish unique identities that will engage your audience from start to finish. Here’s what you need to know about writing great characters, the unique words you need to describe those characters, and how to get started on creating your own complex characters from scratch. What are character traits? When you meet a new person, you often learn about them by observing their traits. A trait is “a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one’s personal nature.” The characters in stories have traits as well. A character trait is a literary term for adjectives and descriptions that writers use to add personality and depth to characters. In fictional stories, character traits serve a number of purposes, including: - Helping readers connect and identify with a character. - Providing insight into a character’s motivations. - Making it easier to differentiate between two characters. - Solidifying a character’s role, such as villain or hero, in the story. - Adding complexity to each character. Character traits may be internal or external. External traits are things another person might notice, like how someone looks, their particular accent when speaking, or how they carry themselves. Internal traits have more to do with what’s going on inside a character’s mind. They are the emotional elements, private thoughts, and actions that make up a character’s personality. The many different kinds of character traits When it comes to deciding on traits for your own characters, there are no rules. Just like no two people on earth are exactly alike, no two characters in a story will ever be exactly alike. Let’s check out some words you might use when describing your own characters’ one-of-a-kind traits. Personality charming stoic approachable reclusive ambitious impulsive demanding poised distrustful even-tempered Physical attributes lanky energetic petite elegant curvaceous rugged stately graceful fumbling brawny Beliefs and morals philosophical judicious greedy pious deceptive spiritual altruistic haughty stingy revolutionary Classic hero traits courageous adventurous honorable sincere visionary persistent humble reliable honest noble Classic villain traits envious demonic unscrupulous furtive mischievous deceitful brutal powerful wounded resourceful Building characters Now that you’re armed with a great character vocabulary, let’s learn a little more about how to build characters. Option one: Start with the character One method of character building is to begin with an idea of your character’s role or defining trait and build from there. For example: a queen. Ask yourself questions about your character’s motivations and the way others see them. - What does the queen look like? - How did the queen ascend to power? - Do people like this character? Why or why not? - What is someone’s first impression of this character? - What is this character afraid of? - What does this character want more than anything? As you answer questions about your character, their physical appearance, beliefs, personality and motivations will begin to emerge. The next step is to write them into a scene and see how these qualities impact their actions and interactions. Option two: Start with traits On the writing podcast Death of 1000 Cuts, author Tim Clare frequently uses timers and lists to flesh out ideas for everything from characters to story locations to plot points. The idea is to let the creative flow and avoid overthinking things. Try setting a timer for 10 minutes and making a list of interesting traits a character might possess. These might include physical attributes, personality quirks, preferences, and strengths and weaknesses, like: smart anxious curly hair wears a lot of purple loves video games hates chocolate lives in outer space holds grudges ambitious Once time has lapsed, look at your list and start to dig into the traits you wrote down. Circle 8–10 character traits and begin to flesh them out. How do these traits work together? How did your character come to possess these traits? As you begin to write your characters into scenes, their traits will solidify and you will get to know them better. Before you know it, they will feel real, and the traits you spent time cultivating will help drive the rest of your story. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Pun, Pangrams, Palindromes, And More: Discover Types Of Word Play Words are powerful, and a masterful use of words can change the world. At the same time, words have a fun side to them too. While the English language often seems to exist purely to confuse us, English also has a silly side that can make us laugh and smile. Are you skeptical? Well, we have dug deep into the English toy box to find a bunch of different ways we can play with words. Fair warning: those that have a low tolerance for dad jokes will want to leave immediately. Puns By definition, a pun is a humorous use of a word with multiple meanings or a funny use of a word as a substitute for a similar sounding word. The related terms punning, play on words, and paronomasia are often used to refer to the act of making puns. The term double entendre refers to a type of wordplay that also uses words with multiple meanings, albeit usually in a more risqué manner than a whimsical pun. Examples of puns Puns that involve words with multiple meanings: The young monkeys went to the jungle gym for some exercise. The investor in the bakery demanded a larger piece of the pie. The art competition ended in a draw. The maestro turned away from the orchestra as they told him the bad news; he couldn’t face the music. Puns that involve similar sounding words: - She claimed the big cat was a tiger, but we knew she was lion. - When he asked me what the flowers should smell like, I told him to use common scents. - As it turned out, the runners themselves had rigged the race. It was an inside jog. - The negotiations over the birds went poorly; neither side would give a finch. Tom Swifty A Tom Swifty is a fun use of words that follows a quote, usually said by a fictional Tom, using a punny adverb. The term Tom Swifty was coined by writer Willard Espy and named after the Tom Swift series of books, which tended to use a lot of adverbs to describe dialogue. Examples of Tom Swifties “I have frostbite,” Tom said coldly. “I’m stocked on all the essentials,” Jess said needlessly. “We feel really bad about what we did,” the children said shamefully. Stinky Pinky Stinky pinky, also known as stinky pinkie and by many other names, is a word game in which players try to guess a rhyming phrase based on a definition. The phrase “stinky pinky” itself is a possible answer when playing the game. It is unknown who invented the game or named it, but word games with the name “stinky pinky” can be traced back to at least the 1940s. Stinky Pinky examples Clue: “Stone timepiece” Answer: Rock clock. Clue: “Road pork” Answer: Street meat. Clue: “A young cat’s gloves” Answer: Kitten’s mittens. Spoonerisms A spoonerism is a, usually accidental, swapping of initial sounds of two words. The term spoonerism is named for Oxford lecturer William Archibald Spooner, a notoriously nervous speaker who often swapped the beginnings of words when he spoke publicly. Spoonerism examples - It is tinner dime. (“dinner time”) - He used to work on a bail soat. (“sail boat”) - Happy dogs love to tag their wails. (“wag their tails”) Kennings A kenning is a metaphorical or poetic phrase that is conventionally used in place of another term. Kenning examples gumshoe = a detective pencil pusher = an office worker tree-hugger = an environmentalist Pig Latin Pig Latin is a form of language, usually used by children, in which the first consonant or consonant sound is placed at the end of a word followed by the sound ā (written as “ay”). Example: Ancay ouyay eakspay igpay atinlay? (“Can you speak pig Latin?”) Palindromes A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same if read forward or backward. Palindrome examples Single words: madam eve noon Multiple words: dog god ward draw live evil Sentences: A man, a plan, a canal. Panama! Madam, I’m Adam! Was it a cat I saw? Anagrams An anagram is a word, phrase, or sentence formed by rearranging the letters of another. Anagram examples porter is an anagram of report attics is an anagram of static pub toss is an anagram of bus stop Antigrams An antigram is an anagram that means the opposite of the original word or phrase it was formed from. Examples on the sly is an antigram of honestly arise late is an antigram of earliest over fifty is an antigram of forty-five Pangrams A pangram is a phrase or sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog is a famous example of a pangram. Some other fun examples of things that rely on alphabet-based challenges include lipograms, heterograms, tautograms, autograms, and kangaroo words. Ambigrams An ambigram is a word or visual design that reads the same or creates a new word or image when flipped upside down or reversed. For example, the word dollop is an example of an ambigram because it would still theoretically read as “dollop” even when turned upside down. Acrostics An acrostic is a set of lines or verses where certain letters spell out a hidden message. Example: Curious Agile Territorial Smart Backronyms A backronym is an existing word turned into an acronym by creating an appropriate phrase that it could serve as an acronym for. Examples Ghost is a backronym of “ghoul haunting our spooky town.” Car is a backronym of “carrying all riders.” Alligator is a backronym of “a large lizard is grinning at the other reptiles.” Rhyming, alliteration, assonance, and consonance These four words all have to do with using words that have similar sounds. Most people are familiar with rhyming, which typically refers to using words with similar-sounding endings as in The big pig ate a fig. The word alliteration means to use words with similar-sounding beginnings or words that start with the same letter. Assonance means to use similar-sounding vowels anywhere in words when rhyming, whereas consonance means to use similar-sounding consonant sounds anywhere in words when making a rhyme. Alliteration examples She sells seashells by the sea shore. Big bunnies bounded behind busy birds. Ten tenants took twenty tents to Thailand. Assonance examples We see these bees. Leave the cleaver for the skeevy beaver. Doodle the Cool Poodle wants oodles of noodle strudel. Consonance examples Look! The crook took cook books! Ross, toss the sauce to our boss Joss. We heard the third nerdy bird’s words. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

The Wait Is Over! Learn If You Should Use “‘Til” or “Till” If you feel like until has just too many letters or syllables, good news: you’ve got options. But should you use ’til or till? And what’s the difference, anyway? By the end of this article, you’ll know the differences between until, till, and ’til, including in terms of origin, level of formality, and use. Quick summary Until, till, and ’til all mean the same thing. The informal contraction ’til is a shortening of until that’s typically only used in informal contexts. The word till is a separate word altogether—it’s actually older than until. Till isn’t informal, but it can seem that way due to the informality of ’til, which sounds exactly the same. ’til vs. till The word ’til is a shortening of until that, like many contractions, is typically reserved for informal contexts. It’s sometimes spelled without the apostrophe, especially in casual use. (Technically speaking, ’til is an example of the linguistic process known as aphesis, which involves the disappearance or loss of an unstressed initial vowel or syllable.) Till is sometimes seen as a misspelling of ’til, but that’s not the case. It’s actually a separate word altogether with a variety of meanings, one of which means the same exact thing as ’til. till or until Till and until are completely interchangeable—they mean the same exact thing and can be used in all the same ways, including as a conjunction or preposition. They both have a very long history of use in English, but in fact till is even older than until: the first records of till come from before 900, with the first records of until coming in the 1100s. (Until and till are based on the same root.) Even though they’re interchangeable, till may seem more informal than until to some people because it’s so similar to the shortening ’til. For this reason, some people avoid using till in formal contexts. Still, you can never really go wrong using till. The occasional rendering of ’till with an apostrophe (certainly influenced by ’til) is generally considered a misspelling—and frankly unnecessary, since till is right there to use. Examples of ’til, till, and until used in a sentence Until, till, and ’til are interchangeable in meaning, but people often choose which one they use based on how formal they want to be. This means that ’til is typically being avoided in formal contexts, which sometimes leads to the avoidance of till as well. Still, in any of the examples below, any one of the terms could be used if formality were not a consideration. - I thought it was a great offer until I realized there are no benefits attached. - I stay up till midnight every so often, but rarely any later. - The sign says “Open ’til midnight,” so we’ve still got time. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Disc” vs. “Disk”: Get Around The Different Uses For Each One The question of whether to use disc or disk can be a bit circular: in some cases, one is definitely preferred, but in many cases their use overlaps—meaning they’re often interchangeable. This is because both words typically refer to something round and flat (though not always, as we’ll see). The difference, when there is one, usually just depends on what the established preference is. The discrepancies can be disconcerting, but we hope this discussion will help you discard any confusion or discontent. Quick summary Disc and disk can be and are used interchangeably in many contexts, though disk may be slightly more common. The D in CD and DJ (usually) stands for disc, which is the spelling also used in disc golf. The spelling disk is usually used in the context of computer storage in terms like disk drive, floppy disk, and hard disk. It’s also usually used when referring to intervertebral disks—the ones in the spine. Should I use disc or disk? In most cases, disc and disk can be—and are—used interchangeably. In general, the word disk was once much more commonly used, but the two words now have a relatively similar level of use. This all means that there’s really no good rule to remember when to spell it one way or the other. Instead, here’s a handy list showing which spelling is more commonly used in a specific term or a particular context. disc golf The various types of flat, plastic circles that are thrown in various games (including disc golf) can all be called discs. The type of flying disc used for a casual toss—and in the sport known as Ultimate—is popularly known by the brand name Frisbee. compact disc, disc jockey In the context of music, the D in CD and DJ most often stands for disc—though you may see disk used in some cases. And, technically speaking, a musical compact disc can be considered a type of compact disk, the broader name for any 4.75-in (12-cm) optical disk (which, yes, can also be called an optical disc). disk drive, disk space, hard disk, magnetic disk, floppy disk In the context of computer data storage, the spelling is usually disk. Anyone just now discovering what a floppy disk is might be wondering why it’s called a disk when it’s square rather than round, but it’s because the actual disk inside the plastic shell is actually round. You can remember to use the spelling with a k in this context because floppy disks are sometimes called diskettes (not “discettes”). slipped disk, herniated disk The pads between the spinal vertebrae are usually called disks or intervertebral disks. flat, circular objects In general, any thin, flat, circular plate or object—or one that at least appears to be round and flat—can be referred to as a disk or a disc. While the spelling disc is very common in general, the spelling disk is probably even more common, especially in several specific contexts. astronomy Surfaces of heavenly bodies appear flat during regular observation, and for this reason they are often referred to as disks, as in the disk of the moon and the solar disk. biology Roundish, flat structures in a body can be called disks, as in blood disk (also called a platelet) and germinal disk (also called a blastodisk). geometry The domain bounded by a circle can be called the disk. plants and flowers The central portion of the flowerhead is called the disk. Examples of disc and disk used in a sentence That was a lot of info! Let’s see some examples of these senses in use. - The mysterious disc in the video—purported to be an extraterrestrial craft—turned out to be a Frisbee. - Growing up, I always wanted to be a radio disc jockey, but that’s only because podcasters didn’t exist yet. - The telescope is set up to observe the disk of the moon. - I want to copy the contents of the floppy disk to the hard disk—is that possible? - How much disk space is available? - She’s been out of work with a herniated disk. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Ingress” vs. “Egress”: Do You Know The Difference? Ingress and egress look and sound like they’re opposites, and they are. They’re primarily used in the context of entrances and exits, especially in architecture and other fields related to planning how people get in and out of places. You can probably guess from the in in ingress that it generally means “the act of going in” or refers to an entryway. But there’s a lot more to know about these words and how exactly they’re used—including in astronomy and in terms like egress window. Join us as we get into the ins and outs of ingress and egress. Quick summary Ingress can refer to both the act of entering or to an entryway (an entrance) itself. Egress refers to both the act of exiting or to an exit itself. In astronomy, they’re used in a more specific way relating to heavenly bodies (like planets) entering into or emerging from an eclipse. What does ingress mean? Ingress means “the act of entering,” “the right of entering,” or “the means of entering.” The last sense is typically the one used in relation to architecture and related fields. A point of ingress in a building is an entryway. It’s a concise way of referring to a place where people can enter that avoids using a more specific term, like door (since points of ingress might not all technically be doors). The word isn’t always used in relation to buildings—it could be applied to parking lots, for example, which often have multiple points of ingress for vehicles to enter. In astronomy, ingress is another word for immersion, the entrance of a heavenly body (such as a planet or a moon) into an eclipse caused by another heavenly body (like when the moon moves into Earth’s shadow) or into another instance of their paths crossing in some way (such as an occultation or a transit). What does egress mean? Egress means “the act of going out,” “the right to go out,” or “the means of going out.” The last sense is the one used in relation to architecture and related fields. For example, a fire safety code often requires a building to have multiple points of egress—places for people to exit, such as doors and fire escapes. A parking lot might have some one-way access points devoted to ingress and others devoted to egress. In astronomy, egress is another word for emersion, the emergence or exit of a heavenly body from an eclipse, occultation, or transit—that is, when it comes back into view. What is an egress window? An egress window is a window or skylight that can serve as an exit in an emergency. They’re not intended to be regular means of access—they’re typically much smaller than doors, just big enough for a person to crawl through in case of something like a fire or a building collapse. You’ll especially see the term used in building codes and plans. Where do ingress and egress come from? The -gress part in both words ultimately comes from the Latin gradī, meaning “to go, step, walk”; this verb is also the origin of the word grade. The prefix in- means, yep, “in,” and the prefix e- is a variant of ex-, which means “out” and is also used to form the word exit. What is the difference between ingress and egress? The difference between ingress and egress might seem obvious: ingress refers to an entrance, and egress refers to an exit. And generally that’s true. Of course, it’s very common for many access points to be used for both ingress and egress—you come in the same door you go out. But in architecture and site planning, it’s often important to differentiate the two for many different reasons, such as accessibility, safety, and proper traffic flow. Even though the words are used in more specific ways in astronomy, the basic idea is the same: ingress involves entering, and egress involves emerging or exiting. Remember: ingress goes in and egress exits. Examples of ingress and egress used in a sentence Take a look at some example sentences to help you remember the difference between ingress and egress. - The room has two points of egress, but only one point of ingress—one door is an emergency door that only opens outward. - The developer plans to add another ingress point for the proposed neighborhood so that residents can enter from the south end. - The investigation revealed that a broken door prevented egress. - You’ll have to add an egress window to get the basement up to code. - The moon began egress, exiting Earth’s shadow. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Disaster” Synonyms For When Things Don’t Go As Planned Most of the time, we like to keep things positive around here and provide you with plenty of inspiring, motivational words to brighten up your day. This … this is not that list. Are you done setting intentions? Are you through repeating mantras into the mirror? Do you just need a perfectly wretched word to capture what’s not working right now? Then this is the list for you. We’ve traveled through hell and goat rodeos to bring you the words that will describe the snafus and fiascos of your life or the world around you. If your desperate times call for desperate words, here are 20 provocative synonyms for the word disaster and some example sentences to inspire use. apocalypse We begin our list with a disaster of Biblical proportions. The word apocalypse originally comes from the Greek apokálypsis, meaning “revelation.” Since at least the 1100s, the word apocalypse has been used to refer to the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible, which tells how the world will be nearly destroyed when good finally defeats evil. Today, the word apocalypse is often used generally (and ominously) to refer to a doomsday-level scenario. Example: You’d think, by the mess in the kitchen, that we were witnessing a true apocalypse. bloodbath The word bloodbath is often used to describe violent slaughters or massacres. The word creates the mental image of a carnage so intense that someone could take a bath in the spilled blood. Figuratively, though, bloodbath is used to describe disastrous events or severe instances of bad fortune. While this word came to English in the 1800s, a similar term, blodbad (literally “bath in blood”), was recorded in the 1500s in Swedish. Example: If our star player can’t play, the opening game is going to be a bloodbath. cataclysm Cataclysm is a word so disastrous that it rocks the entire Earth to its core. The word cataclysm means “a violent upheaval” and is used in geography to refer to violent events that manage to alter the surface of Earth. This is the word you need if you want to literally or figuratively describe something as earth-shaking. Example: Barring an unforeseen cataclysm, this family is finally going on vacation this summer. fiasco The word fiasco means “a complete and ignominious failure” and has a bit of a strange history. Fiasco is an Italian word that literally translates to “bottle,” and it is related to the word flask. The English meaning of “failure” comes from the Italian idiom fare fiasco which means “to fail” (though it literally translates to “make a bottle”). Example: My spouse somehow managed to salvage the dessert fiasco I haphazardly concocted. bouleversement We go from a strange Italian word to an even stranger (or at least longer) French one. The word bouleversement means “an overturning” or “turmoil.” This is the one you want if you really need to bring out the twenty-dollar word. Example: The rebel leader said that the country would emerge from the bouleversement stronger than it had ever been. calamity Get the tissues ready, because our next word is calamity. Calamity is a synonym of disaster, but it indicates that a horrific event specifically caused misery and lots of tears—so, like a dentist appointment? Example: I’ve been beset with calamity after calamity since the pandemic started, and I’m losing it. catastrophe Catastrophe is a synonym that can highlight the destruction and loss brought about by a tremendous event. If nothing is left standing or a disaster will continue to cause pain and suffering for the foreseeable future, we might label it a catastrophe. Example: Did you see the bathroom after the pipe burst? What a catastrophe! pandemonium Things have gone to hell in a hand basket thanks to our next word: pandemonium. Pandemonium refers to a wild state of disorder, noise, and chaos. This disastrous word actually comes from Pandaemonium, the name that John Milton used for the capital of hell in Paradise Lost. Example: The muddy dogs tore through the living room, knocking over two lamps, and pandemonium ensued. debacle The word debacle is one of several that implies a failure was caused by failure or incompetence, especially ones that result from disorganization. Its original meaning in the 1800s, however, referred to a “breaking up of ice in a river” or rush of water “which breaks down opposing barriers, and carries before it blocks of stone and other debris.” That does sound like a mess. Example: With half the students out sick, the class performance devolved into a total debacle. blunder The word blunder is a synonym of the word mistake and is often used to describe an error resulting from severe incompetence or stupidity. Unlike most of the other words on this list, blunder can also be used as a verb (“to make a careless or stupid mistake”). Example: The clumsy waiter spilled wine on the mayor and was later fired for this horrible blunder. epic fail LOL! The slang term epic fail is used to describe particularly humiliating mistakes. Our disastrous list of words has been bad so far, but epic fail might just be the worst of the bunch. Why? Because this is the phrase to use when that embarrassing mistake has been broadcast on social media! (And once that happens, only an especially clever cat meme can save you.) Example: ROFL My brother just fell into the pool! #epicfail meltdown With our next word, our disaster has just gone nuclear. Meltdown is a word used to refer to severe nuclear reactor accidents. It’s figuratively used to describe sudden situations that quickly spiral out of control. Example: The guitarist’s meltdown surprised no one, given tensions have been high between band members. kick in the teeth Ouch! The idiom kick in the teeth refers to a sudden and humiliating setback. Why a kick? In the English language, slang phrases like kick in the head and kick in the pants rely on the image of a kick (instead of punches) to describe particularly humiliating blows. Example: The terrible reviews were a real kick in the teeth for the young Broadway star. goat rodeo Giddyup, cowboys and cowgirls, because it’s time to wrangle some … goats? Goat rodeo is an example of one of several goat-related slang terms for monumental screwups. A relatively new term from the 2000s, it creates a good mental image of a wild rodeo full of screaming goats. You may have heard the term goat-roping (used similarly) and other more obscene versions, but goat rodeo is considered the most extreme of all. We repeat, a goat rodeo is as disastrous as a situation can get. Example: This is no concert. It’s a goat rodeo of drunk performers and technical difficulties! dog’s breakfast This list has really gone to the dogs. The slang term dog’s breakfast, mainly used in Canada and the UK, describes a confused, disorderly mess. The phrase most likely refers to the fact that many dogs will eat pretty much anything you put in front of them. In any case, dog’s breakfast is a fun word to use when everything has gone to “Shih Tzu.” Example: The drive was an absolute dog’s breakfast. We arrived two hours late after being stuck in traffic and getting lost. disarray Disarray describes a situation that is especially chaotic, disorganized, or marred by confusion. Disarray is a word you can use when you’ve got a disorderly mess or a comedy of errors on your hands. Example: Hyped up on cake and sugar, the children left the room in a state of total disarray. turmoil Turmoil is another word to convey that you’re in the midst of great confusion or disorder. Fittingly, we are not actually sure where this verb-turned-noun originates from. Example: Without enough employees to cover the day’s shift, the company was thrown into turmoil. dumpster fire The slang term dumpster fire means something is so disastrously bad it is beyond all hope of saving. Often, the dumpster fire is result of terribly bad decisions or extraordinary levels of incompetence. It’s best to stay the heck away from a dumpster fire because, as its name implies, it is likely to just keep getting worse. Example: The movie was a complete dumpster fire that didn’t get a single positive review. shitshow The not-very-nice word shitshow is used to describe essentially the same situation as a dumpster fire: a mess that is completely unsalvageable. To go the extra mile, shitshow throws in a swear word to capture the magnitude of a truly unbelievable disaster. Example: Last year was a real shitshow but I’m hoping things turn around soon. snafu and fubar It might be time for reinforcements. Snafu and fubar are two abbreviations that can be traced back to military jargon and have some … colorful meanings. Snafu stands for “situation normal: all f–ed up” and fubar stands for “f–ed up beyond all reason.” Now fix the disaster, cadet, and then drop and give us twenty! Example: The trip started with a series of major snafus, like when the luggage arrived in the wrong city. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Fruit” vs. “Vegetable”: Thyme To Explain The Actual Difference Trying to classify what’s a fruit and what’s a vegetable isn’t always cut and dry. In fact, the debate about it can get pretty juicy—seedy, even. This all stems from the fact that some things we eat are technically fruits but are almost always called vegetables (and treated like vegetables, too). Some people make a distinction based on the level of sweetness, but the difference—from the perspective of a botanist, at least—is less a matter of taste and more a matter of which part of the plant you’re eating. This article will get to the root of which foods are fruits, which are vegetables, and which are actually fruits despite always getting placed with the vegetables at the grocery store. You’ll come away with answers to these questions and more: What exactly is the difference between fruits and vegetables? Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Is a potato a vegetable? Are berries fruit? What about nuts? We’ll even include a list of the fruits and vegetables whose categorization status most often pits people against each other, along with their technical classification and what they’re usually considered in culinary use. (Spoilage alert: the fruit and veggie puns are already pretty ripe, but they’re going to get even grosser.) Quick summary Technically speaking, a fruit is a plant’s developed ovary that comes from a flower and contains one or multiple seeds. The term vegetable is much broader—it refers to any part of a plant that’s used for food, including the roots, tubers, stems, and leaves. Many of the foods that we casually call vegetables, like tomatoes, are technically fruits. Still, it’s a technical distinction that’s usually ignored in practical contexts, such as menus or the layout of the produce section. What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable? To a botanist, the word fruit specifically refers to the edible part of a seed plant that develops from a flower into a ripened ovary that contains one or more seeds—fertilized seeds capable of generating a new plant. Fruits come from many different types of plants: apples grow on trees, grapes grow on vines, and blueberries grow on shrubs, for example. The botanical definition of a fruit has nothing to do with whether or not it tastes sweet. The word vegetable tends to make us think of savory (and nonsweet) flavors. But vegetable simply means any part of a plant that is grown primarily for food. This can be the leaves (spinach), the root (carrots), the tuber (potatoes), the flower (broccoli), the stalk (celery), or other parts—including the fruit. Yes, definitionally speaking, fruits are actually just one type of vegetable (because they’re an edible part of a plant). Still, people don’t usually think about their fruits and vegetables in terms of strict, definition-specific distinctions. In everyday, nonscientific contexts, we usually make the distinction between a fruit and a vegetable based on how we eat it and what dishes we put it in, especially according to whether it’s sweet or not. To most of us, fruits are the edible, usually sweet parts of a plant—often ones that are eaten raw, squeezed for juice, or used in desserts. Many things that are technically fruits are commonly treated as vegetables (and even sometimes the other way around). Here are some whose categorizations are among the most ambiguous. Tomato: fruit or vegetable? It’s both. No matter how you slice it, a tomato is technically a fruit (the seed-filled ovary of the plant), but it’s typically treated as (and called) a vegetable. The classification confusion is understandable, given its savory but sweet flavor and the fact that it’s commonly used in savory dishes in the same way that vegetables usually are. Even the Supreme Court has had trouble with putting the fruit in the right category. In 1893, the high court of the US decided a tomato is a vegetable because of the way it’s used in cooking, regardless of the botanical categorization. Just because the scientific definition is clear doesn’t mean the issue is settled. Perhaps the distinction is best summarized by the quote, often attributed to journalist Miles Kington, that “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” But even that notion has been contradicted by countless cooks—search some variation of tomato and watermelon salad recipe and you’ll get millions of hits. Is a cucumber a fruit? The cucumber plant is part of the gourd family. The part that people eat (and turn into pickles) is the fruit of the plant. So while you might not think of a cucumber salad as a kind of fruit salad, cucumbers do fit the technical definition of a fruit. It’s a good reminder that taste and how people commonly prepare a food have little to do with its scientific classification. Is a coconut a fruit? A coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm. It falls into the subcategory of fruits called drupes, which are distinguished by an outer skin, a fleshy middle, and a hard woody shell over a single seed. However, unlike other drupes in which the flesh covering the seed is what’s eaten (like peaches or cherries), the edible part of the coconut is the meat just inside that last interior shell. Is a potato a vegetable? The potato is part of the same family of plants (the nightshade family) as the tomato, the eggplant, and some peppers. But unlike those, it’s classified as a vegetable because the part of the plant that’s eaten is the tuber part of the root, as opposed to the reproductive organ. Many people asking “Is a potato a vegetable?” are really asking if they can count it as one nutritionally, like they do green vegetables. Traditionally, potatoes have been considered a starch, but they’re full of nutrients, including vitamins C, B1, B3, and B6, as well as minerals like iron, potassium, and folate. Is a carrot a fruit? This is an easy one—carrots are definitely vegetables, not fruits. Like potatoes, carrots are a type of root vegetable. The greens of the plant are edible, but carrots are grown for the bright orange (or purple, or white, or yellow) taproot growing underneath. Remember, vegetables can come from all parts of the plant, be it the roots, leaves, stalks, or other parts. Keeping that in mind can be useful when sorting out whether something belongs in the vegetable category or the fruit category. But here’s an easier way—we’ll just tell you. Produce this produce list any time there’s a rhubarb concerning edible plant facts. Are berries fruit? What about nuts? You might be thinking that grains are a surprising inclusion in the fruit category. They aren’t the only fruits that often get left out of the fruit conversation, either. Nuts, berries, and pods (such as peas) are also technically fruits. A berry is a small fruit that usually has small seeds embedded, as in grapes and blueberries. Tomatoes, in fact, also fall into this group. From a botanical standpoint, only simple fruits—those that develop from a single ovary in a single flower—are berries. Still, some other fruits commonly called berries, like strawberries and raspberries, are technically aggregate fruits, meaning they develop from multiple ovaries of a single flower. Some fruits commonly classified as berries, such as the mulberry, are multiple fruits, meaning they come from the ovaries of several individual flowers. Nuts are also simple fruits, albeit ones eaten dry. These have an edible inside that’s enclosed in a hard shell, like a chestnut or hazelnut. Some other things that we call nuts, like walnuts and almonds, aren’t nuts from a botanical perspective, but are instead the kind of fruits classified as drupes (like coconuts), since the shells are covered in a fleshy outside. Peanuts are also not nuts—they are legumes, meaning they’re technically a vegetable. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

กองทัพปลดแอกประชาชนจีน (PLA) เน้นย้ำกำลังพลเพิ่มการฝึกในเวลากลางคืน ส่งสัญญาณถึงความพร้อมสำหรับการสร้างเซอร์ไพรส์ ซึ่งรวมถึงสงครามที่อาจเกิดขึ้นกับไต้หวัน . หลังจากจีนเปิดฉากซ้อมรบปิดล้อมเกาะไต้หวันในชื่อรหัส Joint Sword-2024B เมื่อวันที่ 14 ตุลาคม ต่อมาได้ยกระดับเป็นการซ้อมยิงด้วยกระสุนจริงใกล้เกาะมังกรน้อยเมื่อสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว . นายฟู่ เจิ้งหนัน นักวิจัยประจำสถาบันวิทยาศาสตร์การทหารของPLA มองว่า การซ้อมรบ Joint Sword (ดาบประสาน) ครั้งนี้ “เข้าใกล้การต่อสู้จริง” ยิ่งกว่าการซ้อมรบที่ผ่าน ๆ มา เมื่อดูจากการตัดสินใจซ้อมรบในเวลาการคืนและก่อนฟ้าสาง . การซ้อมรบกลางคืนไม่ใช่เรื่องใหม่สำหรับพญามังกร แต่หนังสือพิมพ์รายวันของPLA ได้รายงานข่าวการฝึกซ้อมกลางคืนระหว่างกองบัญชาการรบหน่วยต่าง ๆ บ่อยขึ้นจนผิดสังเกตในช่วงสองสามเดือนมานี้ ซึ่งเป็นเวลาเดียวกับที่จีนเพิ่มแรงกดดันนายไล่ ชิงเต๋อ ผู้นำไต้หวันคนใหม่ ซึ่งชูประเด็นเอกราชไต้หวันอย่างออกนอกหน้า . อาทิ รายงานข่าวเมื่อวันพฤหัสฯ ( 24 ต.ค.) ว่า หน่วยทหารที่71 ในสังกัดกองบัญชาการยุทธภูมิตะวันออก ซึ่งมีภารกิจรับผิดชอบเกี่ยวกับไต้หวันได้จัดการฝึกซ้อมป้องกันภัยทางอากาศร่วมกับหน่วยยามฝั่งโดยจำลองการโจมตีข้าศึกทางอากาศในระดับต่ำ หรือรายงานข่าวเมื่อวันพุธ ( 23 ต.ค.) ว่า กองบัญชาการยุทธภูมิตะวันออกฝึกซ้อมการบินกลางดึกเพื่อเสริมสร้างความอดทนสำหรับปฏิบัติการตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง . นอกจากนั้นยังมีการเผยแพร่ภาพและวิดีโอการฝึกของนักบินกองทัพเรือบนเรือบรรทุกเครื่องบินในตอนกลางคืน รวมไปถึงการฝึกซ้อมยิงปืนตอนกลางคืนของหน่วยทหารในภูมิภาคซินเจียงทางภาคตะวันตก . ด้านสำนักข่าวซินหัวรายงานว่า พล.อ.จาง โย่วเสีย รองประธานคนหนึ่งของคณะกรรมาธิการการทหารส่วนกลางได้ไปตรวจการซ้อมยิงด้วยกระสุนจริงตอนกลางคืนในมณฑลเหอเป่ย ซึ่งอยู่ใกล้กรุงปักกิ่งเมื่อสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว . นายซ่ง จงหนัน อดีตครูฝึกของPLAมองว่า การปรากฏตัวในตอนกลางคืนของนายทหารระดับอาวุโส ซึ่งมีอำนาจทางทหารรองจากประธานาธิบดี สี จิ้นผิงผู้นี้ส่งสัญญาณชัดเจนว่า ปักกิ่งเตรียมพร้อมทำสงคราม . นักวิเคราะห์ในฮ่องกงผู้หนึ่งเตือนความทรงจำคราวสงครามอ่าวเปอร์เซีย 2 ครั้งในอดีตว่า สหรัฐอเมริกาก็เปิดฉากโจมตีตอนกลางคืน . นายแอนดรูว์ หยาง หัวหน้าสภาการศึกษานโยบายขั้นสูงของจีนในกรุงไทเประบุว่า ขณะนี้ไต้หวัน สหรัฐฯ และชาติพันธมิตรเชื่อแล้วว่า จีนสามารถลงมือปฏิบัติการขั้นสูงได้ตลอดเวลา การซ้อมรบ Joint Sword ที่เปิดฉากขึ้นในช่วงที่กองเรือรบของสหรัฐฯ ไม่อยู่ในภูมิภาคนี้ก็แสดงให้เห็นแล้วว่า กองทัพจีนสามารถมองเห็น “ช่องโหว่” ของแนวป้องกันและใช้ประโยชน์จากช่องโหว่นั้น . ไลล์ โกลด์สตีน ผู้อำนวยการฝ่ายการมีส่วนร่วมในเอเชียของสถาบันคลังสมองDefence Priorities ในกรุงวอชิงตันดี.ซี. ระบุว่า การยกระดับเตรียมความพร้อมของกองทัพจีนได้ดำเนินการมาหลายปีแล้ว ไม่ว่าจะเป็นซ้อมรบอย่างเข้มข้นตอนกลางคืน รวมถึงการฝึกซ้อมที่มีอันตรายและความซับซ้อนสูง เช่นการทำสงครามสะเทินน้ำสะเทินบก ทหารที่ผ่านการฝึกขั้นสูงมาอย่างดีย่อมตระหนักถึงความได้เปรียบ หากช่วงชิงโจมตียามวิกาล . ซินหัวรายงานว่า วัตถุประสงค์อีกประการในการไปตรวจเยี่ยมการซ้อมยิงจริงของพล.อ.จาง โย่วเสียครั้งนั้นก็เพื่อเสริมสร้างประสิทธิภาพปฏิบัติการด้านข่าวกรองของทหารหน่วยต่าง ๆ ซึ่งอาศัยระบบเครือข่ายข้อมูลข่าวสารร่วมกัน . โกลด์สตีนเชื่อว่า จีนได้ทดสอบประสิทธิภาพของระบบเครือข่ายการแบ่งปันข้อมูล เพื่อรบกวนเครือข่ายข้อมูลการบัญชาการของไต้หวันให้ได้มากที่สุด หากบุกไต้หวัน โดยจะนำบทเรียนการทำสงครามอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ที่รัสเซียใช้ในการโจมตียูเครนมาศึกษาด้วย . ด้านกองทัพไต้หวันล่าสุดก็ได้หันมาเน้นการฝึกซ้อมกลางคืนเช่นกัน โดยเริ่มการซ้อมยิงด้วยกระสุนจริงบนหมู่เกาะเผิงหูในช่องแคบไต้หวัน ซึ่งเป็นจุดสำคัญทางยุทธศาสตร์ในการต้านทานข้าศึกยกพลขึ้นบก เนื่องจากอยู่ใกล้จีนแผ่นดินใหญ่มากที่สุด . ที่มา “ PLA drills in the dark show mainland China ‘ready for surprises’, such as over Taiwan” ในเซาท์ไชน่ามอร์นิงโพสต์ . อ่านเพิ่มเติม..https://sondhitalk.com/detail/9670000103988 .............. Sondhi X

กระทรวงการต่างประเทศสหรัฐฯ เห็นชอบความเป็นไปได้ในการขายระบบป้องกันภัยทางอากาศและเรดาร์แก่ไต้หวัน อ้างอิงข้อมูลจากเพนตากอน ขณะที่การจัดซื้ออาวุธอเมริกาโดยไทเป จำเป็นต้องมีบุคลากรของสหรัฐฯ เดินทางไปประจำการในไต้หวัน เพื่อสนับสนุนทางเทคนิคและฝึกฝนทหารท้องถิ่น . แน่นอนว่าความเคลื่อนไหวดังกล่าวจะก่อความเดือดดาลแก่จีนเป็นอย่างยิ่ง โดยที่ผ่านมา ปักกิ่งซึ่งมองเกาะปกครองตนเองแห่งนี้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของดินแดน มองความสัมพันธ์ในด้านนี้ระหว่างไต้หวันกับสหรัฐฯ เป็นการละเมิดอธิปไตยของพวกเขา . ความเคลื่อนไหวล่าสุดนี้มีขึ้นหลังจากเมื่อไม่กี่วันก่อน วอชิงตันได้ทำการส่งมอบขีปนาวุธต่อต้านเรือ Harpoon Block II ล็อตแรกจำนวนหลายร้อยลูกให้แก่ไทเป ภายใต้ข้อตกลงหนึ่งที่ได้รับการอนุมัติในปี 2020 . ในถ้อยแถลงที่เผยแพร่เมื่อวันศุกร์ (25 ต.ค.) สำนักงานความร่วมมือความมั่นคงกลาโหม (DSCA: Defense Security Cooperation Agency) สังกัดกระทรวงกลาโหมสหรัฐฯ แถลงว่าพวกเขาได้รับความเห็นชอบสำหรับความเป็นไปได้ในการ "การขายอาวุธให้ต่างประเทศ" แก่สำนักงานเศรษฐกิจและวัฒนธรรมไทเปในสหรัฐฯ ซึ่งคือระบบป้องกันขีปนาวุธจากพื้นสู่อากาศขั้นสูง NASAMS และอุปกรณ์ต่างๆ ที่เกี่ยวข้อง มูลค่าประมาณ 1,160 ล้านดอลลาร์ . ในเอกสารระบุว่าไต้หวันขอซื้อระบบนี้ที่ผลิตโดยบริษัทเรย์เธียน 3 ชุด และขีปนาวุธที่ใช้กับระบบดังกล่าว 123 ลูก . ถ้อยแถลงเน้นว่าเพื่อทำตามข้อเสนอขายนี้ จำเป็นต้องมอบหมายหน้าที่แก่เจ้าหน้าที่รัฐบาลสหรัฐฯ 26 คน และตัวแทนจากบริษัทสัญญาจ้าง 34 ราย ให้เดินทางไปประจำการในไต้หวัน เป็นระยะเวลาหนึ่งซึ่งนานพอสมควร เพื่อให้การสนับสนุนทางเทคนิคและฝึกฝนแก่บุคลากรทางทหารท้องถิ่น . ทั้งนี้ ในข่าวประชาสัมพันธ์อีกฉบับที่เผยแพร่ในวันเดียวกัน ยังเผยด้วยว่าทางกระทรวงต่างประเทศสหรัฐฯ ได้ไฟเขียวความเป็นไปได้ในการขายระบบเรดาร์ AN/TPS-77 และ AN/TPS-78 รวมถึงอุปกรณ์ต่างๆ ที่เกี่ยวข้อง มูลค่าราว 828 ล้านดอลลาร์ แก่ไต้หวัน . ก่อนหน้านี้เมื่อเดือนที่แล้ว ประธานาธิบดีโจ ไบเดน แห่งสหรัฐฯ เพิ่งอนุมัติมอบความช่วยเหลือด้านการทหารเพิ่มเติมแก่ไต้หวันอีก 567 ล้านดอลลาร์ . ระหว่างพบปะกับ เจค ซัลลิแวน ที่ปรึกษาด้านความมั่นคงแห่งชาติสหรัฐฯ ในกรุงปักกิ่ง เมื่อช่วงปลายเดือนสิงหาคม ทาง หวัง อี้ รัฐมนตรีต่างประเทศจีน เรียกร้องวอชิงตันให้หยุดขายอาวุธแก่ไต้หวัน . ขณะเดียวกัน ระหว่างการแถลงข่าวเมื่อสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว โฆษกสำนักงานกิจการไต้หวันของจีน เตือนว่า ปักกิ่งไม่เคยผูกมัดตนเองในการตัดความเป็นไปได้ในการใช้กำลังกับไต้หวัน และสถานการณ์ดังกล่าวอาจเป็นจริงขึ้นมาหากว่าเกาะปกครองตนเองแห่งนี้ประกาศเอกราช . คำเตือนดังกล่าวมีขึ้นไม่นานหลังจากจีน ทำการซ้อมรบทางทหารครั้งใหญ่ใกล้เกาะไต้หวัน . กองทัพปลดแอกประชาชนจีน เปิดการซ้อมรบเป็นเวลา 1 วัน ที่ใช้ชื่อรหัสว่า “ดาบประสาน 2024 บี” (Joint Sword-2024B Exercise) ในพื้นที่รอบๆ และใกล้เกาะไต้หวันเมื่อวันจันทร์ที่ 14 ตุลาคม โดยจุดที่มีการเน้นหนักแข็งขันคือการฝึกเพื่อป้องปรามไม่ให้สหรัฐฯ สามารถเข้ามาแทรกแซงในกรณีที่เกิดการสู้รบใดๆ ขึ้นในช่องแคบไต้หวัน . อ่านเพิ่มเติม..https://sondhitalk.com/detail/9670000103353 .............. Sondhi X

What To Write In A Holiday Card Just as we look forward to presents and parties this time of year, we can’t get enough of holiday cards! We love them all: from colorful cards sent by snail mail to animated emails to newsletters summing up what everyone in the family has been up to all year. Fun fact: the very first holiday card in 1843 depicted children toasting with wine—oops! But when it comes to sending your own holiday cards this season, it can be confusing to know how to get them just right. The fear of accidentally offending someone or leaving someone off your list can be daunting. That’s why we’ve put together these dos and don’ts to kickstart (or improve) your holiday writing tradition. Do start early You’ll want to leave yourself time to get (or make, if you’re ambitious) cards, write a message, and sign them. If your holiday card includes a picture of your adorable family in matching elf costumes, you’ll need even more time to get the costumes, take the photo, and have it printed. Keep that in mind! If you’re planning on sending your holiday cards via the post, it’s recommended you mail them before December 17. So think about the time you have, and what you can reasonably accomplish, which leads us to … Don’t be overly ambitious Maybe you’re one of these people who, like Martha Stewart, can handcraft a card for each person on your 40-person list and still get them out on time. But most of us mere mortals are not Martha Stewart (sadly). People are happy to get a holiday card because it shows you care about them and are thinking about them. Whether it’s store-bought or handmade, it’s the thought that counts. Now that we’ve set reasonable expectations, let’s get into the details of writing those holiday cards. Do write the recipient’s name Even if it’s a store-bought card with a pre-printed message, you want to be sure to write the recipient’s name(s) at the top of the card. You can be formal or informal, depending on the context. For a less formal card, you can use the formula of “Dear” plus first names: e.g., Dear Jack & Jill. If you’re writing a more formal card, then you’ll want to use honorifics and last names: e.g., Dear Mr. & Dr. Falldownhill or Dear Ms. Dalloway. Don’t guess the spelling When you’re writing the recipient’s name, make sure you get it right. If it’s a name you’re unfamiliar with or one that has multiple spellings, double-check your address book or other references (social media works) to ensure that you haven’t left out a letter or put in one too many. It’s not a good look. Do include a personal message Even if your holiday card comes from a box or is an online widget, you should include a personal message to the recipient. This can be short and sweet, as simple as: - Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season! - The holidays come but once a year: enjoy! - Thinking of you over the holidays. - Hoping you have a joyous and peaceful holiday. - Have a wonderful New Year! - Let the spirit of the season inspire you. - Warm wishes for the holiday and New Year. - Hope this season is filled with joy and cheer! - Sending you good luck into the New Year! Stock phrases are a good starting point, but you can also include some personal details. For instance, you might consider adding: - the important things that happened to you or your family this year, like marriages or births; - a wish for the recipient’s health, especially if you know they’ve been under the weather this year; - or a note about your desire to see them if they live far away. All that said, unless you’re writing a holiday letter, your holiday card note shouldn’t be too long. Aim for no more than 150 words. If you’re writing a holiday letter, keep it to a single page long (about 400 words). Nobody needs to know about every detail of your year, trust us. Don’t assume everyone celebrates the same holidays If you’re sending cards to people you know well, you probably know what holidays they celebrate, so feel free to write “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah.” [Is it Tis the Season or ’Tis the Season? Find out!] But if you’re sending cards to coworkers, family, or friends you know less well, don’t assume they celebrate the same holidays you do. That can cause unnecessary offense. If you’re unsure, stick to the more generic happy holidays or season’s greetings. Make it easy on yourself. Or, as the Emily Post Institute suggests, you can also opt to send a more secular greeting for the new year. Do be funny (if you want) You can absolutely send formal holiday cards. In which case, we don’t recommend you include jokes. But if you’re sending cards to friends and family, a little bit of levity can be nice. That said, avoid any jokes that could be offensive. For example, many people include humorous pictures of their family on their holiday cards. It’s a little cheesy, but also kind of wonderful. Don’t be depressing Unless you’re Eeyore, you should try to keep a positive, happy tone in your holiday card message. Don’t write “This year has sucked” or “Everything is garbage.” If you feel that way, we get it—the holidays can be tough. But holiday cards are a place where the maxim If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all rules. If you’re too bummed out to think of any good news to share, just write a generic message like the ones we suggested above. Do have everyone in the family sign the card After you’ve written your short, thoughtful note in your card, be sure to sign it. If it’s just you, that’s simple enough. If you’re sending the card on behalf of your entire immediate family and are going the paper route, pass the card around the family to have them sign. If you’re sending an online card, just include everyone’s name in the signature line. Don’t boast Holiday cards and letters are an opportunity to reach out to the people you love and care about. It’s not an opportunity for you to boast about how wonderful you and your family are (although we are sure they are wonderful). This isn’t a resumé, it’s a highlight reel. Instead of listing every good deed every family member has done all year, pick one or two of the most important things to mention in your message. Moves, weddings, graduations, and births are worth mentioning. Volunteer work at the local soup kitchen, while admirable, is not. We wish you the best of luck with your holiday cards this season. Sometimes the cards are as hectic as the holidays … so grab a cup of eggnog and get writing! Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

If Yuo’re Albe To Raed Tihs, You Might Have Typoglycemia Ever heard of typoglycemia? Even if you haven’t, chances are you’ll recognize one of the viral puzzles that explains this phenomenon. Starting around 2003, an email circulated through what seems like every inbox claiming that scrambled English words are just as easy to read as the original words. However, as cool as the original email was, it didn’t actually tell the whole truth. There’s more to scrambled words than meets the eye. What is typoglycemia? That viral email tested our ability to read scrambled words. Here’s what it looks like: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Could you read it? Even with a mistake in this viral email (rscheearch cannot spell researcher), the truth is pretty much every fluent English-speaker can read and understand it. The word-scrambling phenomenon has a punny name: typoglycemia, playing mischievously with typo and glycemia, the condition of having low blood sugar. Typoglycemia is the ability to read a paragraph like the one above despite the jumbled words. Is typoglycemia real or a trick? Does it take you nanoseconds to solve the Word Jumble in the newspaper? No? While your brain can breeze through some word-scrambles, it’s more complicated than that click-bait email suggests. Matt Davis, a researcher at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge University, will help us sort it out. Here’s what they believe the email got right: unless you have a rare brain disorder, people read words as whole units, not letter-by-letter. That’s one of the factors explaining why we can “magically” read the message. But here’s where Davis reminds us why the daily Word Jumble still manages to scramble our brains for breakfast. That trending email led us to believe all we need is for “the first and last letters to be in the right place” and nothing else matters. Actually a lot else matters. What makes a scrambled word easier to read? Here are some other factors a jumbled passage needs in order for everyone to easily read it: 1. The words need to be relatively short. 2. Function words (be, the, a, and other words that provide grammatical structure) can’t be messed up, otherwise the reader struggles. 3. Switching (or transposing) the letters makes a big difference. Letters beside each other in a word can be switched without much difficulty for the reader to understand. When letters farther apart are switched, it’s harder. Take porbelm vs. pelborm (for “problem”). 4. We understand scrambled words better when their sounds are preserved: toatl vs. talot (for “total”). 5. Here’s a big one: the passage is readable because it’s predictable (especially because we’ve seen it so many times)! Other factors play into it as well, like preserving double letters. For example, in the word according, the scrambled email keeps the cc intact (“aoccdrnig”). Double letters are contextual markers that give good hints. But we could also scramble it up this way: “ancdircog.” Breaking up the cc makes it harder, right? All told, we’re code-making machines (we speak the code of English) and we’re wired to find meaning out of nonsense, in part by looking at contextual cues. However the codes can only be scrambled to a certain degree before we get lost. Try these two (tougher) word puzzles Try your hand at two hard-scrambled passages below which prove your brain needs more than just the first and last letters of a scrambled word to read it quickly. With these, you’ll see why our brains can only handle typoglycemia to a point. The answers at the bottom; try not to cheat! 1. A dootcr has aimttded the magltheuansr of a tageene ceacnr pintaet who deid aetfr a hatospil durg blendur. 2. In the Vcraiiton are, a levloy eamlred geren, pirlaalty frmoueltad form asirnec, was uesd in fcaibrs and ppaluor falrol hresesdeads. The first example is from that blog post by Matt Davis. The second is our re-scrambling of a fascinating Jezebel lead. And they’re not easy! Research shows that typos definitely interfere with reading speed. (There’s a reason we have spell-checkers!) Tricky jumble puzzles that can take hours to complete also prove that, in the end, letter order and spelling absolutely make or break our comprehension of a word. Ready for the answers? 1. A doctor has admitted the manslaughter of a teenage cancer patient who died after a hospital drug blunder. 2. In the Victorian era, a lovely emerald green, partially formulated from arsenic, was used in fabrics and popular floral headdresses. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Appreciate Yourself And Others More With Words Of Affirmation New Year’s goals aren’t just about what you do, they’re also about what you say. This year, why not build up yourself and your relationships with some words of affirmation? Words of affirmation are things we say that express care, commitment, love, and support. They’re so important, they’re actually one of the five love languages that author Gary Chapman says people require to feel and express love in relationships. But words of affirmation aren’t just tools for sharing our feelings with other people. They’re an important part of self-affirmation and offering encouragement to yourself as well. The past two years haven’t been easy on anyone, but starting a new year presents the chance to embrace opportunity, build your self-confidence, and put yourself out into the world in a new way. As you commit to self-improvement or growth in your relationships this year, here are 22 words and phrases of affirmation to help you express love and appreciation for yourself and others. 1. “I’m thankful for…” Gratitude can be something you express to others, or it can be something you experience within yourself. Being intentional about expressing thanks for the things, people, and opportunities in your life is a way of affirming appreciation for the moment and inspiring positivity about the future. 2. “I’m proud because…” You might feel pride for something as big as completing a marathon or as simple as making that tough phone call you’d been putting off for a week. Either way, when you’re proud of yourself or someone else, say it. 3. “I feel supported when…” How do other people show up for you? Point it out to them, and let them know how much you appreciate having them in your corner. 4. “I feel inspired when…” Notice what motivates you. It might be something another person does, or inspiration may strike when you’re taking time for yourself. Acknowledge those moments to bring attention to them and to help you recognize moments of inspiration in the future. 5. “I am brave.” Every day you take chances, tackle goals, share your feelings, and put yourself out there. Those are all brave things to do. When life feels scary, affirm to yourself that you have shown bravery a million times before, and you can do it again. 6. “I am loved.” You matter to the people around you. Remind yourself of this when you’re feeling disconnected or overwhelmed. You could even call up someone you care about and remind them that they are loved, too. 7. “I can.” If you’re experiencing doubt, remind yourself that you can do whatever it is that’s making you feel worried. You may not do everything perfectly, but you can try, show up, and keep working towards the goal. 8. “I value…” What do you love about the people in your life? What makes your relationships meaningful? You can affirm your connections with others by sharing these things and letting them know the special place they hold in your life. 9. “I love you.” Love is something you feel, but it’s also something to share. When you love someone, let them know it. It can’t hurt to also say it to your reflection in the mirror sometimes. We won’t judge. 10. “Thank you.” “Thank you” is a simple phrase that makes a big impact. Thanking others lets them know they’re seen, needed, and appreciated. Thanking yourself is also a way of acknowledging the good you do in the world and the power you have to make a difference. 11. “I’m worth it.” It’s normal to experience doubt or wonder if you’re good enough for the things and people you want in your life, but we’re all worthy of good things. Remind yourself of this when the going gets tough. 12. “I love my life when…” Think about what brings you joy, then celebrate that. Maybe this means telling yourself you love your life when you’re being active or taking chances, or maybe it’s telling someone else you love your life when they’re a part of it. 13. “You are so special to me.” Special means “of a distinct or particular kind or character.” It’s nice to hear that you are uniquely appreciated, so make it a point to share those feelings with the most special people in your life. 14. “I’m here.” Sometimes the best way to affirm your care for someone is just to be there for them. You can do this by taking care of something they need done, bringing them a gift, or just telling them, “I’m here.” 15. “I feel loved when…” In relationships, it can be important to share not just your own love for someone, but also the ways they make you feel loved. Communication like this can strengthen your bond and help you support each other in ways that feel more thoughtful. 16. “It impressed me when…” We don’t always know when we’re being noticed or appreciated by others. Make an intention to share these moments more often. You can start by just letting someone know when something they do catches your attention. 17. “I’m lucky…” Acknowledging the good things in your life can help you notice all of the small privileges and joys you experience on a daily basis. Ways to finish this sentence might include: I’m lucky to be here, I’m lucky to experience this moment, or I’m lucky to have you in my life. 18. “I feel great.” Feeling good? Shout it from the rooftops. It’s easy to acknowledge when we’re feeling off, down, or out of sorts. This year, try to be intentional about also affirming the good days and good vibes you experience. 19. “I’m showing up for myself.” When you practice self-care, accomplish a goal, or even just tackle a basic task of daily living, you’re showing up for yourself, and that’s a big deal. Affirm that you are your own biggest support, and you do a great job of being you. 20. “I am capable.” When self-doubt creeps in, affirm that you are capable. You may not be perfect (no one is!), but you are always capable of learning, trying, practicing, and getting better. 21. “I find you so…” How do you feel about the people in your life? They’d probably like to hear it. You might say you find them attractive, inspiring, helpful, friendly, hilarious, or kind. 22. “I am doing my best.” No one is going to get it right 100% of the time, but making an effort to be a good friend, parent, worker, and person is what counts. No matter what challenges or success are ahead, remind yourself in each moment that you are doing your best. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

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🚨 จัสติน ทรูโด : "ผมมีโอกาสที่จะทำให้การประชุม G20 เป็นการประชุมสุดยอดที่สร้างความอึดอัดให้กับอินเดีย หากผมเปิดเผยข้อกล่าวหาต่อสาธารณะ" สองคำสำหรับทรูโด? (🤣ฝัก ยุ🤣) . 🚨 JUSTIN TRUDEAU : "I had the opportunity to make the G20 an uncomfortable summit for India if I went public with the allegations" Two words for Trudeau? . 4:25 PM · Oct 22, 2024 · 866K Views https://x.com/TimesAlgebraIND/status/1848656793750143181

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Madara Uchchiha❤️‍🔥 #truewords #facts

Do You Remember These Old Dating Slang Words? If you thought dating slang originated with terms like ghosting or breadcrumbing, think again. Popular culture has always included pet names and other unique language to describe all things love and romance. Some of these terms originated in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, while others go back even further than that. But all of them helped lay the groundwork for the interesting and sometimes odd dating slang we know and use today. Follow along as we take a look back at some of the most interesting, surprising, and even clever classic dating slang words from decades past. Please note: we’ll be having a frank discussion about sex and other mature dating topics here—but grown-up pants, as always, are optional. necking What people might call making out today used to be known as necking. Necking is a classic term for “kissing, caressing, and other sexual activity between partners that does not involve stimulation of the genitals or sexual intercourse.” This term has been popular at various points throughout the past several decades, but you might be surprised to learn that the one of the earliest recorded uses of necking to mean “kissing” actually occurred as early as 1825. little black book These days, people have matches on dating apps and randos in their DMs. Back in the day, they might have had a little black book. This phrase describes “a personal telephone directory [which historically were often small, pocket-size books bound in black] listing girlfriends, or, less often, boyfriends.” While physical address books were more common before computers and cell phones took over, the phrase doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has a physical little black book. Rather, it implied that someone had a lot of dates or was something of a ladies’ man. going steady If you’re exclusive with a significant other, it used to be said that you were going steady. This phrase, dating back to the early 1900s, means to “date one person exclusively” because you were seeing the same person regularly (“steady”). Steady, as a noun, could also be used in a similar way to boyfriend or girlfriend as a title for the person someone is dating. For example: He asked her to be his steady. friend with benefits This phrase was popularized in the ’90s by the Alanis Morissette song “Head Over Feet,” and later inspired the title of a 2011 movie starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. A friend with benefits is “a friend with whom one has sex without a romantic relationship or commitment.” Today, that might also be called a hookup, though friend (or friends) with benefits hasn’t gone extinct. There’s even a text acronym for the term: FWB. booty call Booty call is another dating term that can be traced back to the early ’90s. It’s a “phone call, text message, email, etc., whose purpose is to arrange a meeting to have casual sex.” Booty call incorporates the slang term booty, which has a surprising history. Booty was known as a vulgar slang term for female genitalia in the early 1900s, then evolved as a milder slang term for buttocks by the 1920s. By the time booty call was born, booty (as is common for historical slang terms that objectify women) denoted both a “female body considered as a sex object” and “the act of sex.” wingman In the context of dating, a wingman is “a man who helps a friend with romantic relationships, especially one who helps the friend attract a woman.” This dating word was popular in the ’80s and ’90s especially, though it’s still in use today. The term wingman was taken from a 1940s Air Force term for the “pilot in a plane that flies just outside and behind the right wing of the leading aircraft, in order to provide protective support.” Apparently looking for love requires protective support, too. Dear John If you find yourself the recipient of a Dear John letter, it’s not good news. The phrase is a name for “a letter from a woman informing her boyfriend, husband, or fiancé that she is ending their relationship.” It’s commonly believed to have been coined during World War II when people were separated for long periods of time and communicated via letter. Historically, Biblical names like John and Jack were such common male names they became generic stand-ins used to refer to any man. Though the phrase Dear John (or its female counterpart, Dear Jane) is not as common now, it is used in the title of a popular Taylor Swift song. keen Are you keen to learn about the next word on the list? Keen means “eager; interested; enthusiastic.” In the 1950s, it was also commonly used to indicate a crush. For example, someone might say I think she’s keen on him. Attractive or especially likable people were also sometimes described as being peachy keen. The word keen has been used as a slang term meaning “wonderful” since at least the 1910s. bunny Some dating words fell out of favor because they were used in a sexist way. Bunny is one of those words. Bunny is an outdated slang term used to describe “a pretty, appealing, or alluring young woman, often one ostensibly engaged in a sport or similar activity.” For example, an attractive woman at the beach might have been referred to as a “beach bunny.” This phrase was popular in the ’70s but quickly fell out of favor. Now, its use is often considered offensive. boo Boo might be the original bae (more on this term soon). This ’90s word is an affectionate name for a significant other. The term is thought to have originated in hip hop culture and spread into pop culture from there. Boo may be connected to the French beau or the pet name baby. beau Speaking of beau, this term of endearment means “a male lover or sweetheart.” You might think of it as a fancier, more old-fashioned way of saying boyfriend. Beau was first recorded in English in the late 1200s, but its use as a dating term can be traced back to the 1720s. The word is related to the French beau, which means “the beautiful.” bae And that leads us to a much newer term: when you think of Millennial dating slang, it’s hard not to think of bae. This word originated in the early 2000s and enjoyed viral fame throughout the 2010s, thanks to the internet. Bae is “an affectionate term that one uses to address their partner or spouse.” It’s thought to be a shortening of other popular pet names, like babe or baby, and likely originated in Black English. It’s been said bae is an acronym for “before anyone else,” but as fun as this theory is, it’s just a misconception. rationed This 1940s slang term has a surprising history. During World War II, rationing goods was common. A ration is “a fixed allowance of provisions or food, especially for soldiers or sailors or for civilians during a shortage.” What does this have to do with dating? Well, rationed also became a sort of shorthand for asking women if they were in a relationship or available. As in, Are you rationed? Comparing women to rationed goods like stamps isn’t exactly romantic, so it’s probably no surprise that this one slowly faded into obscurity. round the bases Bases aren’t just for baseball. They also have a history as popular dating terminology. In the ’80s and ’90s especially, people referred to different levels of physical intimacy as bases. For example, first base means to “engage in petting that goes no further than kissing.” Each subsequent base adds more physically intimate acts. Rounding the bases, then, would mean progressing through these acts towards whatever act—possibly sex—was deemed a home run. parking If the word parking makes you think of cars, you’re on the right track. Similar to necking, parking is a slang term for “the act of kissing and caressing in a parked car.” This usage was most popular in the ’40s and ’50s, likely due to the rise of car culture and drive-in movie theaters changing the landscape of dating. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.