Anyhow Treacle is commonly used as a pet name particularly in the north of England, perhaps mostly an adult addressing a child.

hmmmm, that might come in handy the next time a salesclerk or waiter calls me 'sweetie' or 'honey'.

I first encountered this word in Lewis Carroll: `They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two. I mentally pronounced it as tree′sill. Quite a surprise to hear it correctly, much later on -- can't decide whether the correct pronunciation sounds less sweet or more cloying.

*is shocked*

pssst: Hey guys, Slava posted a political comment in the Agora!

The [arm]Chair[s] recognize the motion of the Gentleman from Great State of New York, and the second from the Gentleman from Louisianna...

In our time, the person at the helm is not the one wearing a helmet. That's the protective garb worn by those actually doing the hard work to implement the helm's decisions -- or by those protecting their brain waves from 'them' at the helm!

How about paleoynology -- the study of long extinct pollens and spores?

The rule on two spaces is just an esthetic guideline. Now that mono-spaced typewriters are well in the past, for computer-savvy readers I prefer a single space to separate sentences, to avoid rivers of white running down the page. However, if sending an email with specifications or price quotes, I t...

When first encountering this word, I mentally pronounced it "pulch-rih′-tude" and thought it was a snooty, sarcastic insult. When I learned the correct pronunciation and meaning years later, I was surprised!

Also surprised today to see that etymonline has no suggestions...

The other side of the flamboyant coin might include the wrestlers you export so successfully from America. Now I'd take the intricate wordplay of good hip hop if you'd only keep wrestling to yourselves. A more positively flamboyant personality (in my eyes) might be Usain Bolt. Now, I always liked s...

Doppelgänger: A Poem of Sin and Synonyms I want to be forever good—until I want what’s bad I try to banish sinful thoughts, till virtue drives me mad It’s like an evil twin emerges with no decency A fiend that issues from the depths of my psychology I’ve tried to vanquish this dark side with therap...

Much hip-hop is story telling. Yes! And as with any other literary form, you can tell whatever story you like within its [rules]. I forgot about this old favorite when I was posting my earlier links; there's a lot to appreciate in the concepts, the vocabulary, and the wordplay. Large Hadron Rap 8)

Doppelgänger: A Poem of Sin and Synonyms I want to be forever good—until I want what’s bad I try to banish sinful thoughts, till virtue drives me mad It’s like an evil twin emerges with no decency A fiend that issues from the depths of my psychology I’ve tried to vanquish this dark side with therap...

Audio pareidolia is hearing words in sound that are not actually there. This can occur by misinterpreting words that are being said, or by hearing words in random noise. The phenomenon is the same as with visual pareidolia, in that the brain is searching for a recognized pattern, finds the closest ...

^^ Is that how they made the "X-Ray Glasses" advertised in old magazines?

Years ago I prepared for a test on the "Old Testament" on which I expected to be asked to list the significant prophets. My mnemonic device was to create a (mental) rap, and no, I wouldn't inflict it on you if I did still remember it. It did help with the test.