Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions a word he’s never known. scofflaw: a habitual, unrepentant law breaker. Source: Mish, Frederick C. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Barber, Katherine et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English. Don Mills: Oxford University …
Self-tutoring about social studies and philosophy: the tutor mentions a quote from Mikhail Kalashnikov. Mikhail Kalashnikov invented the AK-47 during World War II while recovering from battlefield wounds. “It’s a weapon for defence, not offence,” he continued to assert in …
Self-tutoring about a modern technology trend: the tutor begins with a definition. The Internet of Things literally refers to things online rather than people. Nowadays, an electronic device – for instance, a smoke detector or even a light bulb – …
Self-tutoring about Australia: the tutor mentions the Murray River. I wondered about rivers in southern Australia, and was surprised to find that the world’s third longest navigable river is in Australia – the Murray. As I understand, the Murray’s year-round …
Self-tutoring about the US party system: the tutor begins. With Super Tuesday freshly over, its winners apparently Biden and Sanders, I realize how little I understand the way Americans choose their candidates for president. I decided, this morning, to start …
Self-tutoring about people: the tutor mentions the concept of psychographics. While demographics mean measurements such as age, psychographics attempt to describe people’s beliefs and hopes – their psychology. Demographics can be studied to predict, for instance, a wave of retirement …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions cardinals. I can’t recall seeing a cardinal in Nova Scotia. I have seen one, outside Detroit in 1984 on a summer vacation. It was perched on a clothesline in a backyard; the old man …
Self-tutoring about Canadian geography: the tutor mentions a curiosity. Saskatchewan you might imagine, since it’s a prairie province, being quite flat. I was surprised to read its highest point is 1392m above sea level. Yet, the height seems a case …
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Self-tutoring about baking terms: the tutor focuses on three that may all point to one meaning. I hear about baking soda or baking powder being leavening agents, or “leaveners”. My wife calls them that, as do numerous online resources. The …
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions hyphenating numbers. Indeed, numbers like 74 should be hyphenated, if written: seventy-four. I’ve never known so. Source: Hodges, Horner et al. Harbrace Handbook for Canadians. Scarborough: Nelson, 2003.