As I headed down the beltway toward Montoursville, right where cars merge on from the Faxon on ramp, there was no doubt in my mind what was about to happen. I was in the right lane with a tractor-trailer to my left, as a car traveling at a high rate of speed was about to
READ MOREBy Joseph W. Smith III This week, my running list of oddball vocabulary — now reaching back nearly two decades — notched exactly 2,422 terms, adding such outliers as cabochon, dendroglyph, haku, quaestor and marrowfat. While I do sometimes simply take a stroll through one of my many hard-copy dictionaries, most of that list comes
READ MOREThe high school baseball and softball regular seasons conclude this week, and area fans may want to heed the words of Terrell Owens to “get your popcorn ready.” The PIAA district playoffs begin next week, and a bevy of area teams have spent the past few months prepping for the upcoming opportunity to make deep
READ MOREI want to thank my staff for filling in during my absence at the end of last week and making sure not only the Webb Weekly got done but the Home Show was covered. They are amazing, and truly family. The Home Show is an event we look forward to; thank you to everybody who
READ MOREWith Webb’s “Weird Words” now in its 11th month — and rapidly approaching one whole year of linguistic gobbledygook — your local word-Smith herewith presents 11 more unusual terms: Armigerous (ar-MIDGE-er-us, adj.) – Merriam-Webster defines this simply as “bearing heraldic arms” — which is actually not that simple … unless you know that “heraldic” (i.e.,
READ MORESpecial thanks to the readers of Webb Weekly. I am still amazed at how many folks will turn to this page. I ran into two people last week — totally random — one at Wegmans and one at work. Their kind words meant the world. I always get excited when someone recognizes me from this
READ MOREIf you missed my column last week, my apologies. It was an example of why you shouldn’t procrastinate and wait until the last minute. You should always allow yourself some extra time and try to finish a job ahead of schedule; of course, I waited until the last minute to write my article. I often
READ MOREIn these ongoing columns about oddball vocabulary, I try to provide not only definitions, but also etymology (that is, the word’s origin) — if it’s sufficiently clear and interesting. (Granted, that last adjective can be a stretch with etymology.) But last week, I somehow skipped the origin of peduncle, a stalk-like structure found in many
READ MORELast night, you got between the covers and went to South America. It wasn’t difficult. A few days ago, you walked around London in 1888; you were in the future before that; you’ve met con artists, florists, runaways, and heroines, and you didn’t even have to leave your house. You can experience many things with
READ MOREThe first time your child laughs, walks, and talks, are all exciting moments to look forward to – in addition to being important developmental milestones. To help determine how well your child is developing and growing compared to other kids the same age, these developmental milestones are measured at every doctor’s visit. The physical, cognitive,
READ MORESince the 2020 election, there has been a continuous political battle about the count. Initially, the election results were challenged in the courts, but nothing could be proven to the satisfaction of the judges. A protest in Washington, D.C., over the election certification at the US Capitol was organized on January 6, 2021, supporting Trump
READ MOREFor young children, learning to read is a critical step in their educational journeys, as literacy helps build cognitive abilities and language proficiency and has a direct impact on later academic achievement. While there are no shortcuts to early literacy, there are steps parents can take to promote the development of children’s reading abilities. Dr.
READ MOREAfter recent forays into terms related to March Madness, Easter and Tax Day, Webb’s Weird Words is back to its stock-in-trade this week: another set of 10 oddball words for your perusal and edification. All are nouns except the adjective milchig. Biltong (BILL-tong) – Long strips of dried meat, usually cured in the sun. Though
READ MOREThe college admissions process is multifaceted and stretches out over a year or more. High school students who plan to continue their education at four-year schools typically go through the admissions process at various schools before deciding where the next step on their academic journeys will take them. Testing is part of the college admissions
READ MOREThe first day of trout season in Pennsylvania has been a long-time tradition. It’s a day shared by family and friends to celebrate something near and dear to their hearts. It is a day that many PA anglers dream about on cold winter nights. Chilly temperatures, rain, and even snow go hand in hand with
READ MOREAttention, slackers! As you peruse this April 10 edition of Webb, you have less than a week to get your taxes done. Now in case you need an excuse to procrastinate longer, Webb’s Weird Words herewith presents a short list of money-words — in honor of the approaching April 15 deadline: Most of our coins
READ MOREI wonder if we are living in a fantasy world rather than a real one. A good example would be from the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” which featured a little spoiled brat named Veruca Salt. She ‘found’ her golden ticket to visit the factory because her father bought hundreds of thousands
READ MOREWhen responding to an emergency, timely, accurate, and important information can be critical to first responders. That is the thinking behind an Access and Functional Needs Survey that the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety has developed. The information gathered in the Access and Functional Needs survey is being compiled in a registry, providing critical
READ MOREThe National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) commemorates the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April with their “Building Connected Communities” campaign. The campaign “uplifts the role of inclusive, equitable, and connected communities in reducing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Community is an integral part of all our lives, and the health and
READ MORERecognizing service to others by several individuals who have done so in an outstanding and dedicated way will be the focus of the Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance when they hold their annual banquet on May 1 at the Genetti Hotel. This is a celebration of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to serve their community and
READ MOREHard to believe these Weird Word columns are now well past their 40th installment — with no end in sight from the seemingly endless supply of oddball terms in English. Here’s a dozen to get your week going: Bosky (BOSS-kee, adj.) – A bosk is a small thicket, especially one with bushes. (That is actually
READ MORECrystal Hefner broke a promise — and our world is a better place for it. Six decades younger than Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner, Crystal was his third and final wife; when the world-famous womanizer was nearing his death, he made Crystal promise that she would “only say good things” about Hef and his exploitative empire.
READ MORE“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” That’s how the Apostle John opens his gospel about the life of Christ. Though ancient Greek does not distinguish between upper- and lower-case letters, translators capitalize “Word” here because the last two clauses clearly show that it refers
READ MOREOne thing I was never good at was being a testimony to others about Jesus in person. I idolized my Gram, Lois Liddick. She would witness to anyone, anywhere. “Let me tell you about my Jesus,” she would say. I remember her and Pap having a blue and white sticker on their storm door off
READ MOREARIES – Mar 21–Apr 20 Aries, communication with a spouse or a loved one is vital this week; otherwise, you risk arguments for no reason at all. Sit down and have some frank conversations about your needs. TAURUS – Apr 21–May 21 Taurus, when you face adversity you should rest assured that you can handle
READ MOREAs the NCAA’s annual hoop frenzy enters its Sweet Sixteen round of play this weekend, many fans’ brackets have already been busted, while fans of the remaining teams in the field are giddy with excitement over what could be. Oh yes, March Madness, a term first coined by Henry Porter, an Illinois high school official,
READ MOREYou would hardly believe how many synonyms our language has for idiots, dummies, dopes, boobs, nincompoops, and morons. (OK, OK — so maybe you would believe it….) Since we all know — and often feel like — brainless people, I’ve been wanting to share these with my readers; and the approach of April Fools’ Day
READ MOREHow do you do? Howdy. Hey, there. Hello. Hi, how are you? It’s polite to greet people when you meet them for the first time, and respectful, too. Furthermore, it’s human nature to want to be liked, to find common ground and get along. Read the new book “How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi,”
READ MOREThe website for the Center for Immigration Studies listed all sanctuary cities, counties, and states in the United States, updated on March 6, 2024. The site stated, “The sanctuary jurisdictions are listed below. These cities, counties, and states have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from
READ MOREAs we proceed through “March Madness” toward a strange Sunday-Monday conjunction of Easter and April Fools’, your Weird Words writer is compiling a suitable pair of vocabulary lists: one on fools & madness — and then, more positively, on the death and resurrection of Christ. In the meantime, here are 10 more oddball terms to
READ MOREAs these Weird Word columns seem to strike chord with Webb readers, some of you may wonder just where I find all this oddball vocabulary. Of course there are numerous books listing weird words; but I try to avoid simply ransacking these — and in the same way, I don’t make a habit of grabbing
READ MOREARIES – Mar 21–Apr 20 Aries, think about collaborating on a fun project with someone close to you. Find out if anyone needs help on something they may be working on if you don’t have a project in mind. TAURUS – Apr 21–May 21 An excitement concerning work goals or a business venture may compel
READ MOREIn part 1, we explored different types and brands of foundation for mature and aging skin. Here in part 2, we’ll run through how best to apply and wear makeup on the over-40 face for a natural and glowing finish. To make foundation look natural, start with a thin layer of makeup and build it
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