10 Most Commonly Misused Words

Mistakes – we all have made them.  We are, after all, human.  Sometimes in a rush to beat a deadline, there would not be enough time for a grammar check.  Or maybe our brain-to-hand coordination is not at its finest – we thought of something brilliant to say but inexplicably, when reviewing our finished article or essay, it was not written in the way that we had in mind.

In everyday conversation, we can slip up and get away with it.  A fellow worker may be thinking, "Did he just say 'irregardless' 14 times in the last 25 minutes?", but the words flow on, and most of our lapses are carried away and forgotten.  But this is not so in written communications.  When we commit a grammatical abomination in emails, reports, memos, and other professional documents, there is really no going back.  There are no mulligans in written correspondences.  There will be an official record of our carelessness or our stumped knowledge of the language.

These days, we often overlook grammatical mistakes because we also make them ourselves.  And if we are in a hurry, as we often are, typos, no-caps sentences, and inconsistencies are tolerated, even expected.  But sometimes we need to avoid these mistakes so that there is no confusion about what we are saying, and we can look like the professionals that we are, and appear at least moderately intelligent.  Below are the 10 most commonly misused words taken from John Gingerich compilation of the 20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes from Lit Reactor:

Who and Whom

"Who" is a subjective — or nominative — pronoun, along with "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." It's used when the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause.  "Whom" is an objective pronoun, along with "him," "her," "it", "us," and "them."  It's used when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause.  Using "who" or "whom" depends on whether you're referring to the subject or object of a sentence.  When in doubt, substitute "who" with the subjective pronouns "he" or "she," e.g., Who loves you? cf., He loves me. Similarly, you can also substitute "whom" with the objective pronouns "him" or "her." e.g., I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York. cf., I consulted him.

Which and That

"That" is a restrictive pronoun. It's vital to the noun to which it's referring.  e.g., I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren't organic. Here, I'm referring to all non-organic fruits or vegetables. In other words, I only trust fruits and vegetables that are organic. "Which" introduces a relative clause. It allows qualifiers that may not be essential. e.g., I recommend you eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores. In this case, you don’t have to go to a specific grocery store to obtain organic fruits and vegetables. "Which" qualifies, "that" restricts. "Which" is more ambiguous however, and by virtue of its meaning is flexible enough to be used in many restrictive clauses. e.g., The house, which is burning, is mine. e.g., The house that is burning is mine.

Lay and Lie

"Lay" is a transitive verb. It requires a direct subject and one or more objects. Its present tense is "lay" (e.g., I lay the pencil on the table) and its past tense is "laid" (e.g., Yesterday I laid the pencil on the table). "Lie" is an intransitive verb. It needs no object. Its present tense is "lie" (e.g., The Andes mountains lie between Chile and Argentina) and its past tense is "lay" (e.g., The man lay waiting for an ambulance). The most common mistake occurs when the writer uses the past tense of the transitive "lay" (e.g., I laid on the bed) when he/she actually means the intransitive past tense of "lie" (e.g., I lay on the bed).

Continual and Continuous

"Continual" means something that's always occurring, with obvious lapses in time. "Continuous" means something continues without any stops or gaps in between. e.g., The continual music next door made it the worst night of studying ever. e.g., Her continuous talking prevented him from concentrating.

May and Might

"May" implies a possibility. "Might" implies far more uncertainty. "You may get drunk if you have two shots in ten minutes" implies a real possibility of drunkenness. "You might get a ticket if you operate a tug boat while drunk" implies a possibility that is far more remote. Someone who says "I may have more wine" could mean he/she doesn't want more wine right now, or that he/she "might" not want any at all. Given the speaker's indecision on the matter, "might" would be correct.

Whether and If

"Whether" expresses a condition where there are two or more alternatives. "If" expresses a condition where there are no alternatives. e.g., I don't know whether I’ll get drunk tonight. e.g., I can get drunk tonight if I have money for booze.

Farther and Further

The word "farther" implies a measurable distance. "Further" should be reserved for abstract lengths you can't always measure. e.g., I threw the ball ten feet farther than Bill. e.g., The financial crisis caused further implications.

Fewer and Less

"Less" is reserved for hypothetical quantities. "Few" and "fewer" are for things you can quantify. e.g., The firm has fewer than ten employees. e.g., The firm is less successful now that we have only ten employees.

"Since" refers to time. "Because" refers to causation. e.g., Since I quit drinking I’ve married and had two children. e.g., Because I quit drinking I no longer wake up in my own vomit.

Affect and Effect

"Affect" is almost always a verb (e.g., Facebook affects people's attention spans), and "effect" is almost always a noun (e.g., Facebook's effects can also be positive). "Affect" means to influence or produce an impression — to cause hence, an effect. "Effect" is the thing produced by the affecting agent; it describes the result or outcome. There are some exceptions. "Effect" may be used as a transitive verb, which means to bring about or make happen. e.g., My new computer effected a much-needed transition from magazines to Web porn. There are similarly rare examples where "affect" can be a noun. e.g., His lack of affect made him seem like a shallow person.

Bring and Take

In order to employ proper usage of "bring" or "take," the writer must know whether the object is being moved toward or away from the subject. If it is toward, use "bring." If it is away, use "take." Your spouse may tell you to "take your clothes to the cleaners." The owner of the dry cleaners would say "bring your clothes to the cleaners."

Source:  http://www.globalpinoy.com/

Remove Gallstones Naturally

Did you know that nearly 1 million gallbladders are removed yearly?

Over 20 years ago, gallbladders were removed surgically and the recovery period was slow and painful.  The traditional “open” gallbladder surgery has almost completely been replaced with the introduction of laparoscopy. Laparoscopy uses small instruments and a lighted tube equipped with a video camera, all inserted through tiny abdominal incisions. The recovery period is quicker and less painful with a laparoscopy making it the preferred method of removal.

Unfortunately, the number of gallbladder operations has risen 40 percent since the introduction of the laparoscopy! Perhaps the doctors would prefer to avoid severe attacks so, the gallbladder is removed with vague symptoms like bloating and gas. This equals unnecessary surgery!

Laporascopic removal of the gallbladder while used commonly is not without risk. Accidental severing of the bile duct, which can cause permanent liver damage, occurs in 1 to 2 percent of laparoscopies—three times more often than in open surgery!

Function of the Gallbladder:

The gallbladder is located just under the liver and has a very important role in the digestive process.

According to Wikipedia:

In vertebrates the gallbladder (cholecyst, gall bladder, biliary vesicle) is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.

To put it another way, it emulsifies fats. Think of trying to wash greasy dishes without soap. It is almost impossible. Why? Because soap emulsifies the grease. Similarly, the gallbladder stores bile and bile acids, which emulsify the fat eaten so it can be properly transported through the intestine into the blood stream.

Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs it to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube–called the common bile duct–that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion. Under certain conditions the bile can harden into stones.

Types of Gallstones:

There are two two types of gallstones:

1. Cholesterol stones made up of hardened cholesterol are usually yellow-green. 80 percent of gallstones are cholesterol stones. They are caused by too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or not enough bile salts or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should.

2. Pigment stones made of bilirubin are small, dark stones. Their cause is uncertain although they tend to occur in people with cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia – these conditions cause too much bilirubin to form.

Either type of gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder can develop either one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or almost any combination.

Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack:

If gallstones lodge in any of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestines, a gallbladder attack occurs. Symptoms have a rapid onset and may include:

• Steady pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
• Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
• Pain under the right shoulder
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal bloating
• Recurring intolerance of fatty foods
• Belching
• Gas
• Indigestion

An easy way to determine if your pain is related to the gallbladder is to press down below on your last rib on your right side and lined up with your nipple – if there is pain there is a good chance that you have a gallbladder problem.

Curing Symptoms Not the Problem:

The removal of the gallbladder is a procedure called Cholecystectomy. Of the 1 million cholecystectomys or gallbladder removals that are done yearly, it is estimated that only a few thousand actually need to come out! Sadly, as many as half of the patients continue to have pain after the gallbladder is removed. Rather than treat the symptoms, more care should be taken to heed the warning signals and determine why the gallbladder is not functioning properly.

One way to relieve congestion in the gallbladder is a gallbladder cleanse or flush.

Source: http://myculturedpalate.com/blog/2013/01/02/gallbladder-cleanse-an-alternative-to-surgery/

REMOVE GALLSTONES NATURALLY!

Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally. 

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked. 

Regimen: 

1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally. 

2. On the sixth day, take no dinner. 

3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. 

4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts. 

5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage. 

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. "Usually they float," Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many." 

"Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then. 

PASS THIS AND YOU MAY HELP OTHERS!

Source: http://abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/118996/ 

ADVICE versus ADVISE

Advice and Advise

There is often confusion over the words advice and advise.

Advice

The word advice is a noun meaning a suggestion for a beneficial course of action.
(Advice rhymes with mice.)

Examples:

 Take my advice. I don't use it anyway.  

 He who can take advice is sometimes superior to him who can give it.  

 Many receive advice, but only the wise profit from it. 

Advise

The word advise is a verb meaning to give advice. (It rhymes with prize.) To advise can also mean to notify (e.g., I advised him I was leaving.)

Examples:

 I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.  

 The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.  

 Attach yourself to those who advise you rather than praise you.  

 Women will never be as successful as men because they have no wives to advise them.  


Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com

CORD versus CHORD

Cord vs. chord

A cord is (1) a string or rope, (2) an electrical cable, (3) a measure of wood equal to 128 cubic feet, (4) a ribbed fabric (short for corduroy) or pants made from the fabric, and (5) one of several types of cords found within the bodies of animals (e.g., the spinal cord and the umbilical cord). Chord is usually a musical term (though it is sometimes used metaphorically) denoting any combination of three or more pitches played at the same time, and it also has a few rare uses in geometry and science.

The cliché strike a chord is a metaphorical reference to music, so chord is the correct spelling.

Examples

A damaged extension cord caused a massive fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed Points West Sales and Leisure Sports. 

Rather he deploys it to float a perfectly weighted melody against a broken-chord accompaniment as unruffled and beautiful as a blue lagoon.

It takes one cord of wood or 60 gallons of oil to boil 800 gallons of syrup. 

He calls the final chord of ” A Day in the Life,” from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” in a typical aside, “the greatest E major chord in the history of Western music.” 

Source: http://grammarist.com/spelling/cord-chord/ 

Funny Signs, Only in da Pilipins

Pacquiao University

Congressman Manny Pacquiao is planning to spend his fortune to build PACQUIAO University. In short PAC  U. Students will be called "Pacquers". Mother Dionisia will be primarily running the school, she will be called "Mother Pacquer".... After hearing this news, Bobby Pacquiao, being a jealous brother that he is, decided to put up his own university called PAC U 2.

Easily Confused or Misused Words

Some words sound so similar, it's easy to confuse or misuse them when writing. Computer spell check won't catch these mistakes! Use this list as a reference whenever you're unsure about which word fits in the context.

affect / effect

Effect is usually a noun that means a result or the power to produce a result: “The sound of the falling rain had a calming effect, nearly putting me to sleep.” Affect is usually a verb that means to have an influence on: “His loud humming was affecting my ability to concentrate.” Note that effect can also be a verb meaning to bring about or execute: “The speaker's somber tone effected a dampening in the general mood of the audience.”

all right / alright

Although alright is widely used, it is considered nonstandard English. As the American Heritage Dictionary notes, it's not “all right to use alright.”

all together / altogether

All together is applied to people or things that are being treated as a group. “We put the pots and pans all together on the shelf.” All together is the form that must be used if the sentence can be reworded so that all and together are separated by other words: “We put all the pots and pans together on the shelf.” Altogether is used to mean entirely: “I am altogether pleased to be receiving this award.”

allusion / illusion

Allusion is a noun that means an indirect reference: “The speech made allusions to the final report.” Illusion is a noun that means a misconception: “The policy is designed to give an illusion of reform.”

alternately / alternatively

Alternately is an adverb that means in turn; one after the other: “We alternately spun the wheel in the game.” Alternatively is an adverb that means on the other hand; one or the other: “You can choose a large bookcase or, alternatively, you can buy two small ones.”

beside / besides

Beside is a preposition that means next to: “Stand here beside me.” Besides is an adverb that means also: “Besides, I need to tell you about the new products my company offers.”

bimonthly / semimonthly

Bimonthly is an adjective that means every two months: “I brought the cake for the bimonthly office party.” Bimonthly is also a noun that means a publication issued every two months: “The company publishes several popular bimonthlies.” Semimonthly is an adjective that means happening twice a month: “We have semimonthly meetings on the 1st and the 15th.”

capital / capitol

The city or town that is the seat of government is called the capital; the building in which the legislative assembly meets is the capitol. The term capital can also refer to an accumulation of wealth or to a capital letter.

cite / site

Cite is a verb that means to quote as an authority or example: “I cited several eminent scholars in my study of water resources.” It also means to recognize formally: “The public official was cited for service to the city.” It can also mean to summon before a court of law: “Last year the company was cited for pollution violations.” Site is a noun meaning location: “They chose a new site for the factory just outside town.”

complement / compliment

Complement is a noun or verb that means something that completes or makes up a whole: “The red sweater is a perfect complement to the outfit.” Compliment is a noun or verb that means an expression of praise or admiration: “I received compliments about my new outfit.”

comprise / compose

According to the traditional rule, the whole comprises the parts, and the parts compose the whole. Thus, the board comprises five members, whereas five members compose (or make up) the board. It is also correct to say that the board is composed (not comprised) of five members.

concurrent / consecutive

Concurrent is an adjective that means simultaneous or happening at the same time as something else: “The concurrent strikes of several unions crippled the economy.” Consecutive means successive or following one after the other: “The union called three consecutive strikes in one year.”

connote / denote

Connote is a verb that means to imply or suggest: “The word ‘espionage’ connotes mystery and intrigue.” Denote is a verb that means to indicate or refer to specifically: “The symbol for ‘pi’ denotes the number 3.14159.”

convince / persuade

Strictly speaking, one convinces a person that something is true but persuades a person to do something. “Pointing out that I was overworked, my friends persuaded [not convinced] me to take a vacation. Now that I'm relaxing on the beach with my book, I am convinced [not persuaded] that they were right.” Following this rule, convince should not be used with an infinitive.

council / councilor / counsel / counselor

A councilor is a member of a council, which is an assembly called together for discussion or deliberation. A counselor is one who gives counsel, which is advice or guidance. More specifically, a counselor can be an attorney or a supervisor at camp.

discreet / discrete

Discreet is an adjective that means prudent, circumspect, or modest: “Her discreet handling of the touchy situation put him at ease.” Discrete is an adjective that means separate or individually distinct: “Each company in the conglomerate operates as a discrete entity.”

disinterested / uninterested

Disinterested is an adjective that means unbiased or impartial: “We appealed to the disinterested mediator to facilitate the negotiations.” Uninterested is an adjective that means not interested or indifferent: “They seemed uninterested in our offer.”

elicit / illicit

Elicit is a verb that means to draw out. Illicit is an adjective meaning unlawful. “No matter how hard I tried to elicit a few scandalous stories from her, she kept all knowledge of illicit goings-on discreetly to herself. ”

emigrant / immigrant

Emigrant is a noun that means one who leaves one's native country to settle in another: “The emigrants spent four weeks aboard ship before landing in Los Angeles.” Immigrant is a noun that means one who enters and settles in a new country: “Most of the immigrants easily found jobs.” One emigrates from a place; one immigrates to another.

farther / further

Farther is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a more distant point: “We drove 50 miles today; tomorrow, we will travel 100 miles farther.” Further is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a greater extent or degree: “We won't be able to suggest a solution until we are further along in our evaluation of the problem.” It can also mean in addition or moreover: “They stated further that they would not change the policy.”

few / less

Few is an adjective that means small in number. It is used with countable objects: “This department has few employees.” Less is an adjective that means small in amount or degree. It is used with objects of indivisible mass: “Which jar holds less water?”

figuratively / literally

Figuratively is an adverb that means metaphorically or symbolically: “Happening upon the shadowy figure, they figuratively jumped out of their shoes.” Literally is an adverb that means actually: “I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally fell off my chair.” It also means according to the exact meaning of the words: “I translated the Latin passage literally.”

flammable / inflammable

These two words are actually synonyms, both meaning easily set on fire. The highly flammable (inflammable) fuel was stored safely in a specially built tank. Use nonflammable to mean not flammable.

flaunt / flout

To flaunt means to show off shamelessly: “Eager to flaunt her knowledge of a wide range of topics, Helene dreamed of appearing on a TV trivia show.” To flout means to show scorn or contempt for: “Lewis disliked boarding school and took every opportunity to flout the house rules.”

foreword / forward

Foreword is a noun that means an introductory note or preface: “In my foreword I explained my reasons for writing the book.” Forward is an adjective or adverb that means toward the front: “I sat in the forward section of the bus.” “Please step forward when your name is called.” Forward is also a verb that means to send on: “Forward the letter to the customer's new address.”

founder / flounder

In its primary sense founder means to sink below the surface of the water: “The ship foundered after colliding with an iceberg.” By extension, founder means to fail utterly. Flounder means to move about clumsily, or to act with confusion. A good synonym for flounder is blunder: “After floundering through the first half of the course, Amy finally passed with the help of a tutor.”

hanged / hung

Hanged is the past tense and past participle of hang when the meaning is to execute by suspending by the neck: “They hanged the prisoner for treason.” “The convicted killer was hanged at dawn.” Hung is the past tense and participle of hang when the meaning is to suspend from above with no support from below: “I hung the painting on the wall.” “The painting was hung at a crooked angle.”

historic / historical

In general usage, historic refers to what is important in history, while historical applies more broadly to whatever existed in the past whether it was important or not: “a historic summit meeting between the prime ministers;” “historical buildings torn down in the redevelopment.”

i.e. / e.g.

The abbreviation e.g. means for example (from Latin exempli gratia): “Her talents were legion and varied (e.g., deep sea diving, speed reading, bridge, and tango dancing).” The abbreviation i.e. means that is or in other words (from Latin id est): “The joy of my existence (i.e., my stamp collection) imbues my life with meaning.”

it's / its

It's is a contraction for it is, whereas its is the possessive form of it: “It's a shame that we cannot talk about its size.”

laid / lain / lay

Laid is the past tense and the past participle of the verb lay and not the past tense of lie. Lay is the past tense of the verb lie and lain is the past participle: “He laid his books down and lay down on the couch, where he has lain for an hour.”

lend / loan

Although some people feel loan should only be used as a noun, lend and loan are both acceptable as verbs in standard English: “Can you lend (loan) me a dollar?” However, only lend should be used in figurative senses: “Will you lend me a hand?”

lightening / lightning

Lightening is a verb that means to illuminate; lightning is a noun referring to the electrical charges the cause flashes of light during storms: “The lightning struck, lightening the sky.”

nonplussed

Meaning perplexed or bewildered, nonplussed is very often thought to mean just the opposite—calm, unruffled, cool-as-a-cucumber. A common mistake is to think the word means not “plussed,” but no such word exists. Nonplussed originates from the Latin non (no) and plus (more, further), and means a state in which no more can be done—one is so perplexed that further action is impossible. “The lexicographer grew increasingly agitated and nonplussed by the frequency with which she noted the misuse of nonplussed.”

passed / past

Passed is the past tense and past participle of pass. Past refers to time gone by; it is also a preposition meaning beyond. “In the past decade, I passed over countless opportunities; I was determined not to let them get past me again.”

penultimate

Meaning “next to last,” penultimate is often mistakenly used to mean “the very last,” or the ultimate: “The perfectionist was crestfallen when he was awarded the penultimate prize; the grand prize went to another.”

precede / proceed

The verb precede means to come before. Proceed means to move forward. “He preceded me into the room; once I caught up with him I proceeded to tell him off.”

principal / principle

Principal is a noun that means a person who holds a high position or plays an important role: “The school principal has 20 years of teaching experience.” Principal is also an adjective that means chief or leading: “The necessity of moving to another city was the principal reason I turned down the job offer.” Principle is a noun that means a rule or standard: “They refused to compromise their principles.”

stationary / stationery

Stationary is an adjective that means fixed or unmoving: “They maneuvered around the stationary barrier in the road.” Stationery is a noun that means writing materials: “We printed the letters on company stationery.”

their / there / they're

Their is the possessive form of they; there refers to place; and they're is the contraction of they are. “They're going there because their mother insisted they become proficient in Serbo-Croatian.”

venal / venial

Venal is an adjective that means corruptible; venial is an adjective that means a slight flaw or offense: “In the Catholic church, a venial sin is one that is minor and pardonable, whereas a mortal sin is a serious transgression involving more venal or depraved behavior.”

who's / whose

Who's is the contraction of who is. Whose is the possessive form of who. “Who's going to figure out whose job it is to clean the stables?”

your / you're

Your is the possessive form of you; you're is the contraction you are. “If you're planning on swimming, then be sure to bring your life vest and flippers.”

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.infoplease.com

Myths and Facts About Lightning

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building was once used as a lightning laboratory, since it's hit nearly 25 times per year.

Myth: If it's not raining, or if clouds aren't overhead, you're safe from lightning.
Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or even thunderstorm cloud. "Bolts from the Blue," though infrequent, can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm. Anvil lightning can strike the ground over 50 miles from the thunderstorm, under extreme conditions.

Myth: Rubber tires protect you from lightning in a car by insulating you from the ground.
Fact: Most cars are reasonably safe from lightning, but it's the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. Thus convertibles, motorcycles, bikes, open shelled outdoor recreation vehicles, and cars with plastic or fiberglass shells offer no lightning protection.

Myth: A lightning victim is electrified. If you touch them, you'll be electrocuted.
Fact: The human body doesn't store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.

Myth: If outside in a thunderstorm, go under a tree to stay dry.
Fact: Being underneath trees is the second leading activity for lightning casualties.

Myth: A house will keep you safe from lightning.
Fact: While a house is a good place for lightning safety, just going inside isn't enough. You must avoid any conducting path leading outside, such as corded telephones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, plumbing, metal doors or window frames, etc. Don't stand near a window to watch the lightning. An inside room is generally best.

Myth: Wearing metal on your body (jewelry, watches, glasses, backpacks, etc.), attracts lightning.
Fact: Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes virtually no difference where the lightning strikes. While metal doesn't attract lightning, touching or being near long metal objects (fences, railings, bleachers, vehicles, etc.) is still unsafe when thunderstorms are nearby. If lightning does happen to hit it, the metal can conduct the electricity a long distance and still electrocute you.

Myth: If trapped outside and lightning is about to strike, lay flat on the ground.
Fact: Lightning induces electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away. While lying flat on the ground gets you as low as possible, it increases your chance of being hit by a ground current. The best combination of being low and touching the ground as little as possible is the 'lightning crouch': put your feet together, squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears.

More Facts

• Each spark of lightning can soar to 50,000 Degrees Fahrenheit.
• There are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any given time on Earth.
• Lightning has been known to strike 10 miles from the storm in an area of clear sky above.
• The longest bolt of lightning seen to date was 118 miles long. It was seen in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
• Lightning strikes 30 million points on the ground in a given year in the U.S.
• Lightning injures approximately 1,000 people each year.

Source: http://myweathercontent.myweather.net/

UK versus US Spelling

In each sub-headings below, the UK spelling is first, then the US spelling.

-ise vs -ize

This includes words like agonise and terrorise as well as oddballs analyse and paralyse. This is the big dog. It covers close to 900 words. However, there are plenty of words that Americans spell -ise that don't have the meaning "to make or create X," includingsurprise, advertise, improvise. And then there's televise, which does mean "to make into a television broadcast."

-ll- vs -l-

This is a strange category that actually encompasses -ller, -lling, -lled, and related constructions. It's big—about 140 words—but very inconsistent. UK spellings likefunnelled, controller, and jewellery fit the category but don't look too odd to Americans because of enrolled, fulfilled, and similar words. Panel follows this form with paneled in the US and panelled in the UK. However, it's just the opposite for empanel. It becomesempanelled in the US and empaneled in the UK! And, as any frequent flier knows,cancelled and canceled exist pretty much equally in US English.

(Final -l vs final -ll)

Call it a small sub-category or a call it a communist plot, words that actually end in L follow a contrary rule to the one above. Words that end in -ll in the US end in -l in the UK. So Yanks write appall, instill, and enroll, while Brits write appal, instil, and enrol. Both write awful, harmful, stressful, etc. despite the obvious connection to full.

Before you say, "Aha! Americans double the L on the end when it's a two-syllable word with the accent on the second syllable!" feast your eyes on cartel and canal—but those are nouns, silly!—and excel, propel, and repel—okay, those are verbs. Brits write fulfil, but also refill. To quote the great English poet Taupin:

It's sad. So sad. It's a sad, sad situation. And it's growing more and more absurd.

-ae- vs -e-

Aeon, haemorrhage, and paedophile look funny to Americans, who are used to seeingeon, hemorrhage, and pedophile. They seem old-fashioned or even ancient. They come from Latin, of course, and the vowel usually makes the long E sound (altho Americans often let it drop to short E). About 70 words fall into this category. Even so, Americans write aerodynamics (and other aero- words) and sometimes archaeology and aestheticinstead of archeology and esthetic—even tho you won't see one writing anaesthetic like the Brits.

-oe- vs -e-

Similar to -ae-, -oe- words like foetal and diarrhoea look strange and foreign to Americans. The -oe- nearly always makes the long E sound (manoeuvre is an exception). This category includes about 25 words. On the other hand, Americans generally write subpoena, amoeba, and onomatopoeia, even tho valid non-oe- constructions exist (that is, they are valid but not preferred).

-our vs -or

The "cosmetic U," as linguists call it, comes from Old French and wore out its welcome early. Americans have done without it in words like colour and favour for a long time, but a few examples linger on: Americans write glamour. About 150 words fit in this category.

We might expand this category slightly to include mould, moustache, and similar words.

-tre vs -ter

Some Americans love to affect the Anglo-French -re spellings for centre and theatre, yet wouldn't be caught dead writing kilometre or lustre. This is probably the best-known difference, at least among Americans, yet only about 40 words fall into the category, most of which are derivatives of metre and litre.

We might broaden this category slightly to include calibre, manoeuvre, sabre, sepulchre, sombre, and their derivatives.

-gramme vs -gram

This includes programme and kilogramme. Programme happens to be changing to the American spelling, largely influenced by the term computer program and other -gramwords (about 17). Aside from it and aerogramme, only metric system words fit this category. The total is about 16 words.

-logue vs -log

The Brits still stick to the old spellings of catalogue and monologue. These are considered acceptable to Americans, but a bit dated. Americans have a tough time deciding to write travelog, tho, or cataloging rather than cataloguing. Only about 15 words fit in this category.

-ence vs -ense

An even smaller group than the previous, the -ence root words number just nine:defence, licence, offence and their ilk. There are nearly 200 valid -ence words in US English. Why these few would be singled out for change is unclear. Fewer than 20 -ense words are found in both types of English (sense, dense, immense, etc.).

Reader Yvonne Long points out that in UK English, license is the noun while licence is the verb, whereas in US English, license does double duty. Interestingly, this is somewhat similar to the difference between advice and advise, but these are pronounced differently, at least in the US.

Miscellaneous

A number of other spelling differences don't fall into any of the other categories.

• aluminium vs aluminum (this is due to historical happenstance)
• behoves vs behooves
• bevvy vs bevy
• cheque vs check
• cypher vs cipher
• connexion vs connection (connexion is dying out in the UK)
• draught vs draft
• gaol vs jail (gaol is largely converted to the US spelling, even in England)
• omelette vs omelet (you'll see both in the US)

• plough vs plow
• tyre vs tire
• yoghurt (and even yoghourt) vs yogurt
• judgement vs judgment (you'll see both in the UK)
• Americans want to put the E in there, but their spell-checkers tell them not to, Brits often do put an E in there, altho Tim A-M points out in his comment at bottom that this is not sanctioned by certain authorities.
• practise (verb) and practice (noun) vs practice

Special oddities

In the course of studying the differences between US and UK spelling, I've come across a few peculiarities of interest.

• Both US and UK prefer glamour (but US accepts the non-preferred glamor). But both also prefer glamorous to glamourous.
• Both US and UK insist on Caesar, but US prefers cesarean to caesarean.
• The use of disc vs disk is hopelessly confused. Both insist on disc jockeyand disc brakes. But both also insist on floppy disk and hard disk. In general, UK prefers disc and US prefers disk, but the spelling of the expanded form of CD depends mainly on whether you are talking about music (compact disc) or data (compact disk).
• US insists on disheveled, initialed, and similar single-L spellings while UK insists on dishevelled, initialled, etc.
• Full is the only word in US or UK English that ends in -full. Related words are always spelled with a single L: handful, teaspoonful, artful, successful, etc. (And, as noted above, US insists on fulfill while UK insists on fulfil.)
• Smidgen, smidgeon, and smidgin are all valid variants in US and UK English (with smidgen being preferred in both).
• "Fraternal twin" words like dreamt vs dreamed, leapt vs leaped, andspeciality vs specialty are treated as entirely different words here, since some are sometimes found in both US and UK English.

Uniquely Shaped Buildings

Egg Building (China)

This beautiful structure known as “The Egg” is China's National Centre for the Performing Arts. This dome-shaped building is submerged in water and contains an Opera House, a Concert Hall, and a Theater. Remarkably, this building is just as massive and intriguing below the surface of the water. “The Egg” is home to underwater corridors, an underwater garage, and even an artificial lake. The structure took over five years to build. 

The Hashtag Tower (Seoul, Korea)

Now this is something to talk about: Danish architects BIG have designed an apartment tower complex that looks like a hashtag. 

The Cross # Towers constitute a three-dimensional urban community of interlocking horizontal and vertical towers. Three public bridges connect two slender towers at different levels – underground, on the street and in the air. Catering to the demands and desires of different residents, age groups and cultures, the bridges are landscaped and equipped for a variety of activities traditionally restricted to the ground. The resultant volume forms a distinct figure on the new skyline of Seoul – a “#” that serves as a gateway to the new Yongsan Business District, signaling a radical departure from the crude repetition of disconnected towers, leaning towards a new urban community that populates the three-dimensional space of the city.

Elephant Building (Bangkok)

Meet the Elephant Building in Bangkok, Thailand. Designed by Sumet Jumsai and completed in 1997. 

Ren Building (Shanghai)

The Ren Building is an interesting design by PLOT, which has since split up into BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and JDS (Julien De Smedt). The project was aproposal for a hotel, sports and conference center for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The building was conceived as two buildings merging into one. The first building, emerging from the water, is supposed to be devoted to activities of the body, and houses the sports and water culture center. The second building, emerging from land, is to be devoted to the spirit and enlightenment, and houses the conference center and meeting facilities. The two buildings are to meet in a 1000-room hotel, a building for living. The building becomes the Chinese sign for "The People", and a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China. 

Wing Shape Zayed National Museum ( UAE) 

This wing-shaped building is the Zayed National Museum designed by Foster + Partners. It is located on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and will be the first museum completed for the island for showcasing the history, culture and more recently, the social and economic transformation of the Emirates.

The museum features five wing-shaped towers protruding from a man-made, landscaped mound that houses the galleries. The towers act as thermal chimneys and draw cooling currents through the museum without any need for electricity. Fresh air is captured and drawn through underground ground-cooling pipes and then released into the museum's air. Since the towers heat up at the top, air is pulled up vertically through thegalleries due to the thermal stack effect, and is then pushed out of the air vents. 

The Dancing House (Czech Republic)

The Dancing House, aka the Dancing Building, is an architectural masterpiece in downtown Prague. It got its name due to its shape. The original name was Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) as it resembles a pair of dancers. It was designed in 1992 by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunic and finished in 1996. 

COR Building (Miami, Florida)
A new high rise is going up in Miami's design district, and its a lean, green, eco machine. A collaboration between Chad Oppenheim architecture + design, energy consultant Buro Happold, and structural engineer Ysreal Seinuk, the $40 million, 25-story, “COR” building will incorporate mixed-use residential and commercial space, integrating green technologies including wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and solar hot water generation. The building's exoskeleton is a hyper-efficient structure that provides thermal mass for insulation, shade for residents, and architectural elements such as terraces and armatures that support turbines.

With the aim to attract creative and design-oriented businesses and professionals, the interior of COR features sleek commercial and comfortable residential spaces ranging from $400,000 to $2 million. Each residential unit will include Energy Star appliances, recycled glass tile flooring, and bamboo-lined hallways. In total, COR will play host to 113 residential units, 20,100 square feet of office space, and 5,400 square feet of retail space (which already includes a café and furniture store). 

Coin Building (UAE)

Aldar headquarters building in Abu Dhabi. Designed by MZ Architects and opened in 2010. This coin-shaped building is the world's first circular skyscraper.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

In addition to the wonderful flavor it adds to your food, olive oil is also one of nature's healing wonders. This liquid gold works to keep hearts healthy, may reduce inflammation and the risk of certain cancers, and might even play a role in controlling diabetes and weight. This is because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, which lowers bad cholesterol without affecting good cholesterol. In this article you'll learn how to use olive oilto improve your health. Here's a quick preview:

• Olive Oil Health Basics
  
  Olive trees first grew in the Mediterranean region thousands of years ago. They have spread to all areas of the world as the health benefits of olive oil have become well documented. It just so happens that nature provided dietary fats in the olive in the exat ratio that human beings need them. On this page you'll learn about different dietary fats and why the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats in olives are beneficial.
• Heart Benefits From Olive Oil
  
  It seems like a simple change, but switching from saturated fats to monounsaturated fat to prepare your food can produce big benefits. Researchers have shown that the phytochemicalsin olive oil can fight cholesterol and prevent heart disease. On this page you'll learn why  "thinning" the blood with phytochemicals produces these health benefits. 
  
  
• Inflammation Benefits From Olive Oil
  
  Inflammation is the immune system's first line of defense against injury and infection. It's a natural process that is designed to heal. But too much of a good thing can be painful and ultimately harmful to the body, even going so far as causing organ damage and diabetes. Fortunately, olive oil has a compound called oleocanthal that controls inflammation. Learn more about inflammation and why olive oil keeps it in check on this page.
  
  
• Cancer Benefits From Olive Oil
  
  There once was a time when medical researchers linked various cancers to the amount of fat in our diets. Now, many believe that the type of fat is more important than the amount. There is plenty of controversy and much research left to be done on the role olive oil may play in the fight against cancer. But some people believe it can lower your risk of colon, prostate, and breast cancer, and on this page you'll learn why.
• Diabetes Benefits From Olive Oil
  
  Diabetes causes severe spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, so people with this disease have to be very careful to maintain blood sugar. One way to do this is to eat a diet low in carbohydrates. Now, some researchers are starting to think that a diet high in monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, is even more effective. On this page you'll learn about the latest research on how to use olive oil to manage diabetes.
• Weight-Loss Benefits From Olive Oil
  
  Carrying too much weight is a condition that goes hand-in-hand with high levels of cholesterol, heart disease, and other ailments. But there's good news: Merely switching to monounsaturated fats, which also work against those other diseases, will in itself help you lose a few pounds. Add a regular regimen of exercise and you're well on your way to your proper wieght. Find out how to use olive oil in your overall weight loss effort on this page.