Fighting Artichokes - 5 October 2015

<p>What's in a mascot name? Maybe you're a fan of the Banana Slugs, or you cheer for the Winged Beavers. Perhaps your loyalty lies with the Fighting Artichokes. There are some strange names for sports team out there. But what's even stranger is the origin of the word "mascot" itself. It's from a 19th-century opera! And: the host of a television show about gardening is tired of using the verb "to plant," and is desperate for an alternative. But coming up with one is harder than you might think! Plus, a word for that sinking feeling when your favorite restaurant closes. Also, a word quiz based on the party game Taboo, the history of cataract, a begrudging ode to office jargon, and an old children's song about popping the heads off of flowers.<br /><br />FULL DETAILS<br /><br />Come From Away, a new musical about the 7000 passengers whose planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, after the September 11th attacks, is not only a fine piece of theater. It's also a rich trove of Newfoundland language, including come from away, a noun that means "visitor."<br /><br />Evergreen State College in Washington is certainly in the running for best school mascot, with the Geoduck. But you can’t forget the UC Santa Cruz Fighting Banana Slugs, or the Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes. The term mascot itself was popularized by a 19th century French comic opera, called La mascotte. The word is also related to the Spanish term for "pet," mascota. <br /><br />The Dictionary of Newfoundland English offers a look at some intriguing vocabulary from that part of the world, such as the expression best kind, meaning "in the best state or condition."<br /><br />If you pronounce roof to rhyme with hoof, you're not alone. Millions of people all over the U.S. say it that way, though the pronunciation with the long o sound is more common.<br /><br />You're not a true resident of Poca, West Virginia, if you're not cheering on the local high school, the Poca Dots.<br /><br />Quiz Guy John Chaneski brought us a puzzle based on on