Tue. 11/23 - Why Do We Say "Sh*t Hit the Fan"?

Why we rely on idioms for communication and how some of the more nonsensical ones entered our lexicon. Plus, a company working on a sort of 10,000 g slingshot to launch satellites into space with zero emissions just pulled off their first successful test launch. And some reflections on reconnecting with the Earth in this era of the climate emergency, without appropriating indigenous cultures. Links: The Linguistic Case for Sh*t Hitting the Fan (JSTOR Daily) History of Swear Words (Netflix) Thanksgiving offers a way forward (Indian Country Today) This Company Wants to Launch Satellites Into Orbit Using a Giant Spinning Centrifugal Slingshot (Gizmodo) SpinLaunch's rocket-free kinetic launch system conducts first test flight (New Atlas) First Native to head the National Park Service (Indian Country Today) Senate confirms first Native American to lead National Park Service (NBC News) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices