Author: Kirstin Fawcett

Flip through the Modern English-Yiddish/Yiddish-English Dictionary, published by Uriel Weinreich in 1968, and you’ll notice it’s missing plenty of now-ubiquitous words. You won’t find “email” or “texting,” of course, and certainly not “transgender.” To update a historic tongue for modern speakers, The Times of Israel reports two language lovers have created a new translation resource for all things Yiddish.

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Dr. Paul Glasser teamed up with Indiana University Press and the League for Yiddish to publish the Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary. With 50,000 entries and 33,000 sub-entries, it’s more than twice the length of Weinreich’s dictionary. Even more importantly, it’s the first work in 50 years to breathe new life into a language that experts believe to be around 1100 years old.

Schaechter-Viswanath, a poet and editor, and Glasser, a former dean of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, contributed words to the dictionary, as did their Yiddish-speaking colleagues. The two also relied heavily on notes compiled by Schaechter-Viswanath’s father—noted Yiddish linguist Dr. Mordkhe Schaechter—and borrowed phrases from an old Yiddish thesaurus, European reference books, and French and Russian-Yiddish dictionaries.

As for the dictionary’s brand-new entries, the editors combined already existing Yiddish words into compound words, or canonized unofficial words or slang used among Jews today. For example, email is blitspost, binge watch is shlingen epizodn—literally translated to “wolf down episodes”—and flip-flops is fingershikh, or finger-shoes.

The 2010 census found that only 154,433 Americans still speak Yiddish at home. Still, the dictionary’s initial sales look promising: 1200 copies were published in June, and have since sold out. Another 1000 are currently in the works.

For Schaechter-Viswanath, the work was a labor of love. “I did it for my children, my grandson, my colleagues in the Yiddish world, and myself,” she told The Times of Israel. “Most of all, I did it for my father.”

According to The New York Times, the dictionary’s debut will be officially celebrated at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan on November 13. (Fittingly, the event’s keynote speech and a panel discussion among the dictionary’s editors will be offered in both English and Yiddish.) Tickets are free, and available online.

[h/t The Times of Israel]

Texting with words is so passé. To celebrate the emoji’s cultural influence, SFGate reports that fans of the tiny digital images will gather in San Francisco this weekend for Emojicon—which organizers call the world’s first convention dedicated to all things hearts, smiley faces, frowns, and more.

The convention kicks off tonight on November 4 with an emoji-themed costume party (serving foods that have been made into emojis, no less), and runs through Sunday, November 6. Scheduled events include emoji karaoke, an emoji-centric film festival, an emoji spelling bee, and emoji workshops focused on everything from diversity to design. Attendees can even suggest new emoji to members of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee.

According to Emogi, a real-time emotional marketing platform, “an estimated 4.8 trillion mobile messages will be sent incorporating emoji” by the end of 2016. Due to their ubiquity, some people argue that emojis are no longer just tiny cartoons—they’re a cultural force to be reckoned with.

“Emojis represent so much more than just cute digital characters,” Yvonne Ng, global marketing manager at Chinese web services company Baidu, told SFGate. “They have become a universal language, a form of self-expression and a part of unique cultural identities.” Ng will lead a panel called “Speaking in Kaomoji,” a Japanese emoticon style featuring Japanese characters and grammar punctuations.

Tonight’s opening party will be held at Covo, a co-working space, and the remainder of the conference will take place at Bespoke, a co-working and event space at the Westfield San Francisco Centre. Ticket prices range $10 to $500 and are still available for purchase online. For more information, visit Emojicon’s website.

[h/t SFGate]

The only thing more important than being an informed voter is being a prepared one. November 8 is swiftly approaching, and it’s time to make like Joe Biden and formulate an Election Day strategy. Still figuring out how to cast your ballot next week? Here’s a quick checklist of ways you can prepare to do your civic duty.

– Make sure you’re registered to vote. While the deadline to register has already passed in most places, some states allow residents to register until November 8. If you live in Wyoming, New Hampshire, Colorado, Wisconsin, Maine, or Washington, D.C, you can register in person at your state or local election office up until Election Day. And in North Dakota, you don’t need to register at all. Other allowances and exceptions vary by state, so head to your local election board’s website if you’re unsure.

– Look up your polling place and know how you’re going to get there. Rock the Vote has a “find my polling place” feature, lists the hours your location is open, and provides you with a Google map for finding your way.

– Vote early. If you’re going to be away on November 8, see if your state allows early voting (Rock the Vote compiled a list) or visit Vote.org to learn more about absentee voting.

– Get familiar with your state’s ballot. Facebook has a new feature that allows you to view your local ballot so you can research candidates and measures in advance. It also allows you to email your filled-out ballot to yourself so you can print it and take it with you to use as a cheat sheet when you vote.

– Know if you need an ID. Some states require one, others don’t—and the rules change every year. If you’re not sure, Vote.org compiled a handy list of up-to-date information on voter ID laws.

One last note: We know you want to tell the world you voted, but once you’ve finally made it to the polls, think twice about taking a selfie in a voting booth. That’s illegal in 18 states—and for that matter, other voters might feel weird about making a cameo on your Instagram feed. To be on the safe side, leave your smartphone in your pocket or purse until you’ve reached the parking lot. Then, smile wide and show off that “I Voted” sticker!

War doesn’t just destroy cities, homes, and lives—it also destroys culture. As The Guardian reports, the Louvre Museum in Paris has offered to protect art treasures rescued from conflict-ridden countries in a new conservation and storage facility in northern France.

French President François Hollande announced the proposal earlier this week while unveiling a plaque for the Louvre’s new building in Liévin, France, scheduled to open in 2019. “The principle role of the Liévin site will be to house the Louvre Museum’s stored collection,” The Guardian quoted Hollande as saying, “… but it could have another role, sadly linked to the events, dramas, tragedies that we see in the world.” The president was referencing the recent destruction of cultural and UNESCO-World Heritage sites in Syria and Iraq by terrorist groups like The Islamic State (ISIS).

Hollande intentionally chose to reveal the plaque while visiting the Louvre-Lens, a regional branch of the Louvre in Pas-de-Calais. He was there to open a new exhibition, “History Begins in Mesopotamia,” which runs through January 2017. “This show has not come about by chance,” Holland said (as quoted in The Art Newspaper). “We wanted it at the moment when heritage was under threat in Iraq and Syria.”

Hollande plans to officially extend The Louvre’s offer of protection at a French-led international conference on the effects of terrorism on culture, held in December at the new Louvre Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. There, representatives from about 40 countries will discuss ways to combat antiquities trafficking, memorialize destroyed sites, and rescue and restore endangered cultural artifacts from other countries. 

[h/t The Guardian]

Billy Muir gives new meaning to the term “side hustle.” The 67-year-old grandfather from Scotland’s Orkney Islands has 20 different jobs—sheep farmer, firefighter, electrician, garbage collector, and airport worker, to name a few. To acknowledge his industrious spirit, BBC News reports, the Pride of Britain presented Muir with an award Monday evening (October 31), honoring him as “Britain’s hardest–working man.”

Orkney sheep farmer hailed as Britain’s “hardest working man” https://t.co/KaRNpIOgTz pic.twitter.com/Ykh88fhwWB

— The Scotsman (@TheScotsman) November 1, 2016

The Daily Mirror and TSB Bank host the annual awards ceremony, which is billed as an event that spotlights “truly remarkable people who make the world a better place.” Members of the public nominate candidates, and winners are announced at a star-studded ceremony held in early November.

Muir was presented with a “Community Partner” award, given to individuals or a group of people who selflessly work to improve their local community. According to STV News, Muir was “very, very surprised” to learn the news. “I never in my wildest dreams expected anything like this to happen to me,” he told the outlet.

Muir lives on the island of North Ronaldsay, which, due its small size, has a tight-knit community and labor force. Inhabitants work together to keep the island running smoothly, but Muir goes above and beyond. 

“I’ve often wondered where the island would be if he didn’t do all those jobs,” Muir’s wife, Isobel, told The Scotsman. “He contributes so much to everything that goes on. It’s an ageing population and he’s one of the people that’s still strong and fit enough to do all this work.”

Muir has served his community for decades. He has worked as the North Ronaldsay lighthouse keeper for nearly 50 years, and he’s been a fireman for more than 30.

“It’s made me very happy, and it keeps me fit,” Muir told The Scotsman. “As long as I keep fit and healthy I’ve got no plans to retire.”

[h/t BBC News]

Apple’s new emoji set pays homage to the late rock star David Bowie. As Rolling Stone reports, Apple’s upcoming iOS 10.2 update will feature tiny male and female singers resembling the glam rock singer as he appeared the cover of his classic 1973 album, Aladdin Sane.

The Bowie-inspired emojis have technicolor spiked hair, a miniature microphone, and multi-colored lightning bolts painted across their faces. They join an assortment of other new professional emojis including a judge, a teacher, a firefighter, and an astronaut, offered in both male and female options.

In addition to the aforementioned career-inspired images, the iOS 10.2 emoji keyboard will feature new animals like owls, rhinos, and lizards; foods like pancakes, eggs, and avocados; and gestures like face palms, crossed fingers, and even a disembodied hand taking a selfie. It’s currently only available in beta form, but you can view the full selection of new and updated emojis over at Emojipedia.

[h/t Rolling Stone]

The world is full of grape-flavored beverages, popsicles, jellies, and even medicines, but for some mysterious reason, grape-flavored ice cream is harder to find. In a recent interview with Thrillist, Ben Cohen, co-founder of ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, helped to shed some light on the reason behind the dearth. 

Contrary to all the popular (and slightly absurd) conspiracy theories floating around, Cohen’s rationale is purely logistical. Grapes have a high water content, so when you try to use the fruit as a base for ice cream, chunks of that water therein tend to freeze. Chefs whipping up small batches of homemade grape ice cream can avoid this problem by pureeing the fruit, but it’s much harder to manufacture large volumes of ice cream when it’s flecked with bits of ice.

Of course, other fruits, like cherries, are also mostly water—and Cherry Garcia is one of Ben & Jerry’s most popular flavors. In short, it’s possible to make fruit ice cream on a larger scale, but the demand has to be there to make the hassle worthwhile (and for that matter, profitable). And as Cohen explained, most people don’t even think to associate grapes with ice cream—so if Ben & Jerry’s made a grape-flavored dessert, it’s likely that nobody would buy it. Since cherry and vanilla are such popular flavors, it pays for the company to make Cherry Garcia.

These complications haven’t stopped others from attempting to make and sell their own grape-flavored ice cream. Candy manufacturer Airheads reportedly gave it a whirl, and long ago Ben & Jerry’s attempted a grape ice cream, as well as a “Sugar Plum” ice cream that tasted kind of like grapes. (Neither flavor took off.) In the end, it simply takes a lot of work to make a good grape ice cream—and as long as the public isn’t clamoring to eat it, food giants aren’t clamoring to provide it.

[h/t Thrillist]

A British art historian believes he has tracked down a famous piece of furniture: the curved wooden bed featured in Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom paintings, completed between 1888 and 1889. According to The Independent, the bed was reportedly donated to Dutch refugees in Boxmeer, Netherlands, after World War II—and today, experts hope it might still be tucked away inside someone’s home.

While conducting research for his new book, Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence, van Gogh expert Martin Bailey discovered a 1937 letter written by the artist’s cousin, Vincent Willem, that provided clues to the bed’s whereabouts.

Purchased in 1888, the bed furnished van Gogh’s bedroom in his Yellow House in Arles, France, which he briefly shared with fellow post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh created three unique paintings of the space, all of which prominently featured the piece of furniture. After the artist’s 1890 suicide, the bed was given to his brother’s widow, Jo, who later moved to Holland and brought the bed with her.

Several decades later, art enthusiasts wanted to convert the Yellow House into a museum, and Jo’s nephew, Vincent Willem, received a request to borrow paintings. Vincent made an even better offer: He generously suggested that he give the museum the iconic bed.

This plan never came to fruition, as bombs destroyed the Yellow House during World War II. According to the AFP, Bailey tracked down Vincent’s son, Johan van Gogh, in 2015, and the 93-year-old told him that the bed had stood in his father’s home in Laren, Holland, until the war’s end. In 1945, it was donated to survivors in Boxmeer.

Bailey verified this tale by locating an old photo of the truck used to carry the bed from Laren to Boxmeer. Now, the art historian hopes to find the bed for himself—that is, if its later owners, unaware of their priceless possession, haven’t given or thrown it away.

[h/t The Independent]

Progress often comes at a cost, and with the new MacBook Pro, that price happens to be nostalgia. As Gizmodo reports, Apple’s new laptop is missing a small feature that’s become a big part of the tech company’s brand: its melodic startup chime.

The new generation of MacBook Pros (that can be ordered with or without an emoji bar) will boot up silently. Apple made no official announcement, but computer blog Pingie discovered the news while browsing tech notes for the new laptop. They noticed there was no mention of the familiar chime—and after giving the computer a spin, they confirmed it was gone.

Brand loyalists might remember that the chime was first introduced in 1991, when Apple released a new computer line called the Macintosh Quadra. According to The Guardian, the noise signified that the machines had completed their diagnostic tests and were about to boot up. (Musically inclined users might also remember that the original startup chime was a C major chord; it was changed to an F sharp chord when the first iMacs were released in 1998.)

Technology has advanced greatly since the 1990s, and there’s likely no need for the startup chime now. Some people might even rejoice over this news, since few things are more distracting (or embarrassing) than booting up a Mac computer in a silent boardroom or lecture hall.

Still, owners of the new MacBook Pro might want to take a brief moment of silence for the bygone noise. In a few short years it will likely go extinct, joining the crackles, bleeps, and whirrs of other tech noises of yesteryear that your kids will probably never hear.

[h/t Gizmodo]

Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.

If you want to give your indoor pet a taste of outdoor life, Outside reports that Canadian artist/designer Judson Beaumont has designed a line of whimsical, animal-sized trailers.

Modeled after vintage Airstreams and mobile homes, Beaumont’s tiny units come equipped with basic (or not so basic) necessities like stainless steel water and food cups and LED lights. You can even order them in different colors, styles, and sizes, and request customized license plates.

For now, the trailers are only designed for pets up to 20 pounds, and unlike your full-sized camper, they aren’t waterproof. So unless you’re anticipating clear skies, it’s probably best for your pooch to go “camping” in your living room instead of the backyard.

You can view a selection of Beaumont’s trailers below, or visit his website for more information.

All photographs courtesy of Straight Line Designs Inc. // Judson Beaumont.

[h/t Outside]

Know of something you think we should cover? Email us at tips@mentalfloss.com.