I've been in printing for well over 50 years and I'd hate to count how many times I've explained that a good dictionary just records current usage -- and that is constantly evolving. Any printed dictionary is not an absolute arbitrator of correctness, it is just a snapshot (just had to tie this to photography) of the language, selected by the editors, at one point in time. New words are inevitable because our world is constantly changing. Try looking up "selfie" in you printed dictionary.

Merriam Webster used to print volumes of new words -- 3000, 6000, 12000, and then they would print a new edition of the M-W Collegiate, and then start the process over again. Nowadays, new words and meanings get added to the computer database on a daily basis.

One change of meaning that really grates one me every time I see it is "Healthy Food." The original meaning of "healthy" was alive and well. Just try to name a food that is "alive and well." "Healthful" correctly described a food, environment, or activity that was good for your health. But pervasive use in advertising has given "healthy" a new meaning and dictionaries are recording that meaning.

And let's not even mention the misuse of apostrophes!

Yes, many early tools were hand fashioned but this one was a commercial product as evidenced by the casting/forging of the basic shape.

I'm one of the "grey hairs" that remembers many types of early farm equipment. A square was just easier to machine so many early items had square shafts and square nuts. A square-ended shaft connected to a pinion gear was a method of making operating adjustments on various tools and equipment. The one I remember the most was the pinion that adjusted the width and angle of the disks on the planter. You could make the adjustment with a standard wrench, but the custom tool that came with the planter had a square 3/8" or 1/2" socket and a universal joint with an crank handle allowed making the adjustment without being a contortionist. In use it was about 24" long but had a locking joint in the middle so it could be folded in half and stowed in the tool box.

My point is that I'm sure it is a custom tool sold with some product and we are just guessing what that product was. It would have been nice if they had been proud enough of it to put their name one it!

Real life is weird enough without any "chemical enhancers."

Just renewed my drivers license. It's been valid for nearly 60 years and has been used as ID for hundreds of passes through airport security -- but this time I had to bring in a certified birth certificate and they didn't even check the footprint! Oh, then take off my glasses for the photo -- but the license says I am required to wear them!

Some of us like the "blank" page option when opening Explorer!

I hate waiting for a bunch or advertisement, news, or other crap to load before I can go to or search for what I really want.

So I set it to "Blank" on purpose.

The Toothacher family lived just down the road from our farm and sure enough, the twin boys went to college and became dentists!

Or the one that has been quoted in out family for as long as I can remember . . .
"Your rights end where the other guy's nose begins."

1944 was a good year but I have to wait until August to celebrate.

Rode the cog railway on Pike's Peak in Colorado 50+ years ago!

I view Harbor Freight as a source for one-use tools. I don't want to be anywhere near a cheap router bit spinning at 20,000 rpm or more! Besides the table saw, a router is one of the most dangerous tools in the shop.

The original copyright holder has all rights including the right to make derivative works unless he has legally transferred those rights. Anyone wanting to use the original work in any form must get permission for the specific use and abide by any restrictions and make any acknowledgements and/or compensation agreed upon. e.g. An author could get permission to use a photo as an illustration in a book and may copyright the book as a whole, but that doesn't imply any copyright rights for the photo used.

"Fair use" has very strict guidelines. It's not the, "I'm using it for personal use and I am not selling it, so it is OK," attitude.

As a printer, I deal with copyrighted materials in a wide variety of forms. In general, it can be assumed that anything created after 1977 is in copyright. Works created in the 120 years prior to 1977 are covered by various rules concerning "publication" and registration. Determining the actual status of a copyright can be a real challenge and then finding the right person to request permission from may be impossible.

Baking cakes for special occasions has been one of my "hats" for about 50 years now. Used to do the cake and take the pictures at weddings but that is a lot of work!

If you like a fruit filling, canned pie filling from the grocery baking aisle will work just fine. You can use a well cooled and set custard pudding for a filling but make it from scratch -- don't touch the instant stuff or you will just come out with a soggy mess.

Craft stores like Michael's usually have a cake and cookie section and they often have fillings. If you have a wholesale grocery in your area that caters to businesses, they often have fillings in long plastic bags -- just clip the corner and squirt it out. Used some apple filling that way a couple of weeks ago for a spice cake for an friend's 80th birthday. Used the leftover filling on my toast for a few days.

But some of the best ones like banana and whipped cream can only be made from scratch.

There is still a "slip stick" in the pencil holder on my desk and a circular slide rule in desk drawer at home. I still use both in calculating reductions and enlargements of prints and photos. My grandkids just roll they eyes when I pull them out to use.