Tosny Digest 58: Hapax Legomenon
🐋 Welcome. 🐨 Here are the things that I have done or discovered
🐶 What did I do?
Published an important article titled 7 Note-Taking and Writing Apps and Why I Use Them All.
🙊 What the Quote?
“The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.“
🗨️ Galileo Galilei, while under the influence of fermented grapes.
🙋 What is… Hapax legomenon?
A word or expression that is used only once within a context, such as a single text or the works of a particular author. The term comes from Greek, meaning “said only once.”
In James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake, the word “quark” appears only once, making it a hapax legomenon in that work.
📰 Pieces of News
🐾 Francine the Lowe’s Cat Returns Home After Unexpected Journey
Francine, the beloved calico cat from a Lowe’s store in Richmond, Virginia, went missing in September 2025. She had accidentally boarded a truck bound for a Lowe’s distribution centre in Garysburg, North Carolina, over 85 miles away. After a two-week search involving volunteers, thermal drones, and social media efforts, Francine was safely trapped and returned to her home store. Her return was celebrated with a “Francine Fest” at a local brewery and a team party at the store.
🏆 Keiran Piper Wins Saffie’s Smile Award for Inspirational Turnaround
Sixteen-year-old Keiran Piper from London was awarded The Sun’s 2025 Saffie’s Smile Award after overcoming relentless bullying through his passion for trampolining. Keiran now mentors vulnerable children and was treated to a VIP Arsenal match experience and a £5,000 family holiday. The award honours young individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to others.
❤️ Croatian Fans Light Up Heart-Shaped Island in World Cup Support
During a World Cup match, Croatian fans illuminated the edges of Galesnjak, a heart-shaped island, to show support for their team. This glowing gesture not only showcased their love for the game but also illuminated the night sky, spreading joy and unity among supporters.
🗺️ Where in the world is… The Petrifying Well?
Knaresborough, England.
This well in North Yorkshire has the peculiar property of seemingly turning objects to stone. Water with a high mineral content cascades over a cliff, coating anything left in its path—from teddy bears to kettles—in a hard stone shell over several months, a process that led medieval locals to believe it was cursed by a witch.
🕵️ What did I find?
The Deep Sea: An interactive scrolling website (neal.fun/deep-sea) that takes you on a journey from the ocean’s surface down to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench, introducing the strange and fascinating creatures that live at each depth, along with the crushing pressure they endure.
WikiGame: An online game (thewikigame.com) that challenges you to navigate from one Wikipedia article to another using the fewest number of hyperlink clicks possible, testing your knowledge and creativity in finding connections between seemingly unrelated topics.