LEANNE ITALIE Lifestyles Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

‘Beast mode’ to ‘teraflop’: 10 words from the Merriam-Webster dictionary update

September 25, 2025

Merriam-Webster has announced a major update to its “Collegiate” dictionary, adding over 5,000 new words. The additions include “petrichor,” which describes the smell of rain on dry earth. There’s also “teraflop,” a unit of computing speed. Others are “beast mode,” referring to intense effort, and “love language,” about expressing affection. There’s also “rizz,” a slang for charisma, and “hard pass,” meaning a firm refusal. “Dad bod” describes a certain physique, and “side-eye” is a look of disapproval. “Farm-to-table” relates to locally sourced food, and “dumbphone” is a basic mobile phone.

Fashion meets Freud. A new exhibit explores clothes through a psychoanalytic lens

September 25, 2025

A new exhibit at The Museum at FIT in New York City explores fashion through the lens of psychoanalysis. Curated by Valerie Steele, it features nearly 100 designer pieces to examine connections between fashion and such things as the unconscious mind and desire. Steele notes that Freud himself took care with what he wore. The exhibit discusses how Freud has played out in fashion in a variety of ways. There’s Marc Jacobs’ “Freudian slip” dress and John Galliano’s “Freud or Fetish” collection. Among the highlights is Elsa Schiaparelli’s “Hall of Mirrors” jacket. The exhibit runs from September 10 to January 4 of next year, with a companion book by Steele due in November.

Webster's New International Dictionary 2nd unabridged edition from 1948 is displayed for sale at Powell's Books on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Hard pass. Cold brew. Dad bod. Merriam-Webster adds over 5,000 words to ‘Collegiate’ dictionary

September 24, 2025

Merriam-Webster has fully revised its popular “Collegiate” dictionary with over 5,000 new words. They include “petrichor,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” Also “cold brew,” “rizz,” “dad bod,” “hard pass,” “cancel culture” and more. The 12th edition is the first update in 22 years. It will be released Nov. 18. The company removed outdated geographical and biographical sections to make room for new content. Merriam-Webster’s president, Greg Barlow, says the goal is to make the dictionary more useful and engaging. Despite declining dictionary revenue among sellers overall, Merriam-Webster remains committed to its print editions. It sells about 1.5 million dictionaries a year but makes most of its money through digital content. The company’s website logs a billion visits annually.

FILE - A man runs on a small road in the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany, before sunrise on Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

From rock bottom to wellness: How 3 people kick-started their health journeys

September 24, 2025

Wellness advice seems to be everywhere these days. But starting a journey to better health can feel overwhelming. Experts say to start by defining your wellness goals and starting small. Try manageable steps like increasing your water intake or gradually quitting smoking. Some people who have turned their health around turned to holistic medicine for healing. Others just needed to find the right environment, like a welcoming fitness space. Motivational coach Andrea Leigh Rogers warns against wellness trends. She emphasizes consistency and small, effective changes. Try leaning on loved ones for support, or seeking out fitness partners to hold each other accountable.

FILE - Joan Rivers, Paloma Picasso and Vogue editor Anna Wintour attend a benefit dinner for the American Suicide Foundation at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on May 3, 1991. (AP Photo/Luiz Ribeiro, File)

Anna Wintour taps Chloe Malle as Vogue successor — but she’s still in charge

September 2, 2025

Anna Wintour has named Chloe Malle as her successor as head of editorial content at American Vogue, ending weeks of speculation. However, Wintour remains the chief content officer for parent company Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue’s nearly 30 editions around the world. The new appointee announced Tuesday will take over editorial and creative day-to-day operations at the U.S. edition of the magazine but will report to Wintour. Wintour’s title of editor-in-chief is being retired. She will continue to oversee various other brands as well and remain involved in major events like the Met Gala. Malle is the daughter of actor Candice Bergen and the late French director Louis Malle.

FILE - Taylor Swift performs at the Paris Le Defense Arena during her Eras Tour concert in Paris, on May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)

Taylor Swift’s new album has everyone seeing orange: An exploration of the color

August 14, 2025

Taylor Swift’s new album announcement has everybody seeing orange. She dropped the news in a swirl of a bright orange hue she calls Portofino Orange Glitter. The pop star says the color ushers in her latest era. Her orange era. Color experts say orange evokes creativity and optimism, though some see it as clownish. Laurie Pressman from the Pantone Color Institute describes Swift’s choice as a “new personality” emerging. In India, the saffron shade of orange has religious and now political significance. Meanwhile, Portofino, Italy, has embraced Swift. Fans and fashion experts celebrate the color’s versatility, suggesting ways to incorporate it into wardrobes.

Strawberry the kitten appears on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Associated Press bureau in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

Welcome to kitten season, when animal shelters need all the help they can get

June 5, 2025

It’s kitten season in warm-weather areas and animal shelters need all the help they can get. Now is the time of year when most cats give birth. That produces a surge of kittens. Shelters tend to get overwhelmed, especially when it comes to the 24-hour care and feeding of extremely young kittens. As a result, more foster homes are needed. There’s a false perception out there that cat foster families shoulder all expenses. Animal welfare advocate Hannah Shaw, known on social media as the Kitten Lady, says nowadays that’s not true. Most shelters and rescues help out. That includes training and supporting cat foster parents.

Planning a wedding is stressful. Couples and vendors now have to factor in tariffs

May 28, 2025

Wedding cakes, decor, attire, flowers, party favors, Champagne. There isn’t much in the wedding industry that isn’t affected by new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. How much gets passed down to consumers is up to the vendors and the many middlemen often involved. Some wedding couples and their vendors are already feeling the sting. Wedding professionals say some sectors of the industry in the U.S. are underdeveloped and incapable of absorbing the load from tariff-heavy nations. That includes China, but also Latin American countries that provide the U.S. with the bulk of its cut flowers. Some bridal couples will go without.

LEANNE ITALIE Lifestyles Writer.