Have you won the lottery lately and did you come from a humble background? Some would call you nouveau riche. You’re also a parvenu.
When lava/magma congeals it turns into an extrusive igneous rock such as basalt, obsidian, or pumice.
According to actor Mark Williams, who played Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films, his in-real-life accountant was an extra in scenes at the Ministry of Magic.
The game Pac-Man first came out in 1980 as an arcade game in Japan.
Donald Trump also has two Chinese names. The Chinese government and state media call him “telangpu,” but he is also often referred to as “chuanpu,” a slightly different transliteration. Different Chinese speaking regions will often have different preferred ways of transliterating proper nouns.
The above is information that Mr. Smarty Pants read in a book, magazine, or newspaper; heard on the radio; saw on television; or overheard at a party. Got facts? Write to Mr. Smarty Pants. Why not visit mrsmartypants.com?
This article appears in June 12 • 2026.