Last modified: Sunday, May 14, 2006 12:49 AM EDT D'ARCONTE: Plenty I don't know'85 Here are three things I wouldn't know if I couldn't read: 1. Providence has more doughnut shops than any other city in America -- one for every 4,700 residents. That's nine times the national average. Know what city is second? Boston, with one doughnut shop for every 5,750 residents. 2. The three volleys fired from rifles at funerals of military personnel are inaccurately referred to as 21-gun salutes. The 21-gun salute is a national salute in which 21 military personnel fire large-caliber weapons in honor of the president, ex-president or president-elect. Thanks to former Attleboro resident Willie Loeb Jr., now of Callahan, Fla., for that tidbit. 3. In online coupon vocabulary, guess what these are: twopons, moopons, loopons, whew!pons, zoopons and goochie-goopons. In order, they are coupons for buy one-get one free, dairy products, bathroom products, air fresheners and deodorants, pet foods, litter and accessories, and things for babies. If you get a chance, volunteer to help teach someone how to read. Contact your local literacy center or school department. The word detective `` Dear Word Detective: Any thoughts on why negative forms of a word so often trump the positive. For example, we often run into things that are `uncanny'; the next time I hear the word `canny' used in everyday conversation will be the first. `` As for weather, it is often described as `inclement,' but I've never heard a fair day in May described as `clement.' '' Well, canny is a perfectly good word and the Word Detective thinks it should be used more often in everyday conversation, and vows to do so. Its roots are in Scotland and Northern England, and it means shrewd and knowledgeable. In fact, in Scotland a canny wife is a midwife. The same goes for clement. It's from the Latin `` clemens,'' and it means inclined to spare or be merciful, a disposition toward leniency. Being New Englanders, we know inclement -- merciless -- weather firsthand, but there are surely many clement days before us. Both words, alas, have outlived their time and fallen by the linguistic wayside. Quote of the week `` The Internet can make you smarter, but it can't make you smart.'' -- New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, 2001 Thanks for the papers Thanks to Jon Soldani of North Attleboro, Sun Chronicle editor Mike Kirby's brother-in-law, for bringing me copies of The Barbados Advocate from a recent business trip to the Caribbean. Thanks for the bears Thanks to Amy and Alex Tundel of Attleboro for eight teddy bears for bears on Board. `` Find us a good home,'' said the note with them. Bears on Board is a program of the Attleboro Area Council for Children. The bears are given to local police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews to give to children in crises. Our teddy bear total to date is 4,843. See you next week.