”Miracle” Surgery Restores Woman’s Vision

by Lori Culbert Vancouver Sun    She was blind for a decade, but Gail Lane’s sight is slowly returning after she made history as the first Canadian to have her own tooth, with a lens drilled into it, inserted into her eye.      “It’s like a miracle,” Lane said of the strange sounding operation that …

“Charity” And Words That Changed Meanings

by Kevin Burton    The first time I encountered “charity” in the King James Bible, it made me scratch my head. It didn’t seem to fit just right.    Given time, words will do that to you.    “Charity” in the King James most commonly means “love.”  Here are more specifics on the Biblical definition …

Why, Exactly, Is A Goose Called Silly?

by Dictionary Scoop    Sure, sheep are obedient, and geese are loud. But when did we decide to start calling each other by animal names?    Since Biblical times, we’ve been dragging innocent animals into our human drama to describe each other’s worst behavior.    Is that fair? Read on to see some of the animal …

Is Small Talk A Big Help In Making Friends?

by Kevin Burton    Are we going today from sublime to ridiculous?  Or is that just my bias?    Yesterday we ran part of a Los Angeles Times story about making friends in our adult years. We finish that story, by reporter Seraphina Seow today.    Psychologists interviewed by The Times, offered five suggestions for …

Rediscovering The Lost Art Of Making Friends

by Seraphina Seow Los Angeles Times    A friend of mine has been hoping to make new friends as a 26-year-old. She’s made every effort to put herself out there: joined clubs, volunteered, initiated catch-ups.    But every time she establishes a new connection, it wanes after a few weeks. She suspects that it may be …

Include These Spots When Cleaning House

by Dictionary Scoop    Our home is our refuge. It takes hard work to make it and keep it a pleasant and cozy place.    Vacuuming, mopping the floors, cleaning the bathrooms or the kitchen are probably part of your regular cleaning routine. However, there are certain places or objects that we all usually neglect …

Things Get Better With Age, If You Let Them

By Hannah Singleton National Geographic      While aging is often portrayed as a slow decline, scientists say that view overlooks the bigger picture.    “Everyone talks about aging as this decline,” said Michelle Feng, chief clinical officer at Executive Mental Health and a licensed psychologist who specializes in geriatric psychology and medicine. “But aging …

Lean, Pray, Trust, Love, Just A Little Bit More

by Kevin Burton    I needed this today and I thought some of you might need it too.    This message is written on a 4-by-7 sheet of paper, not attached to anything else. I have it because I have helped my mother move three times in the last seven or eight years. Mom downsized …

Countries That Have Changed Their Names

by Dictionary Scoop    It is always a delicate matter when a country changes its name, as it signifies a shift not only for the geographical area but also for its inhabitants.    The very identity of a nation is affected, which is why such changes are relatively rare. But they do happen. Not many …

Use A Variety Of Verbal Tools To Communicate

by Kevin Burton    In my early studies in journalism I heard or read somewhere that a news reporter should write at a 10th-grade level. I never did that. I wouldn’t.    I was very aware that I was talking to everyone, “broadcasting,” in the print news sense of the word, with the emphasis on …