Cruise Ship Tourism Threatens Alaska’s Capital

by Christian Karim Chrobog The Guardian    “The noise never stops,” says Karla Hart, her voice competing with the hum of approaching helicopters. “I can feel them before I see them.” She looks at her phone to check a website that monitors air traffic and identifies operators. Hart wants to know whether the pilots are adhering …

Here’s The Nice Side Of A Rich Vocabulary

by Kevin Burton    Newsniks in general and I in particular have been accused of highlighting the negative side of life, seeking it out and advertising it.    That’s not entirely fair, but neither is it a ridiculous assertion.  It’s a discussion.    But now via Merriam-Webster and as has been sung by Bing Crosby …

Be Thankful To God, Stop Complaining

by Kevin Burton    I caught myself in a lie last week. Christmas music, in a manner of speaking, revealed it to me.    Stay with me here.    I have heard people talk about when it was OK to begin playing Christmas music each year, after Thanksgiving, end of November, whatever. But I haven’t …

You And Me, Digging Credence, By The Bog

by Kevin Burton     The Page 7 blog publishes five days a week, usually, and almost every time I post it, I tease it (verb) on Facebook.    A tease (noun) is like a little commercial. Mine are two or three-sentence previews that I write to try to get people interested in reading it.     …

Daniels And Nacua, Thanks For The Memories

by Kevin Burton    When Puka Nacua of the Rams burst onto the scene last year as a rookie sensation, I was asleep at the wheel, as a fantasy football manager.    I didn’t bid for him on waivers even once.  Don’t know why.    This year the world was hip to the wide receiver, …

Last Word On Last Letter: Canada Says “Zed”

by Kevin Burton    It’s the beginning of a new year, so leave it to Page 7 to take you to the end – of the alphabet that is.    May I be the first to wish you a very happy International Z Day.    “Z Day, celebrated on Jan. 1, is a quirky and …

Grandpa Kev’s (Grumpy) After-Christmas Sale

by Kevin Burton     Your favorite retail outlet will be having an after-Christmas sale just now. It’s sort of their version of New Year’s resolutions, you know,  out with the old, in with the new.    They won’t spare the hype, the bold print or the volume. God help you if you miss this sale! …

Keeping Score With The Language Of Sports

by Kevin Burton    I knew sports played a big role in the shaping of our common language, but I didn’t know how big.    We previously brought you a list of sports idioms on Page 7, but none of the ones from Dictionary Scoop that we posted yesterday or the one below, we’re on …

Sporty Origins Of Some Popular Expressions

by Dictionary Scoop    Have you ever heard someone say “I’ll have to start from scratch”? Ever wondered what “in the nick of time” means? What all these expressions have in common is that they originated in the world of sports.     Want to know more? Discover all those phrases you often say but didn’t know …

Blind Cincinnati Woman’s Love Of Music

by John Johnston United Way of Greater Cincinnati (The Cincinnati Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 38th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. After wishes are granted, remaining funds assist people with similar needs throughout the year.)    Barbara Liszniewski, who is 79, harbors a …