Pilot On Holly’s Plane Crash Was Not Qualified

by Kevin Burton    The 21-year-old pilot of the plane that crashed on this day in 1959, taking the lives of three famous young musicians was not qualified for the flight, according to published accounts.    The crash, which took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) has been …

God’s Gift, Your Choice, Both Are For Keeps

by Kevin Burton    In six plus years of writing Page 7, I don’t believe I have ever quoted perhaps the most quoted Bible verse, John 3:16:    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 …

Farewell To The Meathead, Closing Credits

by Kevin Burton    I’m supposed to be good with words, but sometimes there just aren’t any.    I’m having trouble expressing my distress at the violent death of Actor/Director Rob Reiner. Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday and their son Nick is now facing two counts of murder. Sadness, disbelief, anger, …

“Bad Hair Day” And Words About Hair

by Kevin Burton    Today’s list from Merriam-Webster, words about hair, got me thinking about the term, “bad hair day.”    Is bad hair day an idiom?    The dictionary says an idiom is, “an expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be understood from the combined meanings of its …

Do You Know These 12 Types Of Poetry?

by Dictionary Scoop    Poetry is as diverse as the individuals who write it—from short, playful rhymes to long, heartfelt verses, with some forms following strict rules and others allowing complete freedom.    This wide variety enables poets from all walks of life to express themselves in unique ways. Take a look at the following …

Salvation Through Jesus, Straight To The Point

by Kevin Burton    “Write ‘em tight” they used to teach us in journalism school, “write ‘em tight.”    That means don’t be wordy. Get to the point.    That’s the first thing I thought of after reading a recent message from In Touch, the international radio and television ministry founded by the late Dr. …

Another NFL Sunday With Time Ticking Away

by Kevin Burton    Jerry Glanville was coaching the Atlanta Falcons when NFL Films famously caught him on camera criticizing a referee.    “You’re in the N-F-L and that stands for “not for long” when you make calls like that.”    Glanville is one of the most colorful figures in NFL history. You wouldn’t have …

How Deep Is Your Love?, Good Question

by Kevin Burton   My sister and I had one last shared musical moment, in the days before her death Aug. 25 of last year.    We had thousands of them over half a century together. What I wouldn’t give to have a few more of them now.    The final one came last August, …

Hard Lessons In Death And Unforgiveness

by Kevin Burton     This bit of Burton family lore started small, sprung up unexpected.    We had a maid named Mrs. Long. This was before the basement at my father’s house in Yellow Springs, Ohio  was finished, when you could still practice hockey on roller skates and shoot a plastic puck into a 4-by-6 …

Catsongs: Cat’s In The Cradle, Harry Chapin

by Kevin Burton    (Catsongs is a series on Page 7 to honor the memory of my late sister Pat by looking at our two shared passions, cats and music.)    For this series, I am featuring songs with cats in the title, or perhaps the lyrics. Unfortunately “Cat’s in the Cradle” is the obvious choice …