by Kevin Burton The song that topped the pop chart 50 years ago today was for me, a guilty pleasure. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee was an international smash. In addition to the US, it was number 1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa, …
Category Archives: England
Ten Fun British Words To Kick Around
by Merriam-Webster Dictionary Although Merriam-Webster is a dictionary of American English, it contains a range of words rarely heard outside Britain. Here are some of our favorites: Prat – a stupid or foolish person Prat has been British slang for the sort of person with whom you’d rather not share a long train journey since …
1970s Songs That Were Banned From Radio
by Kevin Burton If one of your favorite new songs got banned from commercial radio today, you might not even know it. That, of course, would tamp down the outrage a bit. But back in the day radio was king, and airplay, or lack thereof, had big sales implications. What follows is …
12 American Terms Used Around The World
by Dictionary Scoop American English has influenced global vocabulary for more than a century through movies, advertisements, literature, music, businesses, and technology. Some words that began as distinctly American expressions eventually became common almost everywhere, even in places where English is not an official language. Here are 12 Americanisms have crossed oceans and …
Quibbles And Bits: World Cup Edition
by Kevin Burton How to wrap one’s heart and empathetic mind around the heartbreak for England as it coughed up a late lead to lose 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals Wednesday? Think of a Cleveland basketball fan watching Michael Jordan sink a jumper over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 playoffs …
New Sweden: The “Secret” American Colony
by Eliot Stein BBC Ask most Americans and they’ll tell you that the United States started in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. But chances are, almost none of those coming realizes that the US’s political and ideological birthplace was once part of a little-known …
Time Outdoors, Just What The Doctor Ordered
by Good News Network A hospital in south London opened a garden on its rooftop where critical care patients can spend hours in the fresh air and sunlight. ICU patients visiting the rooftop garden receive “full life support” while experiencing the therapeutic benefits of the natural surroundings. Located on top of the …
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Strangers Build Community Via Co-Housing
by Charlotte Cox BBC When Nikki Little and John Porter retired, they considered buying a bungalow for just the two of them. Instead, they invested in a one million-pound ($1.33 million US) house tucked away on Devon’s rugged and remote Hartland Peninsula – and looked for a community of like-minded people to join …
Is Ringo’s New Record Better Than Paul’s
by Kevin Burton I’ve had a ton of fun writing about pop music on Page 7. But I have juuuuust about talked myself out of the notion that I am any kind of knowledgeable, creditable music critic. And I’m getting close to swearing off all music critics. I mean, we like what we …
Study Says Music And The Arts Slow Aging
by Good News Network Culture vultures who regularly take part in arts activities—such as listening to music, visiting a museum, or reading—may be slowing the pace of their biological aging, according to a new study. Researchers from University College London looked at blood test data and survey responses from more than 3,500 adults …
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