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 …
Category Archives: France
Five Choices For Disaffected American Expats
by Blake Bachelor CNN (Blogger’s note: Yesterday we ran the first part of a BBC story explaining why many Americans, especially retirees, are leaving for other places. Today reporter Blake Bachelor gives details of just where to go and how best to thrive there.) Here are five countries that are well-suited for retirees. …
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Ten Words That Came From Nordic To English
by Dictionary Scoop Romance languages, led by French, have had such a lasting influence on English that we sometimes forget that it is actually a Germanic language, and as such, a relative of the Nordic languages. However, Nordic languages had left their mark on English centuries before the French-Normans even attempted to conquer England, and they …
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Dual Citizenship Now A Popular Escape Route
by Ellie Cobb BBC When Emily Hill, a novelist from Everett, Washington, heard about the recent changes to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules, she immediately wondered whether a family connection might make her eligible. “I felt like I’d been struck by lightning,” she says, explaining that her grandmother was born in Montreal. “This possibility was …
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People Are Leaving The ‘Uncool’ USA
by Nick Lichtenberg Fortune Magazine In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus” during an age of great immigration to the New World, as part of an effort to fund the pedestal for France’s gift to the United States: the Statue of Liberty in New York City. “‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ …
France May End ‘Marital Duty’ To Have Sex
by Hugh Schofield BBC France is one step from enshrining in law the end of so-called “conjugal rights” – the notion that marriage means a duty to have sex. A bill approved on Wednesday in France’s National Assembly adds a clause to the country’s civil code to make clear that “community of living” …
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Ten Joyful Words From Around The World
by Kevin Burton Happiness is a sunny place to be on a slow and sweet Saturday morning. Happiness has its shadings and degrees. Happiness observes no borders, but it is expressed differently and more specifically in the various parts of the world. This we explore today with a list from Merriam-Webster dictionary. …
Thirteen Words That Are Happy Accidents
by Dictionary Scoop Some of our everyday vocabulary was never supposed to happen. From pronunciation blunders to translation mishaps, these words made it into the English language completely by accident. Grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy these amusing little mix-ups that stuck around longer than anyone expected. 1-That’s not how you spell ‘expedite’ …
This French Hubby Got Some ‘Splainin To Do
by Kevin Burton Ok baby bubba, let’s hear you talk your way out of this one! Under the headline “Mislaid Mrs.,” The Sun newspaper of London ran a painfully short story about a Frenchman who drove nearly 200 miles on a vacation trip before realizing he had left his lawfully-wedded wife at a …
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Where Your Favorite Cheeses Come From
by Dictionary Scoop Whether you’re a cheese expert or just enjoy a good slice on your sandwich, you’ll enjoy this flavorful ride. There are fascinating stories behind the cheeses we eat every day. So, let’s take a trip around the world—one cheesy stop at a time—and explore ten places that gave these famous …