Seattle Pilots Are World Series Champions!

by Kevin Burton Two score and 17 years ago, a marginal knuckleballer pitched a little, and took good notes. Now at this long remove, Seattle is rejoicing, in some measure at least, in a World Series championship won years too late, and in a place far, far away. And as the last out was recorded, …

Why Do Wedding Rings Go On Fourth Finger?

by Dictionary Scoop    We recognize certain symbols almost without thinking. Yet, when we stop to consider them, the object and the idea it represents can seem unrelated. As history unfolds, some unforeseen events created symbols that stuck until they became conventions. Here is the story of how 10 everyday objects became universal symbols. 1-Why …

Who Can Turn A Can Into A Cane?….Silent E!

by Kevin Burton    Every syllable must have both a written vowel and a vowel sound. It’s a rule kids, don’t giggle!    Now settle down. This is knowledge you need today, because today is National Silent E Day.    Take the word “giggle” for example, since we just used it. That second syllable, to …

Reading To Mom From “The Blue Book”

 by Kevin Burton    We called it the Blue Book, and it was/is a gift from God, via Grand Rapids.    There was a season, still very fresh in memory, when my mother, having slowly lost most of her abilities, was bedridden, periodically quite discouraged, badly in need of comfort.    Toward the end of …

Characters So Real, We Wanted Them To Exist

by Dictionary Scoop    Literature has given us characters that transcend the page, capturing imaginations and defining genres.    From heroic adventurers to beloved childhood icons and cunning antiheroes, these ten figures have left an indelible mark on readers worldwide. Each has a unique story and a lasting legacy that continues to shape culture and …

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 …

Seven Metallic Idioms From Merriam-Webster

by Kevin Burton    Are these phrases magnetic? Do they constitute heavy verbal metal?  You be the judge.   But Merriam-Webster dictionary has identified seven common idioms that include one metal or another. Do you see yourself in any of these metallic descriptions? 1-Lead foot    Despite its reputation, lead is not the heaviest of …

Prose and Poetry In The Sweetest Of Harmony

by Kevin Burton     Prose and poetry share a bookshelf without rancor or squabbles. Each has a place, and then there is a place shared.    There is an understanding.    You know and appreciate them for what they are. Each is comfortable within itself. But they are pleased for the company of the other, …

Twelve Idioms That Came From The Bible

by Dictionary Scoop    Many common phrases we use today are direct quotes from the Bible. They have slipped seamlessly into everyday conversation, often with little thought to their origins. Which of these sayings do you use? 1-Drop in the Bucket    The phrase “a drop in the bucket” refers to something very small or insignificant compared …

December 1963, Oh What A Song, For The Guy

by Kevin Burton    Here’s what we know about the female character from “December 1963 (Oh What a Night,” the Four Seasons’ fifth and last number one hit:    She had the ability to walk. She walked into a room. That’s all we get.    No eyes of blue, no golden hair, no perfume in …