Happy Birthday To The Great Art Garfunkel

by Kevin Burton    OK, so this is what I get for digging into my favorite songs.    First, Happy birthday to singer-songwriter Art Garfunkel, born on this day in 1941. I do not have a present for him today, but I have been pondering within his great gift to us.    It was the …

Latin, Like Ancient Rome, Never Gets Old

by Merriam-Webster Dictionary    Over the centuries, certain Latin phrases have been used widely enough in English to get included in the dictionary. This list contains some of our favorites: In Vino Veritas Definition – “there is truth in wine”:    The classy thing to say when you’ve had too much to drink and have just …

Blind Advocates Call For Sweeping New Laws

by Kevin Burton    This time of year I get multiple notifications of this group or that group observing White Cane Awareness Day.    I tend to gloss them over, but I shouldn’t.    The fact that I can is a testament to the dedication and determination to the many blind people (and our sighted …

Blind Author Shows Disabled As Real People

by Victoria Ivie San Gebriel Valley Tribune    Growing up blind, Fullerton-based author Melissa Whitney voraciously consumed representation of the blind community in media, hoping to connect with inclusive characters that reflect her and her disability.    “I always wanted a book where I could see myself as a main character,” Whitney said. “I can …

Friending Shakespeare And His Word Creations

by Kevin Burton    Today we continue a sampling of words and phrases coined by William Shakespeare compiled by the Dictionary Scoop website. Five words and phrases Sunday, five more today.    The first one on today’s list is a good description of me. The last one is a word I am sure you thought …

The Genius Of Shakespeare Still Evident Today

by Dictionary Scoop    It’s not always possible to attribute the origin of a word to a particular person. However, it is believed that William Shakespeare contributed more than 1,700 terms and expressions to the English language, many of which we still use today.    The way Shakespeare invented, reused, and modified words is a living testament …

Who’s Hungry For Some Tasty Food Idioms?

by Dictionary Scoop    Food idioms have a way of adding flavor to our speech. We have internalized these phrases and no longer notice their edible main characters.    What are the origins of these funny lines? Did their meanings evolve over the centuries? Grab a snack and read on to learn the history of food-related …

More Genius Phrasing From Shakespeare

by Kevin Burton    Shakespeare’s genius influenced many phrases and idioms we unknowingly use every day. That’s why Dictionary Scoop put together a list of common expressions that were either created or made famous by Shakespeare and his characters.    We listed five of them yesterday on Page 7. Today, five more.   “American literary critic …

Some Phrases We Got From Shakespeare

by Kevin Burton    I feel bad that I haven’t read anything by Shakespeare all the way through.  Don’t know why I feel that way.    The next person who asks me if I have read Shakespeare, will be the first. So it doesn’t really matter.    Ask me in public, “Shakespeare or Steely Dan” …

What Is The Meaning Of Nyro’s “Stoney End”?

by Kevin Burton    One of the greatest vocal performances in my time as a consumer of pop music is on a song that leaves me deeply conflicted; Stoney End by Barbara Streisand.    The song grabbed me on some level immediately upon its 1971 release, even before I had the life experience to understand …