Dolly Parton: One Thing Americans Agreed On

by Robin Levinson-Kingand and Sheila Flynn BBC    Dolly Parton was a lot of things – a country musician, a philanthropist, an actress, a storyteller and a businesswoman. One thing she never was, however, was a politician.    But don’t think it’s because no one asked her. In 1999, during an appearance on the talk …

Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dies At 80

by Kevin Burton    Sometimes at the movies, the writers ask you to suspend disbelief. For one 70s song, I couldn’t do it.    The song is “Jolene” by Dolly Parton.    In a quivering delivery, Dolly begs this Jolene character, “please don’t take my man.” I just never could buy that.    I thought, …

Get Set For The Latest ‘League Of Their Own’

by Jay Cohen and Alanis Thames Associated Press    The nation’s first women’s professional baseball league in nearly 30 years embarks on its inaugural season today, in what marks a major milestone in the scattered history of the sport in the United States.    The Women’s Pro Baseball League is also part of a timeline that …

Five Celebrities Who Hold Advanced Degrees

by Bennett Kleinman Interesting Facts    From Oscar winners to Hall of Fame musicians and world-class athletes, there are some celebrities whose accomplishments in the classroom are equally impressive as the talents that brought them fame.     Many of these well-educated A-listers have put their advanced degrees to use, juggling careers in the world of …

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 …

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 …

Ain’t She A Beautiful Sight? ‘Convoy’ Turns 50

by Kevin Burton    With its march to number one, inexorable as the steamrolling force of the trucks it portrayed, “Convoy” by C.W. McCall ruled the radio road 50 years ago today.    Ruled both lanes, the pop lane and the country lane – double number one.    But make no mistake, Convoy is a …

To Boldy Go To A World Imagined By Star Trek

by Dictionary Scoop    Science fiction and pop culture have a long history of inspiring real-world innovations. Let’s dive into 10 fictional creations that became reality, proving that life doesn’t just inspire art—sometimes, it’s the other way around. 1-Smartwatches    In 1946, Chester Gould introduced the Two-Way Wrist Radio in Dick Tracy, allowing the detective to communicate instantly from his …

Challenge And Opportunity On Sweetest Day

by Kevin Burton    Guys, Sweetest Day is Saturday. I am posting this on a Wednesday to give you time to react and prepare appropriately, as is my wont.    Let me break it down for you in a way you can understand:    According to social.com, 36 percent of sales in the $7.9 billion …

What’s Playing At The Movies This Weekend?

by Kevin Burton    “Do you want to see a movie?” my wife Jeannette will ask me, thinking of  a fun diversion. “What’s playing?” I will ask.    “I don’t know,” she will say, exasperated.    “If I don’t know what’s playing, how do I know if I want to go?” I will say, as …