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.  …

Push Past Failure, Try, Try Again In 2026

by Dictionary Scoop    Truman Capote once said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” In the same vein, Benjamin Franklin claimed: “He that can have patience can have what he will.”     Patience and perseverance are fundamental when it comes to conquering the anguish of things not going as planned. Numerous scientists, inventors, …

Farewell To The Meathead, Closing Credits

by Kevin Burton    I’m supposed to be good with words, but sometimes there just aren’t any.    I’m having trouble expressing my distress at the violent death of Actor/Director Rob Reiner. Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday and their son Nick is now facing two counts of murder. Sadness, disbelief, anger, …

What Does “6-7” Even Mean? Nothing

by Kevin Burton    My granddaughter says it. She’s the only one in my circles who does. Thank God.    The copy-cat utterances of children have heretofore not been chronicled on Page 7 (Page 7!, Page 7!, Page 7!!). But this “6-7” thing is so ubiquitous that even Merriam-Webster dictionary is forced to pay attention …

Why Do People Hate ‘We Built This City’?

by Kevin Burton    I missed it, completely. It was totally over my head. I guess it’s just somebody’s else’s fight.    “We Built This City” by Starship was number one on the US Hot 100 40 years ago this month. It’s catchy. I liked it then, still do.    I loved the era when …

The Characters Behind 12 Famous Songs

by Dictionary Scoop    There’s a mixture of fiction and real life behind the people made famous by the hit songs on our list today.  From classic rock ballads to catchy pop tunes, here are 12 famous songs that feature people’s names—and the stories behind them. 1-Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry    We’ll start …

Music May Help You Overcome Car Sickness

by Kevin Burton    In the library, they want it quiet, so no to the music, unless you have headphone    In just about every other setting, music is good for what ails you. It’s on time, all the time!    That’s why I was not surprised to find this report from Good News Network …

Hard Lessons In Death And Unforgiveness

by Kevin Burton     This bit of Burton family lore started small, sprung up unexpected.    We had a maid named Mrs. Long. This was before the basement at my father’s house in Yellow Springs, Ohio  was finished, when you could still practice hockey on roller skates and shoot a plastic puck into a 4-by-6 …

Catsongs: Cat’s In The Cradle, Harry Chapin

by Kevin Burton    (Catsongs is a series on Page 7 to honor the memory of my late sister Pat by looking at our two shared passions, cats and music.)    For this series, I am featuring songs with cats in the title, or perhaps the lyrics. Unfortunately “Cat’s in the Cradle” is the obvious choice …

“Jive Talkin’” Saved The Bee Gees In 1975

by Kevin Burton    Looking back, The Bee Gees’ “Jive Talkin’” seems like an obvious, inevitable number one smash. In its day, it was anything but.    Fifty years ago today the song was in a two-week run at the top of the Hot 100. It pretty much saved the Bee Gees.    There was …