Where Ya From? What’s Your Demonym?

by Kevin Burton    People from Wichita, the nearest large city to me, are called Wichitans.  That’s straightforward enough.    People from Puebla, Mexico, a city very near to my heart, are called Poblanos. Why not Pueblanos?  Not sure, good question.    Wichitan and Poblano are demonyms. The word demonym is “Rooted in the Greek …

A Female Version Of The Beatles? Who Knew?

by Kevin Burton    I have read maybe two dozen books about the Beatles on talking book. But I didn’t know this.    In books by and about other contemporary artists, the Beatles emerge, as a yardstick, a cultural happening, a turning point. But not so much as a syllable about this.    Until very …

Blind Marathon Runner Marries Her Guide

by Rebekah Absalom The Daily Mail     A blind marathon runner has tied the knot with her guide after falling in love over the seven years he accompanied her on Parkrun.     Kelly Barton, from Southport, Merseyside, met Mike Leatherbarrow in 2016 when he navigated her through a Saturday morning 5K race.  The pair remained committed …

Younger McCartney Travels His Own Path

by Kevin Burton    The English singer known professionally as Mike McGear has a birthday today. He turns 79.    Among the greetings and well wishes, he may get a birthday call, or maybe a musical card that plays the Beatles song “Birthday,” from his brother – Paul McCartney.    Peter Michael McCartney created the …

“Eleanor Rigby” Sprang From Genius

by Kevin Burton    Since there won’t be any more Lennon/McCartney songs, the next best thing is a Lennon/McCartney story.    That is what we got Oct. 18 in a New Yorker piece by Paul McCartney about the song “Eleanor Rigby.” It starts with this tidbit:    “My mum’s favorite cold cream was Nivea, and …