Click the Image to Order!
Lucien Fewell shot James Clark after he apparently ran off with Lucien's 16-year-old sister. The murder trial that followed featured two Confederate generals and a former Virginia governor. What was the verdict? (also on Amazon.com)
Category Archives: Language
Speaking So You Are Understood
I feel a bit sorry for the writers of Downton Abbey. They’re getting a lot of flak for language infractions, and I’m not sure they deserve the microscope for that particular shortcoming. Frankly, I’m more in this guy’s camp. Still, … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Philosophy
Leave a comment
Why Use One Word When Thirty Will Do?
“I would have written a shorter letter but didn’t have time.” — attributed to Voltaire, Twain and Pascal, and probably a zillion other folks. It’s a clever saying, but it is incredibly, sadly true of most people I know. I’ve … Continue reading
Read, Read, Read
There’s a certain literary voice I’m quite fond of. I guess it’s the Humorous Memoir voice. Think Jean Shepherd, or Clarence Day, or Patrick Dennis. (Well, Patrick Dennis’ tales of Mame were fictional, but you get my meaning.) It’s the … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Philosophy
Leave a comment
Look. It. Up.
My day job is keeping me stupid busy, but it has inspired today’s tip: If you don’t know for sure and certain what a word means, for God’s sake, either dig out your dictionary or use a word you do … Continue reading
Posted in Language
Leave a comment
When Did Sitting Down Become a Big Effing Deal?
I’ve read at least five things in the past three days where the writer/blogger/emcee/whatever the hell used the construction, “Joe Blow sat down to talk with us/take a test/eat dinner.” Google gave me 3,950,000 hits when I searched the phrase … Continue reading
Posted in Language
Leave a comment
Word List, 1
I love lists. Perhaps it is a byproduct of my attempts to get my ADD son and my own overheating brain on track — regardless, I’m a big fan of the bullet points. So here’s my first list for this … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Lists
Leave a comment
