Archive for March, 2017
Understanding Irony Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 31, 2017
“The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.” Robert A. Heinlein Understanding irony can be challenging. Explaining irony may be far more difficult. And yet, many people seem to recognize it when they see it. How ironic. Irony, in its simplest form may be defined as a situation in…
Nonetheless, Nevertheless, Notwithstanding Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 23, 2017
Here they are again: Words which sound so much alike, have similar meanings, and everybody uses them. What, then, is the difference? Let’s begin with the fact that nonetheless, nevertheless, and notwithstanding are all compound words. This means that you can break the word up into separate words. By doing so, you can find clues…
Where’d You Get That Drawl, Y’all? Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 17, 2017
Where did the famous Southern drawl of the American South come from, and why is it so often imitated? As I’ve mentioned before, I sometimes work in the theater. Lately, I’ve been in rehearsal for All the Way, a play about President Lyndon Johnson, and the passage of the United States Civil Rights Bill. I’m…
St. Patrick’s Day Posted by sasha on Mar 16, 2017
St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish holiday that falls on March 17th. This traditional Irish holiday celebrates Saint Patrick. He is credited with bringing Christianity to the country. Because of this, he is Ireland’s patron saint. Let’s learn a bit about St. Patrick himself and some traditions associated with this holiday. St. Patrick St. Patrick…
Streets, Beats & Eats – Austin Posted by sasha on Mar 13, 2017
Austin is not only the capital of Texas; it’s also known as the live music capital of the world. Explore the “Streets, Beats & Eats” of this great city through a short video tour. Stroll through the Texas Capitol, climb up the famed graffiti wall, eat some delicious BBQ, and rock out until the wee…
The “King” of Comic Books Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 9, 2017
If you’ve been to the movies in recent years, or even if you’ve been watching TV, you are probably aware of the popularity of comic book characters, and their influence on popular culture. Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk and others are all figures in what is known as the Marvel universe. They are…
Texas State Capitol Tour Posted by sasha on Mar 6, 2017
The great American city of Austin is the capital of Texas. Famous for its live music, BBQ, and being weird, it’s also home to the state’s government. Visitors can take a free tour of the Texas State Capitol to learn more about the state’s history and government. See what the State Capitol looks like in…