Archive for 'English Language'
When English Words Become Obsolete Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 25, 2021
An old friend used to say that social media was, “Just a lot of old twaddle.” From the context of his sentence, I knew that twaddle meant “useless gossip’. But it was years before I knew that twaddle was a real, though nearly obsolete, word. It still appears in some dictionaries, but you will almost…
Feeling Lucky in English Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 19, 2021
I often describe myself as a lucky person. In my personal and professional life, good things have happened to me because of chance and unplanned circumstances. I certainly work hard and take pride in my education and the abilities and skills that I have acquired and used over the years. But, the fact is, some…
All About the Penny Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 12, 2021
The penny is the lowest valued unit of U.S. currency, one cent, equaling one one-hundredth of the U.S. dollar. It is also the subject of many idioms and phrases, some memorable songs, and a long-standing debate about its future. Some hate it, many ignore it, but the penny is as much a part of American…
Money talks Posted by carol on Jul 30, 2021
Good morning, everyone! Talking about money isn’t always easy. Over the past few years, global economy underwent a major blow as the pandemic hit and affected the market on a huge scale. A lot of people lost their jobs or couldn’t secure a stable stream of income, and so the money problems begin! As unpleasant…
The Great American Coupon Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 22, 2021
Few things are as American as the coupon. They are a marketing tool used to promote a product by offering discount savings, and they have existed for over 130 years. The first coupon offered a free Coca-Cola in 1888. By 1913, more than 8.5 million of those coupons had been honored. One hundred years later…
Watching Television in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 15, 2021
This morning I tried to watch television, but it wouldn’t turn on. I was using one of several remotes (or, as some people call them, clickers), the one that I use exclusively to start my television. Nothing. I was facing a blank screen. This was not a good start to my day. Fortunately, I eventually…
Talking About Weight in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 8, 2021
It’s summer in the northern hemisphere and, for many, that means going to the beach. It also means fitting into a swimsuit. Which usually means that it’s time to lose some weight. Personally, I am grateful that there has been a trend in recent years to be more accepting of the way you look. People…