Barbara Burke
For those of you who might be shopping online this holiday season (might?? haha), you will probably see a CAPTCHA – that “confirm that you are not a robot” puzzle with several pictures or parts of pictures that may or may not contain a: bicycle, train, bus, streetlight, or some other object that computer users…
Read MoreFull or ful? I found a website that explains why the difference! And the reason is, as you might imagine, knowing American English, is crazy! Check out this link if you are interested in more explanation, diagrams, and examples: Why is the word ‘full’ spelled with a double-l, but in words like helpful, careful, and…
Read MoreI am so glad that I had a chance to watch some of the Paralympics! Amazing, times a hundred! One of my realizations was that these sports have a lot of different rules. Sitting volleyball? One announcer mentioned that competitors were not allowed to contact the ball if their “bottom” was off of the floor….
Read MoreI had a great time watching the 2024 Olympics! I’m trying to decide which of the less common events I enjoyed the most. What is YOUR favorite?? Wall climbing! Apparently, it is called Sport Climbing, but whatever it is called is amazing. I missed the Speed climbing version, only being able to watch the regular…
Read MoreWhile watching the Tour de France this year, I realized that the announcers use a few words that I only hear this time of year. I thought that you might like to see them. “Chicane” – The general definition is “deception” or “trickery.” That’s the definition I remember, especially with the word, chicanery. “Peloton” –…
Read MoreDid you ever wonder why flea markets use the word “flea”? Do I want to buy something that is filled with fleas? Apparently, the answer is . . . YES! According to Britannica.com, the most common belief about the origin of the phrase does, indeed, come from those annoying pests. So, the next time you…
Read MoreIn the past few months, as I walked around the neighborhoods near mine, I have seen some amazingly clever “gadgets.” Before I describe those inventions, I decided to research the word, “gadget.” I thought it was just a word for things that are hard to describe. But there’s more to this word. Dictionary.com says a…
Read MoreVery interesting! Considering how careless I have been using the latest technology, as I described in my last post about accessing QR codes, I was hesitant to try an AI program. But recently, my new lawn service company sent me an invoice using a .pdf format. When I opened it, I noticed that my updated…
Read MoreI worked for over 30 years in the title insurance industry, working with real estate closings and insuring those closings. Our industry has always been aware of in-person fraud (read “Who Are You?” and “When Did I Sell My House” – the 2nd and 3rd “Title World Tales” stories – available now on Amazon at…
Read MoreIn honor of March being National Literacy Month, I decided to talk about how to spell sounds that are not really words. I learned how to spell sounds from reading comic strips. Crossword puzzles use these sound-spellings, too, so I started a collection. I am not sure about a lot of these spellings – what…
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