2025

Every once in a while, the English language just doesn’t cut it. And when that happens, we Americans have to borrow a word from another country. Mostly because that word describes things perfectly.   And so comes one very interesting word.  Schadenfreude.  It is that German mashup of Schaden (“damage”) and Freude (“joy”). And when you […]

I love the angels. Believe it or not, they just might be everywhere. Who is to say, one way or the other?  But the majority of people in the world believe in angels.  In the U.S., almost 70% of the people say they believe angels exist, and around the world, three-quarters of respondents say the

Sometimes history gives us stories that are both fascinating and wonderful. Other times, they are difficult or tragic.  This one is a bit on the tragic side. This is about who got on the wrong side of things.  It happens sometimes. On January 31, 1945, Pvt. Eddie Slovik became the first American soldier since the

You know me and words.  I stumbled across one that I hadn’t heard from in quite a while. Chutzpah. Chutzpah is one of those words that just doesn’t sit quietly in the corner.  It seems to demand attention. By Webster’s measure, it means audacity or nerve.  But not just the ordinary kind of nerve. We’re

A little day off. It should be Fall. There should be a chill in the air. Instead, it feels like the beginning of Summer.   Perhaps it is time to bloom.   Time to bloom for all of us. “”””””” “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” — Karl Barth “”””””” “The more grateful I am,

Our names. They mean a lot to us in so many ways. And when parents name their kids, they want that boy or girl to stand out. But some parents definitely take it way too far. Like these. Real things people have named their kids:Jack DanielsABCDEFX Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, Techno Mechanicus (Musk)MetallicaVelvet ButtonDraculaSheepand

Social Media By Linda Stowe What is the purpose of entertainment? Google says we seek entertainment primarily as a means of stress relief. I think most people think of entertainment as a form of engagement. It can be passive like watching TV, attending sporting events, or even going to see the kids in a school

Another good word for the day, Sucker. That’s not the word, but that is how it sounds. The word is succor.It is a noun and it is, indeed, pronounced SUCK-er. Oh, you succor. But what does it mean? Succor is a literary term meaning “something that you do or give to help someone who is