Hill of Books

The Etymology of Soccer, Football, and Ageless Slang

July 10, 2014 by libroshombre

The old Scottish poet Allan Cunningham once wrote about a time “when looks were fond and words were few.” That …
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Category: communication, etymology, sports, word origins, words | Tags: communication, etymology, football, henry iv, recency, slang, soccer, words

New Books To Foist Off Alzheimer’s

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July 3, 2014 by libroshombre

“The Wells Fargo wagon is a-coming” theme from “The Music Man” always resounds in the background as I drive home …
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Category: comics, health, memory, reading, reading well | Tags: alzheimer's, carl barks, comics, donald duck, health, memory, reading, reading well

Brewer’s, Jenkin’s Ear, and How Far Athletes Run

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June 26, 2014 by libroshombre

Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, that thick collection of concise explanations and curiosities is perfect for lazy, rainy June …
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Category: libraries, odd words, words | Tags: brewer's, Brewer's dictionary of phrase and fable, grog, jenkin's ear, libraries, odd words, public libaries, running, soccer, words

Bill Bryson, Double-spacing, and Rogue Apostrophes

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June 19, 2014 by libroshombre

Bill Bryson is among the best at putting words together informatively, expressively, and amusingly. His books, such as “Life and …
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Category: grammar, parts of speech, punctuation | Tags: apostrophes, bill bryson, commas, double-space, exclamation marks, grammar, oxford commas, parts of speech, punctuation, rogue apsotrophes

Mandatory Civility for Lawyers and Library RUles

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June 12, 2014 by libroshombre

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu noticed in the 1700s that “Civility costs nothing and buys everything,” and that’s worth remembering today. …
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Category: amnners, civility, rules | Tags: civility, constitution, lady montagu, lawyers, library, ma'am, rules, southerners, village square, y'all