The back-word world of semordnilaps

We all know examples of palindromes: taco cat, racecar, kayak, Hannah. A palindrome is a word that, when spelled backward, is the same word. Today, however, I want to delve into the bizarro world of the semordnilap.

Back to School brings out best in Dublin

A small buzz started around town last week. You could feel the energy changing, welcoming hopefully cooler weather and back-to-school spirit.

Why the meddling middle letters in ‘ladder’ matter

I live in a house built around the year 1890. My neighborhood is called “Old Town,” for obvious reasons. The other day an area Realtor posted a photo of a house from the early 1900s side-by-side with a photo of the same house in 2022.

Standing Up for Compassionate Use/cannabis reform in Texas

There are universal truths and eternal truths, but we mostly we just try to figure it out as we go. I grew up in the age when many of the views and values that most folks share today would have been unacceptable. Views on race and the sexes, and what it meant to be moral and decent.

Tax free weekend Aug. 5-7

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5-7.

The latest words from across the pond

There’s a good reason I haven’t shared a roundup of new dictionary words in a while — the people over at Merriam-Webster haven’t added any new words since October 2021. Wake up over there, folks!

On fake fishies

You know how everything seems much bigger when you’re a kid? When my age was still in single digits, we had a 35-gallon tank full of all sorts of fish we got from the pet shop. It was a lake to me. I used to love staring at the aquarium in the living room except when it started to get too green.

How can I trust God in life’s unfairness?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your understanding;” - Proverbs 3:5 Trust is defined as a known reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, and surety, of a person or thing.

A handy-dandy guide to reduplicative words

I promise I’m not trying to get this song stuck in your head, but its lyrics illustrate the language term I want to discuss. And I promise I wouldn’t bring it up if this 1960 hit pop song’s b-side didn’t also illustrate the point.

Songs to soothe the savage stress

The former editor, Scott Dykowski, was a huge fan of the TV show, “The Office.” A common activity for any “Office” fan is to pick characters that remind you of people around the workplace. One day, he and his wife, Sarah, were partaking in such an activity and their attention turned to me.