Tag Archives: language

The Language Barrier Starts Here

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I once showed enough promise in German, Spanish and French that my mother thought I might become a translator. Years later, I mostly speak English, Southern, sarcasm and enough Spanish to identify a blue pen. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Don’t Hate Student Slang. I Hate Whatever “6-7” Is.

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Every generation has its annoying slang, but “6-7” feels different. It is loud, contagious, mostly meaningless by the time it reaches the classroom, and somehow perfectly designed to derail learning five seconds after it begins. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Emoji Vocabulary Is Very Limited

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I don’t really have favorite emojis. I have a few dependable ones I use when words seem unnecessary, risky, or likely to start a conversation I didn’t mean to have. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ban “6-7” (And While We’re at It, Let’s Redefine “Poop”)

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Slang evolves. I understand that. But when students toss around “6-7” without realizing it traces back to a police code for a reported death, it isn’t edgy—it’s uninformed. Words carry weight. If we’re going to redefine everything because it sounds cool in a lyric or on TikTok, we might as well make “poop” mean delicious and “detention” mean spa day. At least then we’d know we were being ridiculous on purpose. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Monday, February 2, 2026: Truth Behind the Tower

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Genesis 11 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in a Name? Apparently, an Unfortunate Headline

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I was never really in love with my name. Doug is fine—solid, unpretentious, and chosen out of love. My middle name, Blaine, on the other hand, sounds like either a country-club snob or the kid drinking paste in kindergarten. Add in the etymology—dark river plus yellow—and suddenly my full name sounds less like a person and more like a true-crime episode. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Semantic Whiplash: When Words Change Faster Than Meaning

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Language evolves—but not at the speed of a viral trend. I’m inventing a phrase for the very thing I’d like to un-invent: semantic whiplash, when words are reassigned overnight and everyone pretends that’s progress. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Friday, October 3, 2025: Christianese

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 12:33-37 “…for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”Matthew 12:37 Reflect Christians are often known for having a lingo that’s all their own. Consider these words and phrases from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Sunday, February 2, 2025: Truth Behind the Tower

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Genesis 11 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”Genesis … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Thursday, October 3, 2024: Christianese

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 12:33-37 “…for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:37 Reflect Christians are often known for having a lingo that’s all their own. Consider these words and phrases from … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment