Patrick's Place

20/02/2024

When a Period Isn’t Enough, Maybe a ‘Periodt’ Will Do It

I realize I tend to care more about grammar and usage than the average person. But even I had never heard of the 'periodt' until recently.

19/02/2024

Is There an Apostrophe in Presidents Day? It Depends

You've probably seen Presidents Day spelled with and without an apostrophe. But is there supposed to be one? It depends on whom you ask.

15/02/2024

How to Order Scrambled Eggs When You Want Them Cooked

I'm not a huge breakfast guy, so I must have missed a memo when it comes to the new way to order 'properly' cooked scrambled eggs.

14/02/2024

Have You Heard of These New Dating Terms?

If you find yourself happily married, consider yourself fortunate. Dating these days can be brutal. Just consider these new dating terms!

13/02/2024

Embarrassing Pizza Restaurant Typo Goes Viral

Yikes! A sign at a Canadian Pizza Hut might display one of the biggest facepalm moments in restaurant typo history!

12/02/2024

BlueSky Open Access Adds 1M+ New Users in a Week

In the week since the announcement of BlueSky open access, 1.3 million new users joined the social media platform and X alternative.

08/02/2024

‘Peanuts’ Special Will Serve Justice for Franklin

Many of us looked forward to a 'Peanuts' special every big holiday. But one in particular riled a lot of people over its handling of race.

07/02/2024

20th Anniversary: On This Day 20 Years Ago, This Blog Began

With this post, I mark the 20th anniversary of Patrick's Place, the silly little blog I started in February of 2004, as a new hobby.

06/02/2024

Use the Term ‘People of Color’ Carefully, AP Style Says

In a timely post just a few days into Black History Month, the Associated Press Stylebook posted a reminder about the term 'people of color.'

05/02/2024

Threads Hashtags Offer a Pleasant — But Limiting — Twist

If you're generous with the pound sign on social media, using Threads hashtags might require you to embrace a strong sense of discipline.

03/02/2024

Every time I hear someone tell us whether Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, I think of the Morgan Freeman line from "Driving Miss Daisy:"

"Now, how you know how I can see less'n you can look out my eyes?

01/02/2024

I Had a Health Scare About My Best Friend

For the past few months, I've been dealing with a health scare involving my Rough Collie. I just got the official report from the vet.

31/01/2024

Amazon Prime to Charge Extra to Avoid Streaming Commercials

One of the things I liked most about Amazon Prime was the lack of commercials. It's the latest streaming service to change all that.

30/01/2024

Inalienable or Unalienable? Which Human Rights Do We Claim?

Consider one of our most important documents: the Declaration of Independence. Does it mention inalienable or unalienable human rights?

29/01/2024

Ever Experience ‘Blog Post Amnesia’ When an Idea Hits?

Have you ever had a great idea for a post only to discover you've already written on that very topic? I call it blog post amnesia.

25/01/2024

DIalog on Customer Service Chatbots Take Goofy Turn

If you could deal with customer service chatbots or human beings, which one would you almost always choose?

24/01/2024

It’s Time to Have the Colonoscopy Discussion

Earlier this week, I shared a story on social media about a rise in colon cancer cases. The same day, I had my second colonoscopy.

23/01/2024

The Terrifying ‘Hypnic Jerk’ Added to the Dictionary

You may never have used or even heard the term 'hypnic jerk,' but chances are you've definitely experienced one.

22/01/2024

Pardon a quick public service announcement, but it's important. I had my second colonoscopy this morning. No polyps at all! Everything looked good. I don't have to go back for five years. If you're 45 or older, get screened! It's a simple way to prevent cancer!!

22/01/2024

Should You Add ‘Updated Dates’ to Your Blog Posts?

When you revise or adjust old posts, should you let your readers know by adding updated dates so they can see a change was made?

20/01/2024

Went through Starbucks and got to the window and learned the person ahead of me bought my coffee. So I paid it forward to the person behind me. I always hate to break up a set!

18/01/2024

‘After Midnight’ Reminds Me Why I Don’t Go to Comedy Clubs

CBS debuted its new late-night series 'After Midnight,' which wants to be comedy, talk and a game show all at once.

18/01/2024

Went for a haircut today and then stopped by Ladles on James Island for some She-Crab soup and a grilled cheese!

17/01/2024

Pillow Fight: Maker Claims Fox News Trying to ‘Silence’ Him

A pillow manufacturer well-known for spreading the 'stolen election' conspiracy theory launched a pillow fight against Fox News.

16/01/2024

Ever Heard of Fronted Averbials? You Definitely Have!

We regularly use fronted adverbials when we write and we see them every day. What we normally don't see is the term itself.

15/01/2024

Year-to-Year Blog Stats? Finding Them Isn’t as Easy Now!

This time of year, I like to say something about year-to-year blog stats. A change to Google Analytics makes them harder to find.

15/01/2024

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

11/01/2024

Pope Francis Wants Global Ban on Surrogate Parenting

Pope Francis condemned the practice of surrogate parenting, in which a woman gives birth for another, and pushed for a worldwide ban.

10/01/2024

Column Questions Plan for Retton Crowdfunding Donations

The fundraiser Mary Lou Retton's hospital stay raised over $450,000. But donors should expect a plan for crowdfunding donations.

09/01/2024

Affected or Impacted? Should They Be Interchangeable?

For some people, when they have the choice between using affected or impacted to refer to a result, there's only one correct choice.