Some 230-plus years ago, thirteen colonies were unhappy with the mother country. So the leaders of these New World governments gathered in Philadelphia to debate, discuss and bargain. Finally, they cobbled together a unanimous vote (with one abstention–New York!). As all school children know, the momentous day in 1776 on which the colonies declared independence was July the 2nd.
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Author: Andy Le Peau
I've been an editor and writer for over forty years. I am passionate about ideas and how we can express them clearly, beautifully, and persuasively. I love reading good books, talking about them, and recommending them. I thoroughly enjoy my family who help me continue on the path of a lifelong learner.
Increase the Earning Power of Your Children
Want your children to go further in their education—high school, college, maybe more? Want them to earn more as adults? Here’s one key predictor of educational attainment and earning power. Is it IQ? Is it economic status?
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Solving a Puzzle
I am known to work on the occasional crossword puzzle. Maybe every week or two I try my hand. I’m not like some friends who can whip through one in thirty minutes. In fact, it usually takes me a few days to finish. But I’ve seen a remarkable pattern in how I manage to solve them.
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Will Digital Outstrip Print by 2015?
Engadget reports that Sony’s Steve Haber, head of their digital reading business division, says that “within five years there will be more digital content sold than physical content.” That means not just books but all print media, including magazines and newspapers.
So, dear readers, what do you think? Is Sony just trying to create buzz? Are they just puffing the product line they expect to make gazillions on? Or are they right–digital sales will overtake print by 2015?
That’s Unheard Of!
Everybody does it. Besides that, it’s not wrong. In fact, sometimes it can be a beautiful thing. No, I’m not talking about that! I’m talking about ending sentences with a preposition.
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Going Broke While Making Millions
Accounting is numbers, right? And numbers are solid, concrete, unambiguous, the one thing in the world we can count on—right? Then why is accounting so hard to understand? As I’ve noted here before, it’s because it is backward.
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What’s in a Name?
We don’t usually get to choose our names. They come to us at birth unbidden. Some people change their names later on, of course, like Chad Ochocinco or Prince have done–in their case for apparently promotional purposes.
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Busting the “Dark Ages” Myth
Recently a good friend mentioned “the Dark Ages,” and I nearly flew into a wild rage. Well, no, it was more like severe annoyance. Actually, now that I think of it, maybe it was just a mild depression.
The “Dark Ages” weren’t dark. Not only was there plenty of sunshine, but culture and civilization were merrily rowing along as well.
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Miss Whitebread Was Wrong
“Always make an outline before you start writing.” Isn’t that what your fifth grade teacher told you? Well, I’m sorry to break this to you, but Miss Whitebread was wrong. In my continuing series of Stupid Things You Were Taught in School (see here and here), let me deconstruct this bad boy.
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Two Keys to Outstanding Cover Design
It is a truth universally acknowledged that people in possession of a good manuscript must be in want of an outstanding cover. A great cover can make an amazing difference. So can a bad one.
A few years ago I heard Ken Peterson of Tyndale House Publishers offer two simple keys to success—coding and positioning.
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