Five-Dollar Words
This Column Sucks
Did a Recent School Board Slip Verge on Inappropriate?
When School Board President Nancy Harter said "That sucks" at a recent meeting, what did she really mean? Read story.
A High-Falutin Expression
Urban Legends Create a Smoky Haze Around “420”
While “420” means something to some people everyday, it can signify the time to light up to just about everyone on April 20. Drew Mackie looks at where the phrase came from and why it became so popular. Read story.
Sticky "Situation" at the Santa Barbara News-Press
The Shift+F7 Hits the Fan
Brouhaha? Fooferaw? The dispute between News-Press management and former employees has gone on long enough that you'd think some news agency would have thought up a snazzy catch-all name for it that expresses the magnitude succinctly and objectively. Alas, even an expansive list of possible synonyms falls short. Read story.
Holy Foreigner, Batman!
Why the Name of Our Fair City Says More Than We Realize
While most know "Santa Barbara" means "Saint Babs," the roots of the name lend it such translations as "Holy Foreigner," "Holy Bumpkin" and—best of all—"Holy Blah-Blah-Blah." We're jive, sanctified. Read story.
She's No Lady
This is the first entry in Five Dollar Words, a new Independent.com column about words, with a specific focus on those used particularly often in Santa Barbara. Yes, Indy reporter Drew Mackie acknowledges that writing about words is the kind of navel-gazing effort that makes writers feel good about themselves and, given the nature of online columns, will only result in reader comments — or writing about writing on writing. And Drew thinks that's funny. Read story.
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