# cane (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 5 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover cane. Page: Feed: --- ## [Pork Goulasch Stew](https://write.as/davepolaschek/pork-goulasch-stew?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-08-09 · davepolaschek_ ## [invite (noun)](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/08/invite-noun.html) _2026-08-08 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ Neil W. wrote to ask: I am seeing lots of advertisements for a new film called "The Invite". (Sounds quite promising with Seth Rogen playing his usual character). Here is a review from the notoriously picky Peter Bradshaw, who quite liked it. Within this article he uses the phrase "extend the invitation of the title". So my question: is it an Americanism to use "invite" as a noun? I (Scottish)… ## [invite (noun)](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/08/invite-noun.html) _2026-08-08 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ Neil W. wrote to ask: I am seeing lots of advertisements for a new film called "The Invite". (Sounds quite promising with Seth Rogen playing his usual character). Here is a review from the notoriously picky Peter Bradshaw, who quite liked it. Within this article he uses the phrase "extend the invitation of the title". So my question: is it an Americanism to use "invite" as a noun? I (Scottish)… ## ["Memoirs of a Moron"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-name-and-dont-we-all-have-one-is.html) _2026-08-06 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ My name (and don't we all have one?) is Livingston P. Lovechild. I ask you, dear reader, if you exist, what was I to do with my life, cursed with such an appellation? Let's face it, you hear a name like Livingston P. Lovechild, and the first thing you think is, "He must be a cunt." And pardon my language, but I am only trying to be truthful here. No one with a name like Livingston P. Lovechild… ## [football and soccer](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/07/football-and-soccer.html) _2026-07-29 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ I’m very pleased to present a guest blog by one of my students at the University of Sussex. The author, Elize Holyoake, recently completed our English in the United States module and will be entering her third year in the BA English Language and Linguistics in the autumn. I’m grateful to her for researching and writing this post! Every four years since its inauguration in 1930, the FIFA World Cup… ## [football and soccer](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/07/football-and-soccer.html) _2026-07-29 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ I’m very pleased to present a guest blog by one of my students at the University of Sussex. The author, Elize Holyoake, recently completed our English in the United States module and will be entering her third year in the BA English Language and Linguistics in the autumn. I’m grateful to her for researching and writing this post! Every four years since its inauguration in 1930, the FIFA World Cup… ## ["Follies of a Flâneur"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/07/follies-of-flaneur.html) _2026-07-23 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Shall we retire to the living room?" said Mrs. Lovechild. "Unless of course you would like another piece of cake, Mr. Plumbtree?" Harry had already had two slices of the chocolate cake, and he could easily have devoured a third, but, despite his gluttony, he said no thank you. Ralston was looking at a pocket watch on a chain. "Good, we can still catch the beginning of The Waldo McGee & Mickey… ## ["The Benighted Hearth"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-benighted-hearth.html) _2026-07-09 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Are you enjoying your Chicken à la King, Mr. Peachman?" said Mrs. Lovechild. Harry's mouth was full, and so he chewed as quickly as he could. "I should think he is," said Ralston. "I love to see a man eat with gusto," said Gwendolyn. Harry swallowed, trying not to choke, and then he dabbed his lips with the damask napkin he had been supplied with. "Yes, Mrs. Lovechild, very much so," he finally… ## ["The Ancestral Manse"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-ancestral-manse.html) _2026-06-25 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Again Harry yanked on Livingston's arm. "Come on, Livingston, let's go." And again Livingston's small eyes opened. "Where are we going?" "Home," said Harry. "We're at your house." "Oh," said Livingston. He sat up straight, blinking. "Splendid. What do we owe you, my good man?" he said, addressing the driver. "Nothing," said the driver. "Your buddy already paid me." "Oh, thank you, Harry," said… ## [shouty!](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/06/shouty.html) _2026-06-23 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ In April, Jody V. sent me a link to this New York Times article with the note " I noticed the word shouty in this piece. I can’t recall having seen the word used in an American publication before." Here it is in the context of the article: But in a social media post after talks with Mr. Rutte, the president reiterated his ire and threw in Greenland for good measure: “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE… ## [One platform, from silicon to agent (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/gzFOATXZLnC3) _2026-06-23 · **Sponsored**_ Serverless inference plus Inference Router to optimize cost and latency at scale. ## [shouty!](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/06/shouty.html) _2026-06-23 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ In April, Jody V. sent me a link to this New York Times article with the note " I noticed the word shouty in this piece. I can’t recall having seen the word used in an American publication before." Here it is in the context of the article: But in a social media post after talks with Mr. Rutte, the president reiterated his ire and threw in Greenland for good measure: “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE… ## ["Eight Billion Stories in the Naked City"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/06/eight-billion-stories-in-naked-city.html) _2026-06-11 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Slowly the cab forged through the blizzard. There were no pedestrians to be seen on the sidewalks. Who but madmen and cabdrivers would be out in this frozen chaos? At a red light the driver slid open the glass partition. "You all right back there?" "Yes," said Harry. "Thank you." "Your buddy still breathing?" "Yes, sleeping peacefully." "You think this is bad?" "What?" said Harry. " This ," said… ## ["Satori"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/05/satori.html) _2026-05-28 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ The cab ground to a halt, its motor humming through the falling snow. Its roof and hood were white with snow, and Harry could see the shadowed form of a driver behind the wheel. "Can you help me, sir?" he yelled. "My friend has fallen!" The driver didn't budge, so Harry trudged through the snow around the front of the car to the driver's window and knocked on the crusted glass with his cold bare… ## [how big (of) a problem?](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/05/how-big-of-problem.html) _2026-05-17 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ Tibs wrote to me in October 2020: A few years ago, Americans started adding “ of ” in places it didn’t occur before. It gradually spread into books, and across the atlantic to here as well. I don’t have an exact timing - less than 10 years? I find it hard to remember examples, because it’s become part of the scenery, but it’s always a case where leaving out the “ of ” leaves the meaning identical… ## [how big (of) a problem?](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/05/how-big-of-problem.html) _2026-05-17 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ Tibs wrote to me in October 2020: A few years ago, Americans started adding “ of ” in places it didn’t occur before. It gradually spread into books, and across the atlantic to here as well. I don’t have an exact timing - less than 10 years? I find it hard to remember examples, because it’s become part of the scenery, but it’s always a case where leaving out the “ of ” leaves the meaning identical… ## ["All the World Is a Vast Museum"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/05/all-world-is-vast-museum.html) _2026-05-14 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Livingston P. Lovechild opened the door and beckoned, waving with a slight bow. "After you, good sir!" Despite the thick icy gusts of snow swirling through the doorway, Harry stepped through, and Livingston followed him, pulling the door closed behind him. Outside the bar darkness had fallen, and the snow had apparently never stopped falling, now lying at least a foot and a half deep on the… ## [Where It Starts](https://jmillerwriter.substack.com/p/where-it-starts) _2026-05-10 · John · John's Substack_ On My Love For Reading ## ["Chicken à la King"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/04/chicken-la-king.html) _2026-04-30 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Not surprisingly, Livingston P. Lovechild proved to be a crashing bore. Not to mention a fool, a madman, or some combination of the two. But on the other hand he insisted on buying every round, so who was Harry Beachcroft to be critical? Every nickel Harry saved on bock this present snowy evening was another bock he could drink at some future time, and bock was Harry's spiritual reward for his… ## [Marching to The Beat of My Own Cane](https://jmillerwriter.substack.com/p/marching-to-the-beat-of-my-own-cane) _2026-04-29 · John · John's Substack_ I identify as deafblind. ## ["The Damned of the Damned"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-damned-of-damned.html) _2026-04-17 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ {Welcome to our new fortnightly serial epic, eventually to be merged with our immediately previous serial epic…} "You were wrong, Thad," said Martha. "You were wrong in Grosse Pointe and you were wrong in Gstaad." "But, dear –" "You were wrong in Palm Beach and you were wrong in Palm Springs, too." "I beg your pardon, I admit I may have been wrong in Palm Beach, but in Palm Springs –" "You were… ## [Ship software peacefully (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/SN5qeaFzSCIK) _2026-04-17 · **Sponsored**_ Deploy apps from your repo with auto-config, instant previews, scaling, and monitoring. ## [Some new pen blanks](https://write.as/davepolaschek/some-new-pen-blanks?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-04-13 · davepolaschek_ ## [administration and government](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/04/administration-and-government.html) _2026-04-12 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ It's about time this topic has its own blog post. It's been an aside to other discussions on several occasions . It's not so much a difference between American and British English per se , but a difference in how our political systems work, and hence a difference in which words we need to use about them. PM's Question Time at UK parliament (Wikimedia commons) Because the UK has a parliamentary… ## [administration and government](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/04/administration-and-government.html) _2026-04-12 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ It's about time this topic has its own blog post. It's been an aside to other discussions on several occasions . It's not so much a difference between American and British English per se , but a difference in how our political systems work, and hence a difference in which words we need to use about them. PM's Question Time at UK parliament (Wikimedia commons) Because the UK has a parliamentary… ## ["Heroes"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/04/heroes.html) _2026-04-02 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Well, thank you, Jim," said Addison. "Yes, thank you," said Milford. "Oh, it was nothing," said Diamond Jim. "Just another pack of hyenas in the night, but stand up to them and they turn tail every time. Or nearly every time. And if they do try to gang up on you, that's when a good stout stick like this one comes in handy." He raised his cane and gave it a twirl. "Well, we appreciate it," said… ## [alongside](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/03/alongside.html) _2026-03-21 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ A few months ago, an American friend of my spouse asked him to ask me: "Why is everyone suddenly saying alongside ?" I hadn't noticed it at that point, but once he'd mentioned it, I felt surrounded by alongside . As this Google Books ngram shows, the word has taken off in the 21st century: Separating out the British and American books, we can see that this is a British-led trend. Alongside climbed… ## [alongside](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/03/alongside.html) _2026-03-21 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ A few months ago, an American friend of my spouse asked him to ask me: "Why is everyone suddenly saying alongside ?" I hadn't noticed it at that point, but once he'd mentioned it, I felt surrounded by alongside . As this Google Books ngram shows, the word has taken off in the 21st century: Separating out the British and American books, we can see that this is a British-led trend. Alongside climbed… ## ["That's How You Do That"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/03/thats-how-you-do-that.html) _2026-03-19 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Neither Addison or Milford were used to not walking slowly, Addison because he was constitutionally languid and lazy, and Milford because as much as he never liked being where he was, he was never in a hurry to go someplace else. And yet, taking quick puffs from their cigarettes and coughing as they went, they did their best to keep up with Diamond Jim, who stomped forth holding his cane upright… ## ["Diamond Jim"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/03/diamond-jim.html) _2026-03-05 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Excuse me, gentlemen!" Addison and Milford turned as one to see an enormous portly man emerging from a dark adjoining corridor. The man wore a fur overcoat, and carried a cane, and on his head was a smart derby hat. In his mouth was a cigarette in a jet black holder, and he smiled in what seemed a friendly fashion. "I see you are having difficulties in igniting your cigarette," said the man.… ## [Are these words misspelled/misspelt most?](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/02/are-these-words-misspelledmisspelt-most.html) _2026-02-26 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ The people at WordUnscrambler.pro sent me a list of "the most misspelled (BrE misspelt \*) words" for the UK. I get a lot of these "we did this thing so that your blog will give us free advertising," and I usually ignore them, but I'll give this one some attention—partly because they sent a US list to Language Log (who published it), so I can do some comparison. But I first have to gripe a bit.… ## ["The Last Husky Boy"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-last-husky-boy.html) _2026-02-19 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Addison," said Milford, after a good ten minutes of wandering in alternating near to total but now only partial darkness, "I'm getting tired of this." "I confess so also I," said Addison, "even I who hardly ever gets tired of anything." "What?" said Milford. He stopped while he dug out his pack of Husky Boys, and Addison did the same. "I said so also am I getting tired, just a trifle mind you."… ## [Licensed Dispensaries, Pay with Crypto (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/AlzjhHTREEcf) _2026-02-19 · **Sponsored**_ Search verified licensed dispensaries and pay with Bitcoin, Lightning, or stablecoins. ## ["Tears of the Damned"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/02/tears-of-damned.html) _2026-02-06 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "I'm sorry," said Addison, "what?" "Did I mumble?" said Punch. "Well, it sounded like you said you wanted our immortal souls." "So I wasn't mumbling," said the little man. "Oh," said Addison. "Okay," said Milford, "you know what? The hell with this madman. Let's go, Addison." "Where are you going?" said Punch. "Anywhere but here," said Milford. "You'll never find the Hideaway on your own," said… ## [nostalgia for present-day British English](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2026/02/nostalgia-for-present-british-english.html) _2026-02-04 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ I get various Google Alerts for things related to my interests, and today I got one for a story in The Sun and the Daily Express about the '20 English words the public wants to revive'. Now, if I want to read these articles, I have to pay or give them my first-born, or something like that, so I'm not rushing to read them. But I've got enough of a gist from the Google Alert (orig. AmE) blurb : The… ## [Building a Cane #15: The final product](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-15-the-final-product?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #14: Joining the pieces](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-14-joining-the-pieces?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #13: Finished the carving, finishing](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-13-finished-the-carving-finishing?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #12: Finishing the handle, carving on the shaft](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-12-finishing-the-handle-carving-on-the-shaft?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #11a: Sidebar on cane physics](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-11a-sidebar-on-cane-physics?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #11: Shaping the handle more, grain filling, and fitting the tip on the shaft](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-11-shaping-the-handle-more-grain-filling-and-fitting-the?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-03 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #10: Shaping the handle](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-10-shaping-the-handle?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-02 · davepolaschek_ ## [Building a Cane #9: Hole for the peg, shaping begins](https://write.as/davepolaschek/building-a-cane-9-hole-for-the-peg-shaping-begins?pk_campaign=rss-feed) _2026-02-02 · davepolaschek_ ## ["A Man Called Punch"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-man-called-punch.html) _2026-01-22 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Milford closed the door firmly behind him. "So, once again," said Addison, taking out his Chesterfields, and speaking in his best George Sanders voice, "the question is, 'Whither now?'" Milford looked to the right and to the left, a dim and dingy hallway fading into darkness in both directions. He sighed and took out his Husky Boys. Was this his twelve-thousandth and thirty-sixth sigh since… ## ["Dante Gabriel Fucking Rossetti"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2026/01/dante-gabriel-fucking-rossetti.html) _2026-01-09 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ But before he could put the glass to his lips Milford paused and remembered, again, that he was an alcoholic, and that he shouldn't drink, or at any rate he shouldn't drink alcoholic beverages. He put the glass back down. "Wait a minute," he said. "But you know who I really fucking hate?" said Mr. Bormanshire. "Everybody," said Mr. Bogman. "Yes, of course, but do you know who I really fucking… ## [US-to-UK Word of the Year 2025: zee](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2025/12/us-to-uk-word-of-year-2025-zee.html) _2025-12-31 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ And t he 2025 Separated by a Common Language US-to-UK Word of the Year is (sorta kinda): zee (but mostly Gen Z ) I must start by assuring you: British people generally do not call the letter zee . Nevertheless, I have reasons for choosing zee this year: It is winning (particularly among\[st\] the people it describes) as the pronunciation of the generation name: Gen Z . It is a word that comes up… ## [UK-to-US Word of the Year 2025: fiddly](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2025/12/uk-to-us-word-of-year-2025-fiddly.html) _2025-12-30 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ The 2025 Separated by a Common Language UK-to-US Word of the Year is: fiddly Here's an English teacher explaining the word Someone might have recommended this to me this year—if so, please out yourself in the comments, since I cannot find a pixel trail for a recommender. But I did find it in an email conversation I had with Ben Yagoda in deciding the 2022 WotY, where he said: Interesting slate of… ## ["Pathetic Self-Deluded Idiots"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2025/12/pathetic-self-deluded-idiots.html) _2025-12-25 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Oh, by the way, Pedro," called Mr. Bormanshire, to the thin man with the tray, who stopped and turned. "Yeah, Mr. Bormanshire?" "Better bring us another round of Rob Roys while you're at it." "Four more Rob Roys?" "Yes, please." "Comin' right up, Mr. Bormanshire." Milford said nothing. What was the use? Just because they were bringing him another Rob Roy didn't mean he had to drink it. The thin… ## ["Just Roll with It"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2025/12/just-roll-with-it.html) _2025-12-11 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ Suddenly Milford remembered that fat hand-rolled cigarette he had shared with Addison not so long ago, and this on top of the supposedly sacred mushrooms of the American Indians he had eaten earlier in the evening, and also the other reefers, and the hashish, and the wine and bourbon and beer, he must have been insane, or at the very least lacking in all self-control, to thus make himself more… ## ["The Secret of a Good Rob Roy"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-secret-of-good-rob-roy.html) _2025-11-27 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ "Look," said Milford, "I don't want to seem unappreciative, but can't we just wait by the door here for a little while until those douchebags have passed, and then we'll just leave?" "You want to 'leave'?" said Mr. Bogman. "Yes," said Milford, "I mean, when it's safe, you know –" "When it's 'safe'." "Yes," said Milford. "And do you, Mr. Addleton," said Mr. Bogman, addressing Addison, "do you also… ## [pleaded and pled](http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2025/11/pleaded-and-pled.html) _2025-11-23 · lynneguist · Separated by a Common Language_ I may have promised another topic for this month's blog...but another request has (orig. AmE) come over the transom , and I'm easily distractable, so... Mike C from Shropshire asks: Even most BBC news reporters seem to be using “pled” as the past tense / past participle. … Any thoughts? Thoughts? Do I have thoughts? I am plagued by them! Pleading and plea-ing Let's start with a basic observation… ## ["We Have Much to Learn from the Youth of Today"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/we-have-much-to-learn-from-youth-of.html) _2025-11-13 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ It was a tavern, a saloon, yet another one, dark and choked with smoke, packed with people sitting at tables and booths and at a long bar. There was no music to be heard, only a dull babble of voices. Addison and Milford turned and watched the little fat bald bearded man turning the button of a deadlock, thrusting home the bolt of a barrel lock and then securing a chain lock above it. He then… ## ["The Prancing Fool"](http://danleo.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-prancing-fool.html) _2025-10-30 · Dan Leo · Dan Leo_ They ran until they came to a turning of the dim hallway, to the right, and this passage led into an unlighted section through which they stumbled, bumping into one another and almost falling several times until they came to another turn, this time to the left, a long stretch of narrow corridor lighted by widely and irregularly spaced dim bulbs, and on they staggered, still hearing the shouting…