Steve Osborne Tag Page

Already or All Ready?

Already or All Ready? Published by Steve Osborne under Writing Rules It’s quiz time again. Which of the following sentences are correct? We are already to go. We are all ready to go. He already arrived. He all ready arrived. Sentences 2 and 3 are correct. Sentences 1 and 4 are as flawed as wooden nickels. But why? RULE: “Already” is an adverb meaning that something has already happened, has happened in the past or before a particular time. “All ready” means that everyone or everything

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God, schools and television

God, schools and television Read Peter Hitchens only in the Mail on Sunday Various contributors were enthused by Steve Lewis's posting (8th November, 1052 am) on the thread about the Ross-Brand-BBC affair. In fact, Mr Lewis was responding to what I thought was an equally important (but largely neglected) point about the brainwashing power of TV. He argued that religious education of children was comparable to the conformist influence of TV, and then went on to make an attack on religion in

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Pick of the Commentators

In The Independent today: There's a divine spark to genius as well as hard graft - Dominic Lawson Osborne is not to be underestimated - Steve Richards We won't improve society by penalising stable relationships - Mary Dejevsky Sentimentalised - and demonised - Terence Blacker Mourn Reg - but not 'On The Buses' - Tom Sutcliffe The best of the rest: It's Dave's head they really want - Rachel Sylvester, The Times This frenzy of hatred is a disaster for children at risk - Polly Toynbee, The

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Two festivals in two states in two weekends

Special Consensus at the 2008 Withlacoochee Bluegrass Jamboree. Ashby Frank from Special Consensus on stage during the 2008 Withlacoochee Bluegrass Jamboree in Dunellon, FL. Nothin Fancy's Mike Andes and Chris Sexton entertain the masses at the 2008 Withlacoochee Bluegrass Jamboree in Dunellon, FL. Steve Gulley of Grasstowne on stage at the 2008 Withlacoochee Bluegrass Jamboree. What’s it like to be a bluegrass festival bum, roaming the country to soak in your favorite music? I got a ta

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Led Zeppelin's Jones to Jam in U.S. at Christmas Benefit

Led Zeppelin's Jones to Jam in U.S. at Christmas BenefitReady for one bit of Led Zeppelin news that is actual fact and not rumor? Bassist John Paul Jones will join an eclectic all-star cast, including Michael Franti, the Allman Bros., Coheed & Cambria, Steve Earle, Joan Osborne and host band Gov't Mule, for Warren Haynes' 20th Annual Christmas Jam. The jam -- a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity -- expands this year into a two-day affair at the Civic Center in Asheville, NC, on December 12

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Tuesday's comment from the papers in...

Today in Times Comment Rachel Sylvester: It's Dave's head, not George's, they really want Martin Fletcher: How the War on Terror pushed Somalia into the arms of al-Qaeda Chris Ayres: Be afraid - it's the return of the DIY zombies Vivienne Parry: Why we said no to presumed consent David Aaronovitch: Spot baby abusers early - when they're toddlers Ross Clark: They might run the economy just like British Rail Sathnam Sanghera: Forget the bluster; let's be candid about the cameras Peter Riddel

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“What If …”

“What If …” Published by Steve Osborne under Writing Rules Have you ever played the “what if …” game? Is it to the creative imagination what crossword puzzles and Sudoku games are to the logical brain. Playing “what if …” is a wonderful, mind-toning exercise – exactly what writers need. Every so often I’m going to throw a “what if …” exercise at you. When I do, please think about it, let your right brain play with it, and share whatever you come up with the rest of us in a comment. The

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“What If …”

“What If …” Published by Steve Osborne under "What If ..." Exercises Have you ever played the “what if …” game? Is it to the creative imagination what crossword puzzles and Sudoku games are to the logical brain. Playing “what if …” is a wonderful, mind-toning exercise – exactly what writers need. Every so often I’m going to throw a “what if …” exercise at you. When I do, please think about it, let your right brain play with it, and share whatever you come up with the rest of us in a comme

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Steve Earle To Play Charity Concerts

Written by Tim Saunders Steve Earle is to feature at the annual Christmas Jam to raise money for Habitat For Humanity. The Grammy award-winning singer will join stars such as Travis Tritt and Joan Osborne over two nights at the Asheville Civic Center Arena, December 12 & 13. “Christmas Jam started 20 years ago as an opportunity for local musicians to jam at the one time of year they were all in town at the same time,“ said concert organizer, Warren Haynes. “Back then, we gave the money to wh

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Word Shot – 17 November, 2008

Word Shot – 17 November, 2008 Published by Steve Osborne under Word Shot Exercises To those of you who participated in last week’s Word Shot, I have only one thing to say: awesome! Your generosity in sharing your work with the rest of us made for some good reading. Keep it up. Exercises like this will boost not only your writing ability but also your creativity.

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Has Osborne the judgment to match his ability?

Jump to Comments I TOOK part in a panel discussion with Steve Richards of The Independent and Jonathan Isaby of Conservative Home on Friday at the Commonwealth Club near Embankment. A question from the audience about George Osborne elicited a surprisingly generous response from Richards, whose political analysis I’ve always been impressed by. But I was nevertheless taken aback by his enthusiasm for Osborne, who he described in glowing terms as the pre-eminent political talent of his generation.

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The Carnival's In Town

THE CARNIVAL'S IN TOWN 7th EDITION Smile For The Camera ~ A Carnival of Images Babies, babies everywhere! From the bare baby to the stylin' baby, they all were the ticket to the Carnival. I haven't enjoyed a collection of photographs more since I started Smile. We certainly are the fortunate few; all here to Smile For The Camera. So, open the cover and browse the 7th Edition of Smile For The Camera's album of Oh Baby! photographs and Enjoy! — ¤ — ¤ — Lidian, she of the NaNoWriMo camp, foun

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Game Notes: Blazers at Hornets

by Aggrey Sam Pre-game – No GreyTone on this one. We’ll be back at it soon enough. – Before I start, let me give a shout-out to my boys Shaun Dumas and Ryan DeRousselle from Xavier University of Louisiana for winning their homecoming game vs. Wiley College in OT this evening. Heard it was a good one, and I wish I could have been there, but I guess this one made up for it. – C.P. came into the game leading the League in dimes and steals, at just under 12 and a shade over three, respectively.

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What Writers Can Learn From Sally’s Dart Shop

What Writers Can Learn From Sally’s Dart Shop Published by Steve Osborne under Life and Writing I’ve seen the little shop for years. It sits across the parking lot from a large backpacking store I frequently visit. But I had never stepped foot inside, though I wanted to many times. Two days ago I realized I needed a good dart board. (I’ve been under some stress lately and instinctively felt that throwing darts at a bulls-eye would be soothing.) So I drove down to Sally’s Dart Shop and wen

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Mastermind - 1977 - Mastermind

This is another fine contribution by Mr. Moo. A classic bit of uptempo funk for the dancefloor and one of the tightest records from the time on Prelude! The group have a sound that’s partly in the Earth Wind & Fire ensemble mode and partly in the early disco style of other east coast groups augmented by just the right touch of strings to give them a nice full sound. The instrumentation’s all pretty nice, with lots of strong sax solos and other nice breakaway bits and titles include “I

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More big names added to Christmas Jam line-up in Asheville

Relix has it: John Paul Jones, Coheed & Cambria, Roosevelt Collier and Audley Freed are among the latest additions to this year's expanded Christmas Jam . As previously announced, Warren Haynes Presents: The 20th Anniversary of Christmas Jam will take place on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 at Asheville, NC's Asheville Civic Center. Some details regarding the event’s schedule have been released, with four confirmed artists slated to perform on December 12: Allman Brothers B

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Warren Haynes Christmas Jam | 20th Anniversary, Lineup

The hardest working man in music, Warren Haynes, is back with the 20th year of his annual Christmas Jam. Though I’d pay a lot of money to go back in time and see all of the canadian tuxedos that people wore in 1988, this year looks like it could be a great event. This year’s X-Mas Jam will span two nights for the first time in its history and as always proceeds from the shows will go towards Habitat for Humanity, a great cause. The event will take place on December 12th and 13th down in Ashe

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Don’t Be So Negative!

Don’t Be So Negative! Published by Steve Osborne under Writing Rules This is not a treatise on the power of positive thinking. We’re going to discuss a more nuts-and-bolts subject: double negatives. We all know that certain double negatives will make you sound like a congenital idiot: For example: We don’t have no biscuits. (Should be: We don’t have any biscuits.) I haven’t seen no haystacks around here. (Should be: I haven’t seen any haystacks around here.) She didn’t bake no cake for m

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email edition

This week’s email edition is available here. From the introduction: This edition marks a slight change in format that will hopefully bring to readers’ attention “new” cases more quickly than has been happening.  Please note that at the end of this edition is an analysis of the new Administration’s likely criminal justice actions.] In the lead off position is Michael Anthony Archuleta v. Galetka from the Utah Supreme Court ostensibly on the narrow appeal by the State on the applicability of Ru

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Greatest Canadian Guitar Players: The List

Recently Rich Terfry on Drive mused about what a shortlist of the best Canadian guitar players might be like, and his off-the-cuff remark resulted in a hundred or so responses! On Friday, Rich played music from the shortlist on the show. As a little accompaniment the Radio 2 Blog posted Who Are The Greatest Canadian Guitar Players? And in response to that a couple of you asked to see the entire list of great Canadian guitar players as suggested by Radio 2 listeners/blog readers. Here's what

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