When is a castle not a castle?

by Mandy Miller

When it's Castle Howard.  Castle Howard is one of the 10 Treasure Houses of England, and it has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. Technically, it is not a true castle, because it was built after the castle-building era and was never used as a defensive position in battle. It is actually an English country house, and it has been home to the Howard family for over 300 years. It is easily recognisable by fans of Brideshead Revisited, in fact over the years, it has been the location for a number of different films.

Americanisms

Someone, probably Bernard Shaw, once said that the British and the Americans are two people separated by a common language and it is certainly true that when Daniel Webster wrote his famous dictionary he set out to make the two languages distinctive – hence us Brits have humour and the Americans humor and so on.

Leadership

What Makes a Good Leader?

by Myron Curry

It goes without saying that good leadership is crucial to any successful business. But, what makes a good leader and how can someone develop himself or herself into a good leader if they are not one to begin with? The answer is that there are many factors that contribute to good leadership. And, whether someone is naturally a good leader or not, anyone can become a good leader.

The Information Interview Essay

The Art of the Informational Interview Essay

Sometimes, we just want to learn more about other people; we want to find out what makes them tick so-to-speak. We yearn to understand how they navigate this adventure we call life.  About the only way we can actually learn about others is through asking them questions. That's what an Informational Interview does; you ask relevant questions and compile the answers into a form suitable for reading at one's leisure in an Informational Interview Essay.

You need to consider two aspects of the Informational Interview Essay. Aside from the typical considerations that come with any form of essay writing, such as proper research, clarity of writing, revision, and such. One aspect to consider is your approach to "Conducting the Interview." The second aspect for consideration is the actual "Questioning." Let's look at five vital points of each aspect:

Cut Out Your Filler Words

by Gilda Bonanno

Filler words include "um," "ah," and words such as "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as a verbal bridge to the next word.

These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message.

The Serious and Silly News of 2009

Once again, another year has moseyed off into the sunset, tipping its hat goodbye like a trail-weary cowboy, only to have a brand new one take its place. It seems like the past year had more than its share of drama, as well as intermezzos of nonsense.

With high hopes for a prosperous and healthy 2010, let's look back at the serious and silly of 2009.