Mike Hall
CJOnline
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Past articles by Mike:
Mike Hall: Facts compiled over the years
The late Capital-Journal columnist Dick Snider offered this advice on column writing: “Never use facts; facts will get you in trouble every time.” → Read More
Mike Hall: The wit of George Wilbur Peck
Mark Twain and Will Rogers are the most famous American humorists, but there are others who have been unfairly forgotten. → Read More
Mike Hall: More benefits of rail travel
The response to last week’s column urging support for a new Amtrak passenger service through Topeka drew a positive response from readers. → Read More
Mike Hall: Competition between punsters results in duplicate emails
If competition is what has made this country great, then this column should be getting better and better. Somehow a competition is emerging among frequent contributors. Linda Pendarvis and Paul Post sent the same list of puns on the same day. → Read More
Mike Hall: Readers write in with frequently misused words, phrases
Time again to let the readers do the work, while I collect the pay. Last week's column about words and phrases that are frequently misused - something piques your interest; it doesn't "peak" it, e. → Read More
Mike Hall: No, really; this is important
Are you one of those people who believe proper grammar isn't important as long as you are conveying the thought you want? Sometimes it is important. In writing, you can't even count on spell-checker. You have to know this stuff yourself. → Read More
Mike Hall: Building column with bits and pieces
Here's another one of those olio columns - little tidbits left over from making more substantial meals. ■ Howard Ward, now that he is retired from practicing medicine, could work up a standup routine and make a second career of it. → Read More
Mike Hall: You read it here first
My coffee group is at the forefront of cultural sensitivity. Last January, I wrote a column describing the 2015 version of the "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. → Read More
Mike Hall: In 2016, here's hoping
Happy almost New Year. It's the time when newspaper columnists make predictions about what will happen in the coming year and the time when regular people make resolutions to improve themselves. Both are a waste of time. → Read More
Mike Hall: More Danbury Lane answers
Slowly the answers are coming together to solve the riddle of why there is an exit from Interstate 70 in Topeka at Danbury Lane. → Read More
Mike Hall: How Danbury Lane came to be
That person I have been seeking for weeks - the person who knows why there is a Danbury Lane exit from Interstate 70 - has been found. It's my own friend Jim Seltsam. → Read More
Mike Hall: Lighten up, readers advise
As problems with my email account continue, I'm dependent for interaction with readers on the comments posted at CJOnline.com. Last week's column full of quips collected from here and there was a hit with those people. → Read More
Mike Hall: Politicians' statements reminiscent of famous essay's exaggerated claims
Exaggerated claims by politicians of their past exploits remind me of a famous essay by author Hugh Gallagher. He says he was accepted for admission to New York University based on his application essay. → Read More
Mike Hall: Honoring veterans, active military with a chuckle
A column appearing on Veterans Day should say something about veterans. But what's left to say after all the words that have been spoken and printed in praise of veterans in the past week? Humor. That's it. → Read More
Mike Hall: Taboos come and go
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. In past weeks we have explored the subject of swearing. → Read More
Mike Hall: Author explains why we believe what we do
Years ago a young, black comedian appeared on The Tonight Show and opened his monologue this way:“First I have a message for all you white people — Elvis is dead!”He was making fun of the rumor-that-wouldn’t-die that Elvis Presley wasn’t really dead but merely gone into hiding.We still have rumors that won’t die. The most dangerous one is that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine causes autism.… → Read More
Mike Hall: Offense-free cussing
I swear. Not often, but I do swear. I don't need to use offensive words in my swearing, because I have come to appreciate the creative substitutes some people have come up with. → Read More
Hall: Curse words cause contempt
In college, in a circle of male friends, we used some profanity to spice our conversations. We used words we wouldn't have used in the presence of ladies. My use of profanity increased when I was drafted into the Army. → Read More
Oak leaf mite brings misery to Kansans
This year Kansans has been buzzing about insects, instead of the other way around. → Read More
A look at the people whose names are on local facilities
The voices in my head tell me a lot of readers want to know why one of our airports is called Billard and the other is called Forbes.And why is there a sports complex named Felker and a high-rise building near the Statehouse named Docking? → Read More