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Photo Memory of the Week
Video of the Week: “It was an ambush!”
Leeloo whups a bunch of armed and nasty aliens, unarmed and all by her own self.
The quote is at timestamp 1:43.
Poetry of the Week
On Tender Hooks
- by Brian BilstonLet me cut to the cheese:
every time you open your mouth,
I’m on tender hooks.You charge at the English language
like a bowl in a china shop.
Please nip it in the butt.On the spurt of the moment,
the phrases tumble out.
It’s time you gave up the goat.Curve your enthusiasm.
Don’t give them free range.
The chickens will come home to roast.Now you are in high dungeon.
You think me a damp squid:
on your phrases I shouldn’t impose.But they spread like wildflowers
in a doggy-dog world,
and your spear of influence grows.Posted: 2025 Apr 20
Face Photos from Readers
Tag Archives: Conversations
The All-Aboutness of Avocados
The long-lasting effects of an encounter over the avocado bin, and reflections on the life lessons offered by that humble fruit. Avocados are all about planning. Startled, I look up from what I’m doing — feeling up avocados — and … Continue reading
Go, Buckeyes!
A chat with a waitress in Sedona leads to a connection over a hoodie. She’s just checking that we’re happy with our meal. We might be looking a little glum as we finish our brunch under the glow of … Continue reading
Hearts, Bears and Roses
An unexpected question about Valentine’s Day leads to the truth about relationships. When is Valentine’s Day this year? The retired air force colonel and I are herding cats — aka running a proposal — and have taken a mental-health … Continue reading
Travelling Since 16 Hours
We have been travelling since 16 hours. We don’t want to eat. We don’t want to drink. We don’t want anything. Continue reading
Working Without A Net
As my rage subsides, I recover something: not my perspective, MIA for at least two weeks; and not my sense of humour, markedly absent for maybe the last day or two, but at least my sense of self-preservation. Continue reading
Just Goofin’ Around
Contemplating different forms of humour – jokes, sarcasm, puns, absurdisms, and elaborate pranks – and why we bother with them, anyway. Where are we going? As our car pulls away from the snowbird encampment, one of the short people … Continue reading
Posted in Language and Communication, Laughing Frequently
Tagged Conversations, Word Play
4 Comments
A Great Idea
Sharing information and viewpoints on complex public policy issues will almost certainly reduce disagreements; and just as certainly not eliminate them. Being in the desert isn’t all about hiking and birdwatching. Some of it is about being in a … Continue reading
Posted in Politics and Policy, Thinking Broadly
Tagged Community, Conversations, Public Policy
8 Comments
Not From Where You’re Standing
Communication – science, art form, or game? You be the judge. Tall — that’s what you notice first. Then his gait grabs you — he walks like a runway model. Head up and half smiling, sure of his right-of-way. … Continue reading
Posted in Language and Communication, Laughing Frequently
Tagged Conversations, Word Play
28 Comments
Miracle at Checkout 9
Being the 4th in a miscellany of short posts to mark the 12 days of Christmas. My line, which had looked so promising — only one person ahead of me, with a light load of groceries — has come to … Continue reading