Never Give Up

December 26, 2018

I just read about a dance company in Venezuela that is helping disabled people perform. Young dancers with conditions such as cerebral palsy, broken spines, and blindness are able to participate in dance, thanks to dance company AM Danza.

I thought it was pretty cool. Then I looked and saw that there are dance companies in several countries that do that, which I thought was even cooler.

Because a Sailboat Is Too Tame

December 30, 2018

A Frenchman is attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a “barrel”. His capsule is shaped like a barrel on its side, not on end, and he can cook in it, as well as sleep in a bed.

He says he’s already crossed the Atlantic in a sailboat four times, and now he wants to see what the trip is like, just floating with the currents.

He’ll turn 72 during the trip.

Getting Along

December 26, 2018

I was touched to read about the Jewish and Muslim Day of Community Service in St. Louis. It started when a small group of Jewish and Muslim friends came together to relieve Christian volunteers on Christmas Eve of 2010. The first official Day of Community Service was Christmas Day of 2011.

Since then, it has evolved into an event with a communal breakfast before doing the volunteer work; a pot-luck lunch, where people are asked to bring a dish that represents their religion, culture or family tradition; and classes for participants of all faiths to learn about each other. In addition to the volunteering, of course.

Way to go!

As Long as We’re Taking Numbers…

December 28, 2018

Thinking about taking numbers at popular exhibits at the science museum made me wish that Stop signs had sensors that would determine who pulled up to the intersection first. The signs would light up or flash in the order of arrival, to indicate which car would go when.

Maybe the people who favor rolling (or California) stops would actually take their turn instead of steamrolling right on through.

Mammals Have All the Fun

December 27, 2018

Over 100 people took part in the second annual March of the Dinosaurs in Kansas City. The crowd spilled into the street, which raised safety concerns, since the area was experiencing higher-than-normal traffic because of the holidays. So, alas, police shut the march down.

I don’t know why the organizer started it. I don’t know where all those people found dinosaur costumes.

But I do know that it sounds like fun.

The Science of Behavior

December 26, 2018

Dear St. Louis Science Center,

Maybe at some of your more popular exhibits, you could have one of those machines that dispenses numbers to determine who’s next in line.

There was almost a rumble at the Virtual Reality display today.

A Scarlet Letter from Q

December 20, 2018

I’ve nearly been sideswiped three times in three days by reckless drivers. (Only one of them could have been fatal, so I probably shouldn’t complain.) They were too busy weaving in and out of traffic to properly check their mirrors, I suppose.

I’ve decided that it would be swell to have a button on my steering wheel that would shoot a paintball pellet at people who almost cause wrecks because of their dangerous driving. Not only would it annoy them but, like the Scarlet Letter, it would brand them as well.

Maybe the James Bond folks can come up with something.

Gotta Have That Christmas Dinner

December 27, 2018

A man in Kentucky was arguing with his wife over which day they should eat Christmas dinner. He threw a number of items, including the Christmas ham, at her.

(Yes, he was arrested.)

Not the Most Useful Advice

December 27, 2018

The federal government is not insensitive to the plight of employees whose finances are adversely affected by the shutdown.

The Office of Personnel Management suggested that furloughed employees could ask mortgage lenders if they could make partial payments. It also posted sample form letters that they could use.

OPM also tweeted that employees should contact personal attorneys if they need help dealing with creditors.

And pay them with what???

December 31, 2018

In a further effort to help furloughed government employees meet their financial obligations, the OPM advised them to ask their landlords if they could swap chores for rent.

Food Can Be Tricky

December 16, 2018

I’m reading a fascinating book: Why You Eat What You Eat, by Rachel Herz. It’s about how our brain and perceptions affect the taste of food and drink. Some stuff we’ve heard in short form through pop culture (“Presentation is everything”), but this book talks about the neuroscience behind the decisions we make regarding how much we like or don’t like food.

It explains why a fancy label can trick your brain into thinking cheap wine is good wine; why we think that attractively plated food is more tasty than food just slopped on the plate any old way; how ambient sound affects the way we perceive taste; etc. 

(In fact, it was in this book that I saw the quotation from Cicero: “Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.” Your brain really can trick you.)

You won’t read it in one sitting, but it is pretty eye-opening. Check it out.

I Hope It Wasn't My Fault

December 16, 2018

The pay for the CEO of Energizer remained flat this year, at $6.7 million. Energizer’s earnings per share fell 33% in fiscal 2018.

Part of that is on me, I’m afraid. I bought some Energizer batteries, but since you can’t mix them and the copper-topped ones, and we already had the copper-topped ones at home, I took the Energizers back.

I hope the CEO can survive on what he made this year, so that I don’t have to feel guilty.

Eating While Under the Influence

December 19, 2018

A guy in Florida tried to pay for his McDonald’s drive-through order with pot. Not surprisingly, he was under the influence at the time, as the police determined when he came back, after having been rebuffed the first time.

It’s unclear whether he was going to pay with cash the second time or not, as the police grabbed him and hauled him away before he could get to that part.

Because It's So Traumatic

December 19, 2018

A man who led a massive poaching ring in Southwest Missouri was sentenced to a year in prison, and has to watch “Bambi” once a month while he’s in jail. The judge is hoping that the scene where Bambi’s mother gets killed will soften his heart.

I don’t think that anybody else is very optimistic.

One for Trump

December 19, 2018


The Trump administration is moving to outlaw bump stocks.

I hope it works.

He Wasn't All Bad

December 16, 2018

Speaking of Cicero (see yesterday’s post), I saw this quotation of his in a book I was reading:

“Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.”

Scarily true.

For the Latin Scholars Among You

December 14, 2018

The copier at a friend’s office is a pain in the neck, and the staff was debating what to call it. My friend proposed that it be called Cicero,

because it’s self-centered, persnickety, and annoys everyone.

When You're Desperate to Spend Money

December 16, 2018

Another of those gift guides appeared in the paper today—the ones that have items you’d never dream existed, let alone think of paying good money for. This one was a little different. I could actually see buying somebody a novelty gift of a Harry Potter Bath Bomb for $4.99.

The Dolce and Gabanna Smeg toaster, for $850, not so much.

Mysteries of the Bible

December 13, 2018

I was killing time reading the Bible before church started last week, and I came upon the story of Ahaz, who took the throne at age 20 and ruled for 16 years. When he died, his 25-year-old son took over.

At first glance, it seemed like he was a very early begetter. Then I thought that maybe there was a gap—you know, he got kicked off the throne, then things happened, and then his son took over. I cross-referenced Kings and Chronicles and they both told the same story, which upheld the early begetting theory.

So today I typed into Google, “How old was Ahaz…” I didn’t have to type in any more than that, and the rest of the question popped up…“when Hezekiah was born?” Clearly a lot of people have been wondering.

(In case you’re wondering: There are several theories, but no definitive answer.)

Now They Have to Pay the Harassment Settlements Themselves

December 15, 2018

In “Not Right Now, I’ve Got a Headache” (Dec. 5, 2017) I noted that Congress had a fund, paid for by taxpayers, to settle sexual harassment cases against members.

Well, rest easy.

A bill has been passed by both the House and the Senate that will require offenders to pay the settlements themselves. The settlements must also be disclosed publicly.

So, check that off your “Things to Be Aggravated About” list.

How Bad Can It Be?

November 15, 2018

I drive down the road and see the NASCAR wannabees zooming, weaving, cutting in, and generally being one swerve away from causing a massive accident, with no consequences whatsoever. Another time I’ll see a car pulled over by a policeman, and think, “What could you have POSSIBLY done to get yourself pulled over?”

I read a library book and ask, “How bad a writer do you have to be to NOT get published?”

And let’s not talk about the radio. Ever wonder about the songs that weren’t considered good enough to be played? How bad must they be?

Just wondering.

Baby, It's Nuts Out There

November 30, 2018

True story: I’d never even heard the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” until I saw it performed on “Glee” a few years ago. But I enjoyed the back-and-forth banter, so when it came on the radio, I listened.

When the stories broke about the large number of women being drugged and raped by celebrities, I thought that the line, “Say, what’s in this drink?”was unfortunate. However, not being a stranger to nuance, I knew that it was just one more piece of banter. (Anybody who can say, “My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious” in a clear voice is not under the influence of anything.)

Now the song has been banned from radio stations. That seems a little tone-deaf to me.

Can we all recover our equilibrium?

It's Good for Business

December 9, 2018

John Kelly is leaving the White House, which means that there may soon be another tell-all book about behind-the-scenes doings in the Trump administration.

All this turnover is turning out to be great for the publishing business.