Category Archives: Uncategorized

I love this candid photo taken back in 1990. If you zoom in, you might be able to see yourself. Maybe even me. I can’t remember if I was hiding behind the planet or was in front. (It wasn’t one of those staged photos a la ”taller people in the back shorter people toward theContinue reading “Our group photo”

A news article described the NASA Artemis moon mission. In an image that showed the outbound and inbound flight, I noticed at the bottom: “Note: Illustration not to scale.” The fact that that some illustrator/editor considered that this needed to be included speaks volumes about our collective understanding of astronomy, distance, and basic earth science.Continue reading “Illustration Not to Scale”

Here’s a reason to be grateful for modern equipment manufacturers, TVs in gyms and AirPods…. Early in Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the calloused Scrooge refuses to be charitable to the poor and needy. He asks snarkily: “The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” I dove down the Internet rabbit trail about “TheContinue reading “The Treadmill, in full vigour!”

Ambulatabatitis: An aggravated or disappointed feeling when encountering the end of a moving walkway; typically encountered in municipal airports by people who walk swiftly between locations. Dental Afterglow: The thrill of not needing to attentively brush or floss that evening since you had a semi-annual dental hygiene cleaning that afternoon. Faucetabweichungen: The angst one experiencesContinue reading “Important Definitions for Life”

You know you’re speaking with someone who’s not well-connected with how many Americans operate, living in the suburbs. The following phrases are developed along the lines of: “I’m just like you. I put on my pants one leg at a time….” The following phrases are mirrored along the lines of: “I’m just like you… IContinue reading “People out of Touch with Hoi Polloi”

Sometimes, I wish my name was “Scissors.” Then, when I was a kid, I would always win footraces by default. Parents and coaches would caution: “Oh no, no Timmy. You can’t race in this heat. You know the rule: don’t run with Scissors.” Or, how about if Mr. and Mrs. Case named their son Justin?Continue reading “Fun with Names”

For years, we consumers have been collaborating to provide our collective input on restaurants, hairdressers, automotive mechanics, hotels, pet-sitters, employers and many more. Thanks to Yelp and other marketplaces, nearly everything has ratings and comments. However, one market has been completely untapped: garage sales. Here’s two sample reviews: A quiet Saturday at 7th and SpruceContinue reading “Garage Sale Reviews”

If you haven’t noticed, we all have some ratios that we deem appropriate within some unspecified tolerances. Like engineers with precise instruments, we evaluate and decree Pass/Fail upon a variety of life situations. Heretofore, these calibrated insights have not been documented; they have only been passed along through cultural norms. I therefore present the followingContinue reading “Acceptable Ratios”

I’m considering starting a new livestreaming website. Sure, Twitch is great for the gaming community, but what about the untapped market of jigsaw puzzle aficionados? I’m imaging some big tournament type action, where commentators provide piece-by-piece action. As a sneak-preview, here’s the transcript of two commentators taking us along the thrilling assembly of the 1,000Continue reading “Puzlitch”

“A quarter cup of cottage cheese!” he bellowed at me. With a hoarse voice and desperate tone, the five months had begun to wear on him. Pacing anxiously next to my dining room table, his marching stride was repeatedly cut short. Every pivot seemed to intensify his agitation—one moment squinting at his weathered clipboard, theContinue reading “My Nutrition Coach”