“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – the Buddha ~ * ~ People need to learn how to evaluate sources. For example, the New England
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A Puff of Absurdity: A Genius Kvetching Ring
An article, three years old, was in my facebook feed today. But it was insanely timely. It’s a little lifestyle piece about how to talk to people who are sick or experiencing trauma. It’s just plain common sense, but it needs to be circulated regardless! The idea was illustrated thusly:
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: Preventing Ovarian Cancer Program Logistics
I went down the road to genetic testing all because of a link I noticed on facebook in early May 2015 – just before my 50th birthday, from the POCP. It said that anyone could get free genetic testing to test for cancer if they have a close relative who
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: On Those Counterfeit Diplomas
An editorial in today’s NYT suggests that some recent high school graduates are not competent in basic skills that should be required to earn their standing. The headline refers to these students’ diplomas as counterfeit, implying that students had a …
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: On Achievement and Death and Stuff
First, a bit about boredom: “Boredom may lead you to anything. After all, boredom even sets one to sticking gold pins into people…one may choose what is contrary to one’s own interest…one’s own fancy, however wild it may be…desire what is injurious to himself, what is stupid, very stupid –
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: One Neat Trick to Lose Weight Fast
I just lost 10 pounds without even trying!! So I was ready to give away some clothes to charity because it was time to resign myself to my middle-age body. I had to accept that I wasn’t going to fit into these clothes ever again. Then I tried them on
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: So I Went to the March
I went to the Jobs, Justice, Climate march on Sunday. It’s taken me a few days to think about what I think about it. Klein so close at the pre-pre-rally. I got to Queen’s Park way early and sat under a big tree to read and wait, and I happened
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: AER Strategies
Margaret Wente recently wrote about a teacher, Lynden Dorval, who was fired for giving students zeros when they didn’t complete assignments. Fellow teachers argued his case: “They told the tribunal that when there are no consequences, a disturbing number of students – quelle surprise! – don’t do the work.” She
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: Diamond’s Collapse
A while back, Mound suggested I read Collapse by Jared Diamond, and I finally got to it. It’s a fascinating read particularly for anyone interested in ancient civilizations. Diamond explores what caused the destruction of various civilizations over the past couple millennia. What interested me, of course, is his final
Continue readingA Puff of Absurdity: Backyard Studio and Garden Build
Three summers ago, I decided to take over the backyard, get rid of the playhouse that the kids had deserted, and build a big garden and waterfall with a little studio to work in. The next day, my son said all he wanted for his birthday was to take over
Continue reading350 or bust: What Does It Take To Get People To Change?
Apparently standing on the brink of global disaster, economically and environmentally, isn’t enough to get the majority of people to demand real change from their political leaders, and move away from their fossil fuel lovin’ ways. So what will it take? This video from 14 year old Hyrum Grenny (with
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