WACKY CHRISTMAS STUFF Over time you observe stuff which makes you shake your head. It seems our family notices those things maybe a bit more than others. We want to share a few of those with you. 1. Blinking Baby Jesus. Long ago (BC, before children) we lived in Standish, Michigan. We had to travel to a country site …
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Category:Reviews & Opinions
GUEST POST from Don – Planting Zones
PLANTING ZONE MAP The USDA just updated their zone map. I refer often to this map when choosing trees and bushes I would like to plant. It has been fairly accurate. Some have had disappointing results when plants which are “OK” for their zone get killed by sub-zero temps or a hard frost. The USDA sets those …
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GUEST POST from Don – Schwa
SCHWA Schwa is a vowel which doesn’t care. It is that sound in a word that you are too exhausted to say clearly. It is also the vowel which isn’t there, but is sometimes added. At times it is the vowel which is not said at all. Yes, it is not very important to the proper pronunciation of …
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GUEST POST from Don – Short Attention Span
SHORT ATTENTION SPAN For those who have already forgotten the subject: Short Attention Span. There are many in the world who study these things who claim that attention spans are becoming shorter decade by decade. I just now read an article about just that … short attention spans … by Emma Smith published in The Guardian on …
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GUEST POST from Don: less is MORE?
less is MORE? If “less is MORE,” why aren’t people clamoring for it? Yet, when people look at products they often buy the item with MORE features, than fewer. This is true even when the customer has no desire to use the extra feature(s). When car shopping, you can find some models that come with an …
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GUEST POST from Don: Disinformation
DISINFORMATION Do not be misinformed about this word. Wikipedia says: “Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people.” However, that is not how the word seems to be used in the real world where the concept has no connection with the word “truth” or even “deception.” Henceforth, I will speak of the word as it is …
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GUEST POST from Don: Term Limits
Why Term-Limits are Badand How to Make Good Ones. Every year or so I read comments from people who think it is time for term limits. Sometimes they even sound sensible. Let me say, the idea of term-limits is GREAT. Unfortunately, how it works in real life…NOT SO HOT! So, why would it not work? Consider this, when you …
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GUEST POST from Don – BIAS? Not As Much…
BIAS? Not as much… I recently heard an extended interview with Mahzarin Banaji about bias in America. In the interview she referenced an article she helped write in 2019, and updated some of the data through 2020, to make it more current. It turns out that anti-black bias according to the research, in particular, has improved (become less …
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GUEST POST from Don: Not On The Personality Scale
NOT on the PERSONALITY SCALE I don’t fit the Profile You may not fit, either. The personality test says you are a “Smirkoid.” But, only half of the description fits. Thankfully you didn’t show up as a “Lobnoid.” You would hate being that. Others, when they think about you say, “Yah, he’s probably a ‘Smirkoid,’ but there is more …
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GUEST POST from Don: All Saints Day
ALL SAINTS DAY When I mentioned I was writing about “All Saints Day” a friend asked why. Jokingly I replied, “My goal is to double the number of people celebrating it.” Honestly, I fear that goal would not be too difficult to pull off. That is sad, really. We honor presidents, both good and bad (not speaking of my …
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