I read a blurb that said kids still like to do things kids have done for decades. Like turn a spoon into a spaceship. Or turn a cardboard box into a castle. But now kids do funny things online because…well, because they can. What I read said, “toddlers try to vlog with their parents’ phones. They narrate their snack time like mini influencers.” Where … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Rhyme and Reason
“They” used to say, “Man, I’m on such a high right now,” when something made you big-time happy. And some said that when they inhaled certain kinds of smoke. But let’s not go there. The reason I brought it up is to talk about a rainbow high. And the rainbow high comes from an actual rainbow. Not just some bright colors in an arch, … The rest of the story…
This world is getting darker and meaner every day. And there are fewer kids doing wholesome kid stuff with each passing year. But I think you’ll find that the sights and scents of a flower garden can still attract kids almost as much as they attract bees. So, stop what you’re doing and make the most of it. So what if you had an … The rest of the story…
I never met a honey bee I didn’t like. And, maybe it’s just my imagination (because I have a powerful imagination), but I think they like me, too. Because every honey bee I see smiles at me. Now, I gotta tell ya. It takes a special way of squinting your eyes in order to be able to see a honey bee smile. But I’ve … The rest of the story…
Where I live it can get pretty windy. In fact, the current Funderburk home town is the fifth windiest city in America. We have an average wind speed of 11.5 mph. And the strongest recorded wind speed is over 101 mph. Wow, that’s a lotta gusto. All that windy talk reminds me of when my dad showed my brother and me how to hook … The rest of the story…
According to research, rhyming books can “help with language development, including phonemic awareness, which is crucial for early reading skills.” And apparently rhyming books “make learning fun which is particularly appealing to young children.” Hmm. I guess that might all be true. But I just write ’em for the funny looks. Yeah, kids get funny looks on their faces with the right rhymes. And … The rest of the story…
There are lots of bad guys (and that includes the female part of “guys” too) out there everyday. You can’t swing a metal jump rope without hittin’ at least one. In fact, I could tell you a story, three stories in fact, that happened one after another on three consecutive nights way back in the 20th century. Well, I’ll just share the short version … The rest of the story…
Do these sound like masculine traits? Decisiveness, assertiveness, and confidence? I think they certainly SHOULD sound like masculine traits. And I believe those traits can be instilled into boys in ways that help them develop leadership skills. Let me ask you this? Do you think that’s happening in America these days? I don’t. At least not as a rule. Only as the exception. The … The rest of the story…
Emotional Resilience. That’s what they called it. And they followed up the name with this description: Encouraging boys to embrace aspects of traditional masculinity, like stoicism and fortitude, can foster emotional resilience. And this doesn’t mean to suppress emotions. But learn to handle emotions in a way that prepares them for life’s challenges. Boys can grow up to be men who are less likely … The rest of the story…
Ipecac. No, I’m not talking about the story of the headless horseman. I’m talking about syrup. And this ain’t from Aunt Jemima or even Cousin T’s. Ipecac syrup is some kinda tough stuff. In fact, ipecac is what they use in medical situations (poisonings, etc.) to induce vomiting. So, obviously it’s not something your body needs or wants. And yet, would you believe people … The rest of the story…
The system that runs X.com (formerly known as Twitter) acknowledges an increase in “Rage Bait” posts there. Here’s what they say: “There’s a noticeable presence of posts designed to incite anger or controversy, often referred to as “rage bait,” which can lead to negative interactions and a less enjoyable platform experience.” Wow. People create “Rage bait” posts on X just to make people mad. … The rest of the story…
Some say chromium health benefits are measurable. Others say no. Yeah, it’s just like everything else these days. Tons of evidence why something’s good for you. And tons of evidence against it. The FDA says this about chromium health benefits: “One small study suggests that chromium picolinate may reduce the risk of insulin resistance, and therefore possibly may reduce the risk of type 2 … The rest of the story…
With all the frustrating things your government does, it’s tempting to simply gripe, complain, and yell at the people “in charge.” But those things just add to the chaos and confusion? And that might be playing into the hands of the people in charge. How about you try this on for size. Use your frustration as a springboard of opportunity to talk to your … The rest of the story…
When you were young, was the world a better place? And can you honestly agree with these thoughts. You had a lot more fun People were nicer Grownups took better care of our world Life was just plain easier Yeah, when you were young, was that how it was? I sure thought it was. At least that’s how I thought when I was young. … The rest of the story…
I discovered a convenient way to dive a little deeper into information. And X marks the spot. Yeah, the social media channel known as X. Maybe you remember it as Twitter. Anyway, all you gotta do to tap into the “secret” little tool is click or tap on the XI icon, known as Grok, next to a post or profile when you see it. … The rest of the story…
You know the time between dates is measurable. So, I know you know those measurements are called days or weeks or months or years, etc. Because those are the words we use to describe measurements of time. Alright. I think we’re good on that. But wait. Some people think there’s not time between dates. Uh-oh. I think I just kicked my figurative toe on … The rest of the story…
Ok, let’s say you need a Creality K2 Plus Combo 3D Printer 600mm/s Multi-Color Printing w/ CFS. And you need it in a hurry. Or maybe your Random 2 PLA+ANYCUBIC Kobra 3 Combo 3D Printer 600mm/s Smart Multicolor Printing is showing its age and you’d like to upgrade. And what if your Autel MaxiSys Elite II PRO ULTRA Auto Diagnostic Scanner Programming E~CU Coding … The rest of the story…
Music isn’t the only thing that makes you human. And it’s not even the main thing. But music is real. And that’s true even though it’s totally invisible and void. You can’t hold it, touch it, or physically feel it. So, it’s an amazing and complicated marker, among many markers, for what makes us human. Music is real and everybody knows it. Unless you’re … The rest of the story…
Boomer opinions. Yeah, those “old” people actually DO take a position on a lot of stuff in life. And I discovered, earlier this morning, that younger generations agree with some of them. GASP! Like this one: “They need to fix the audio in movies so that the music and sound FX don’t drown out the dialogue?” That was a comment on a social media … The rest of the story…
PGrab some coffee (or your favorite brain waker upper) and get ready to learn some new tricks. And don’t give me that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks baloney. I learn some kind of “new trick or tricks” every day. And, as you might recall, there’s another old saying that you’ve probably even heard recently: “You learn something new every day.” I’ve … The rest of the story…