An Ounce - For Your Consideration

Recorded live on February 14, 2023, during the Virtual Linguists, Toastmasters International, online meeting.

Ever wondered, “Have I been Jinxed”? 

Have you had things pile up on you, events occur, tro…

An interview with Brent Averett, with a story about how quality matters.

Brent talks about how a principle of quality applies to a good knife, and to life. Yes, it may mean you have to pay more, work…

 With everything we know about our planet, with satellite imagery, GPS systems, and so much more, there isn’t much of our planet that hasn’t been seen. But there are still some incredibly remote plac…

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, a friend of the family dropped in to visit. I don’t remember his name, but I do remember, he brought a dog with him. 

The dog was less than a year old, and very well…

There was wisdom in the destruction. 

At the time, there was a real possibility that if the Japanese attacked Hawaii again, they could defeat the US military there and occupy the Islands. 

And, if they…

It was January 1835, and King Richard was in Washington, DC. As he approached his target, his hand slipped inside his coat, and he drew out a pistol… and shot it at Andrew Jackson, the Sitting Presid…

Did your parents or grandparents ever tell you one of ‘those’ stories. You know the ones – “Back in my day we used to walk 7 miles to school. It was uphill both ways. It was always raining, the snow …

Did you know that the driest desert on this earth has not received any precipitation for as long as 2 million years? 

You’d think it must be hot, and dry, and oppressive. 

And, well dry – yes. Oppressi…

Everybody love’s bunnies. Rabbits are ubiquitous. Soft, Cuddly, Cute. 

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? 

Rabbits are found in multiple environments – from desert to mountain… or as …

I have observed as many of us participate in one of the biggest, and most well know, consumer events in the United States. That magical Friday after Thanksgiving when folks line up in the early morni…

The heart of a human can – and sometimes does – just stop. It can be a chronic condition that worsens over time; or an acute event that suddenly, catastrophically, just happens. 

Its potential causes …

The date of the release of this episode is Friday, December 2, 2022. In 5 days, December 7th, it will be 81 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack was the impetus that pulled th…

 I’ve got a familiar story for you. Yes – familiar, but not the one you might be thinking of as you hear the tale. 

Back when the rich took time to ‘dress’ for dinner, when no female would ever consid…

Ever heard the old saying lighting never strikes twice. A phrase, that I suppose, was meant to covey that extraordinary things only happen once. That rare circumstances and happenings just don’t repe…

A story told by Maria Jackson, about a family trip to the Redwoods, of California, USA. 
Maria briefly recounts the trip, the sights, and the three lessons - or ounces - she and her family took from t…

This is a bonus episode, practical Bit 3, an interview with Wil Becker.

The interview introduces a resource that I think this audience will appreciate. 

Wil Becker is promotes books and other media fro…

Life in the United States is amazing. I know that in this day and age, there are many who might disagree for one reason or another. And, it is true that this society falls short of perfection. 

There …

 Not every detail matters. 

The subtle difference between the fire brick red, and chili red, isn’t much. 

The difference between lukewarm, and tepid, probably not perceivable. 

And the difference betwee…

 Like most humans, I am a creature of comfort. I love to be in an environment that is familiar and secure. My backyard. On the couch watching a good show with my wife snuggled in at my side. Laughing…

A part of the human condition is that there will always be something with which we will struggle. It is common to all, rich and poor, those with privilege and those without. Even in the lives of thos…