During a communications conference I attended years ago, two comedians leading a session about improv introduced the concept of “Yes, and….” They explained it was always easier to take someone else’s idea and build on it in a positive way. Choosing “No, but…” is a negative path, they said, and can quickly suck the joy […]
Author Archives: elb_cast
Fitting New Word for 2020
I learned a new word, one that perfectly describes Dr. Scott Atlas and many others in the Trump administration. Ultracrepidarianism is the habit of giving opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge. Fancy way of saying, “He’s full of shit!” Now, enjoy George Carlin!
Consider the Ouroboros
Scanning the audience who attend Trump's rallies, less-educated white voters seem to comprise his base. Could this lead to a political ouroboros of voters? An electorate that doesn't appear to understand their unrequited affinity for the president leads them on a doomed downward spiral as his economic policies swallow them whole to benefit the rich? […]
Orson Welles Commentaries on Isaac Wood
Orson Welles Commentaries – Isaac Woodard Jr.: Orson Wells aired a powerful series of commentary broadcasts on ABC Radio from September 1945 through October 1946. Five of those episodes, which were dedicated to homebound veteran Isaac Woodard Jr., kicked off on July 28, 1946, with the reading of an affidavit that detailed the blinding of […]
My Plea to 2021 Democrats
Anyone would benefit from this advice I hope members of the Democratic Party will keep a few things in mind after they retake control of whatever remains of our great American Republic. Don’t take on a holier-than-thou attitude. Never talk down to people. It makes you the lesser person. Don’t talk over people. It’s rude […]
My Writing Process
My Writing Process: Every writer has his/her own process. Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to write about the only writing process that I really know: mine. This article by Stephen B. Hebert is focused on using Ulysses on macOS and iOS for writing, but any writer should appreciate the ideas about his writing […]
Trying to Write Again
Years ago, Merlin Mann1 said you can’t think your way out of writer’s block. You must write your way out of thinker’s block. I’ve been trying to do the former when, obviously, I should be attempting the latter. So much as happened since New Year’s Eve 2020. The novel coronavirus pandemic aka COVID-19. People wearing […]
Photos of Roadside Americana
Download 11,710 Free-to-Use Photos of Roadside Americana: The Library of Congress has published over 11,000 high-resolution shots of U.S. roadside attractions, and released the images (to which it had purchased the rights) into the public domain. The photos were taken by architectural critic and photographer John Margolies, who spent forty years documenting his travels along […]
24 Hours on Facebook
The main lesson learned after 24 hours on Facebook is that the people most likely to ask What Would Jesus Do are the least likely to follow his lead. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church and respected the adults who taught us right from wrong. They taught us about the wrath of the […]
“Prejudice, Racism, and Assumptions”
I have a friend, more of a brother, who posted his thoughts about the current #blacklivesmatter state of things. It’s damn near perfect.