When I think of the word “clever” I think of a particular kind of intelligence, one that implies a problem solver, i.e. the ability to find an efficient work-around for an obstacle. Additionally, the work-around typically involves a fresh approach, something surprising or unusual in its simplicity. Cleverness is more ingenuity than genius. Engineering is…
(This is the concluding essay of a series of four describing my late in life SAT retest. The other are filed under the category of SAT experience.) It has been one month since I took the SATs and while awaiting my scores I have been interested to learn more about its history. It turns out…
By the time that I got to the attic, I was far past dwelling on every single memento removed from my parents’ emptying house. A steady parade of dumpsters had hauled away umpteen boxes, and I had bequeathed the local library and rummage with untold books, cookware, and just plain gradoux (a most apt word…
I just caught a snippet of the little boy’s conversation as he excitedly told the librarian, “It is going to last forever, like 140 million bazillion years.” Ah, yes, I do recall that troublesome challenge of turning the philosophic concept of forever into a concrete number. In my grade school days, we would said “infinity…
We were only about 45 minutes into our 7 hour drive north when the traffic came to a complete standstill just south of Milwaukee. The highway was in the middle of construction and we were totally boxed in with concrete dividers and rumbling semis; there was no way to peek around and see what was…
Here is last Saturday – overcast, dreary, a windy mix of sleet/rain/snow, particularly discouraging since this is the second consecutive month of such weather and I am desperate for signs of spring. Perfect day to start taxes and there are many other languishing house projects. Instead, I spend the day puttering. Here is the dictionary…
My friend Marion gave me a little news article about harnessing the power of the dog’s extraordinary nose. We are all familiar with dogs that can sniff out bombs, cocaine and other contraband, but now there is a dog that can smell colon cancer in a human stool – and according to this article, the dog…
Yesterday I saw an ad for Purina dog food that touted a “landmark” study claiming that Purina Dog Chow “extended dogs’ healthy life by 2 years.” The word landmark caught my eye since this term is well known in human medical research, generally reserved for a kick-ass randomized study trial reporting unassailable proof that immediately changes…
American Idol announced that for the first time it will start accepting online votes, expanding the voting options from toll-free phone numbers and AT&T text messages. The glitch has been creating a secure website, presumably to prevent some sort of automated voting virus what would spew out millions of rogue votes that would undermine the legitimacy…
Okay I admit to getting People magazine and reading other similar rags in the check out aisle and I must say one of the sections that I enjoy is some sort of fashion maven who critiques red carpet fashions with creative cattiness. This isn’t cruel since anyone standing on a red carpet is basically asking…