dailyprompt
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I’ve often heard people beating the same old drum, “I don’t want a lot of stuff to dust,” as their reason for minimalism. Well, I hate to break the news to you: The entire universe is made of gas and dust. So, whether or not you have a bunch of bric-a-brac upon which dust will…
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“Have a good one.” It’s a phrase many tend to use without bothering to clarify what “one” is: Does “one” refer to a day, a weekend, a holiday, a vacation, a birthday, an anniversary? And because one cannot be sure as to what “one” implies (I wouldn’t want anyone to think me an unscrupulous cad),…
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Many years ago, when still considered a young man, I wrote a piece called “If the Whole World Could Hear Schubert.” Not just know Schubert, or to be familiar with his music, but that the whole world, across oceans and time zones, could hear Schubert all at once—to experience the loveliness, potency, and majesty of…
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I have a quote that I’d like to live by. Unfortunately, I don’t stick to my guns as often as I should. Anyway, it goes something like this: “My time isn’t yours to waste.” If there was ever a quote that ends up DOA no sooner than one exchanges their marriage vows, it’s that one.…
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An epic novel takes time to absorb, so reading it over and over again, irrespective of its literary prowess, linguistics, and message, could end up feeling like a chore. There are a few novels I’ve read multiple times, A Prayer for Owen Meany among them, but it was over a period of years, decades in…
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Viruses, irrespective of their origins, have one universal characteristic: they cannot travel over water. So, for example, if you were standing on the beach with the ocean to your right, you could rest assured that no virus could attack you from that direction. Also, if you are old enough to have read a newspaper on…
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Mmm, what would I want carrying my name? The first thing that comes to mind is some sort of structure. But definitely not a tunnel; in the event of an accident, I wouldn’t want people stuck inside me. It would be somewhat ironic if I had to call my wife and tell her, “Honey, I’ll…
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Dear Miserly Old Prick, In the event that you’ve lost track of time (doubtless you have; it’s a symptom of living too long), it’s 2062, and you’re 100 years old. Congratulations. But are congratulations in order? Should longevity count as an accomplishment? Let us examine the situation, shall we? Presently, you’re enjoying life with the…
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I’m a basic man, a conservationalist in my accepted wisdoms, who practices the art of minimalism. I am also a salt-of-the-earth Italian who believes in attacking matters one at a time and correctly. Some call it OCD; I call it focus. If I’m doing something, rest assured, it is not a frivolous whim but a…
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