Factors at an Accident

Two friends run into each other out walking… 
Janine: I didn’t see the actual accident.
Winifred: The car hit the bollards lining the road, flipped in the air several times, and just missed the palm trees. It finally came to rest here, a hundred meters away.
Janine: I arrived just as the ambulances arrived. That one looks seriously hurt.
Winifred: So reckless.
Janine: I wouldn’t be surprised if speed and drugs were involved. 
Winifred: Not at all unlikely in this area. Fourth such accident in this street this year. All the usual victims.
Janine: Usual?
Winifred: Ones whose age, race, tattoos and gender media are not allowed to report.
Janine: They need guidance, maybe from tribal elders or community leaders.
Winifred: Better road safety education, yes, but accidents will still occur.
__________
Voice-over
A fine line between letting the young learn from their mistakes and giving them guidance. In a walking society, you pick yourself up when you fall. A car society is different.

Costume, Posture, Gibberish

Politics as circus…

Katherine: The rallies. Venue always looked like a circus tent.
Gabriel: Fitting, isn't it? Complete with clowns and all. I half expected a trapeze act.
Katherine: Striding out like he's in a Wild West showdown, like some gunslinger about to “save t
he town” from... I don’t even know what.
Gabriel: Right? It’s all costume and swagger. Add in the red hats and it's like some dystopian dress code.
Katherine: And the speeches—if you can call them that. Just a stream of sound bites, strung together like a fortune teller reading a broken crystal ball.
Gabriel: Never about policies. Just posturing and proclamations, like a ringmaster announcing the next act.
Katherine: And keeping the crowd entertained. Who cares about facts, it’s fireworks, right?
Gabriel: Fireworks, or flames? The real issue is watching the country burn while he’s up there stoking it for effect.
Katherine: Perfecting the art of saying nothing and everything at the same time. The ultimate gibberish guru.
Gabriel: It’s almost impressive, in a twisted way. Managing to rile people up without a coherent point, like a magician with words that mean nothing.
Katherine: But somehow, he still fires up his followers, as if they’ve been told something profound.
Gabriel: The power of suggestion, I suppose. Or maybe just the power of spectacle over substance. Politics as circus, plain and simple.
_____________
Voice-over
The anguish may be even greater outside the Untied States. The U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold.

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

Bonfire Night…
George: What’s Guy Fawkes all about?
Bruce: He was part of a group that tried to blow up the English Houses of Parliament in 1605. They wanted to overthrow the government.
George: Was Grandpa named after Guy Fawkes?
Bruce: No. But my brothers and I used to chant this rhyme: “Guy, Guy, Guy, stick him up high, hang him on a lamp post til he die…”
George: Really? How did Grandpa Guy feel about that?
Bruce: He didn’t like it. He’d say “That’s not nice.”  We just thought it was funny.
George: Funny? Sounds a bit disrespectful to me.
Bruce: Yeah, it was. We didn’t realize how much it bothered him. But we were kids. And kids sometimes don’t think too much.
George: So, was Grandpa Guy sympathetic to Guy Fawkes’ cause?
Bruce: I don’t think so. Even though he was a bit anti-government, he didn’t condone violence. He just didn’t appreciate us making fun of his name.
George: Well, having your name chanted in a rhyme about hanging isn’t fun. Did you ever stop chanting it and apologize?
Bruce: Eventually, yes. We realized it upset him. But we never got around to apologizing. Just one of those things that slid by.
__________
Voice-over
Respecting people’s feelings is important. Shame that Bruce and his brothers couldn’t have apologized. Now more obedient souls see Bonfire Night as celebrating the triumph of plots being foiled and order over chaos.

Guido jumped from the scaffold

White Rabbits and a Cuckoo Clock

Immigration: What is your reason for visiting a small town in Germany?
Max Kitsch: A Royal Hunt for a Cuckoo Clock. And maybe throw in a nutcracker soldier and a gnome. WHITE RABBIT, WHITE RABBIT, WHITE RABBIT.
Immigration: Try the shop in the Hauptbahnhof. Same password.

Loosely following a Le Carré operation, this was a Max Kitsch cover for (1) revisiting the town he had left 250 years ago. And (2) for finding a long-lost childhood friend he never knew.

Mission Accomplished.
A suitable clock and a nutcracker were found.
The gnome refused any advances and would neither defect nor migrate.

Reading the Encyclopedia Britannica (2)

Podcast it...

The add-ons…
Ursula: It’s wacky enough to do a podcast or a blog.
George: Where will I get the time? I’ll be buried in reading. And the point being?
Ursula: Keep track of your progress.
George: I could just use a checklist. Less hassle.
Ursula: Think about it this way. Writing or talking about what you’re learning could help you actually remember it. Plus, you’d get to show off how smart you are.
George: This is not the Big Bang show. And it sounds like extra work.
Ursula: Yeah, but like Sheldon, you could extend your social contacts. You might even inspire other geeks to start their own quirky quests.
George: Inspiring others… nice. But what if I run out of things to say?
Ursula: With the Encyclopedia Britannica? Not a chance! And you could always bring in guest stars or interview experts to keep things fresh.
George: Interviews could be cool. But I’m still not sure it’s worth the effort.
__________
Voice-over
Ursula further urges George saying he could pick up skills like interviewing or media design and George has no quarrel with this. But Ursula wryly wonders if George as a podcaster could be comedic.

Reading the Encyclopedia Britannica

A cluttered study…

Ursula: You could free up some shelves by giving away those Encyclopedia Britannicas.
George: But that’s my project. To read the Encyclopedia Britannica, not all the articles, say half of them. Before, you know… end of life.
Ursula: That’s  a challenge.
George: There’s a plan. Restricting myself mainly to the Micropedia for starters.
Ursula: Do you think you can finish this… this mission?
George: There’s an existentialist element. The focus is on the journey rather than the destination.
_________
Voice-over
The discussion goes on to cover creating a reading schedule, setting goals, prioritzing articles, taking notes and taking breaks, tracking progress. And the intrinsic value and enjoyment of the undertaking. Ursula asks if George intends to include the Macropedia but he replies he’s saving that for the afterlife.

Munich or Cottbus

Sightseeing or cultural connection…

Frederich: I arrive in Munich in the early morning so I’m thinking I’ll just go straight to Cottbus by train.

Anton: Not stopping in Munich? No beer, pretzels, palaces? Cottbus? I mean, how much is really going on there?

Frederich: Yeah, but Cottbus is the whole point of this trip! My family’s from there, it’s the heart of Sorbian culture, and I want to connect with that part of my identity. Munich is just the gateway.

Anton: Sorbian culture is pretty niche. 

Frederich: The Sorbs have been in that region for centuries, trying to preserve their language, customs, everything. This isn’t just about sightseeing—this is about rediscovering a piece of myself.

Spreewald

Anton: Off the deep end, eh? But still, wouldn’t a couple of days be enough to check out the cultural center, maybe visit some family archives or something?

Frederich: It’s more than a quick museum stop. There’s the Wendish House, old Sorbian neighborhoods, traditional festivals. Plus, I want to talk to locals, maybe even meet distant relatives. It’s about building that connection. I can’t just rush it.

Anton: OK. A roots pilgrimage. But Munich, man. It’s Munich! The history, the energy... You don’t want to cut that short.

Frederich: I know, but I’m not going to Germany for Oktoberfest. I’m going for my ancestry. I’ve spent years disconnected from that part of me, and this is my chance to explore it. Munich is next time.

Anton: Fair enough. I guess Munich will just have to live without you a little longer. Bring me back some gherkins.

__________

Voice-over

Seems like an easy choice for Frederich. A local area has its own unique allure, often overlooked by those who don’t know it well, like Anton.

Linen

The incredible lightness of linen…

Fred: Avocado smoothies sure cool you inside but I wish I could stay cool outside too.

Sheldon: Maybe ditch those long trousers. Guaranteed to cook your legs in this heat!

Fred: They’re natural, they’re cotton. But yeah, they do get pretty warm. Got any suggestions, Mr. Fashion Guy?

Sheldon: You should try linen trousers. I know a great tailor who makes them.
Fred: Linen, huh? Don’t they crease?

Sheldon: True, they do wrinkle. But think about it; linen is breathable, so you’ll stay cool. And so lightweight.

Fred: Anything else?

Sheldon: Well, it’s absorbent, so no more sweaty legs. And it’s hypoallergenic, so your skin will thank you.

Fred: Environmentally?

Sheldon: Oh, yeah, eco-friendly! Made from flax plants, which need less water and fewer pesticides than cotton. You can look good and feel good.

___________

Voice-over

Linen is made from European flax, Linum usitatissimum, noted for its high quality fibers and nutritious seeds. Coincidentally perhaps, France, noted for its fashion and cuisine, produces 75% of the world’s retted flax.

Hairdrying Socks

After breakfast at the inn…
Louise: Ugh, my socks are still wet! I washed them last night, but they just won’t dry.
Sandra: Use the hairdryer. That should speed things up.
Louise: Good idea! Hmm, it’s not really working. They’re still damp.
Sandra: Oh, look, try this. It works much faster if you poke the nozzle of the hairdryer into the top of the sock so it balloons up. Like this.
Louise: But won’t the socks get too hot?
Sandra: Set it to low heat and keep checking the temperature. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a hole at the top and the bottom of the sock. Hah!
Louise: Got it. Ah! This is quick!
_________
Voice-over
Useful hack if the hotel doesn’t have a laundry. Take care not to blow up the hairdryer.

White Origami Rabbits in a Trunk Room

Fifty boxes containing fifty years of life in Japan are stored in what’s locally known as a “trunk room” (トランクルーム).

Held there until the future becomes less fuzzy.

Or until the third act begins.

The rabbits are busy now. 

Homeless for a while thereafter.

WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT

Olivia and Orwell

Elizabeth thinks Olivia is reading Animal Farm…
Olivia: No, Elizabeth, it’s not Animal Farm. It’s 1984. You know, the one about a dystopian future where everything is controlled by Big Brother.
Elizabeth: Oh, I see. So, you’re reading about a world where pigs don’t have to sew dresses either?
Olivia: Oho. Hilarious. At least I’m expanding my mind. What are you doing? Sewing tiny dresses for plush toys?
Elizabeth: Hey, those tiny dresses bring joy to a lot of plush toys. And besides, I don’t hear you complaining when you get a new outfit.
Olivia: Touché. But I still think reading Orwell is a bit more intellectually stimulating than sewing.
Elizabeth: Stimulating, huh? I bet you just like the idea of a world where you can boss everyone around, like Napoleon in Animal Farm.
Olivia: Oh pulease, if anyone’s a dictator around here, it’s you with your sewing schedule. ‘Olivia, hold this fabric! Olivia, fetch me the scissors!’
Elizabeth: Well, someone has to keep you busy. Otherwise, you’d just be lounging around with your nose in a book all day.
Olivia: And what’s wrong with that? At least I’m not making a mess with thread and fabric scraps everywhere.
Elizabeth: Mess? You mean the creative chaos of making beautiful dresses? Maybe you should try it sometime. It might be a nice break from all that ‘intellectual stimulation’.
Olivia: I’ll pass, thanks. But if you ever need a critique on Orwell’s portrayal of totalitarian regimes, just ask.
Elizabeth: And if you ever need a fabulous new dress to wear while reading, feel free.
________
Voice-over
Elizabeth and Olivia seem well-matched and well-read in this tennis of taunts.

Perking up with Percolated Coffee

A rough day…
Joseph: I felt so down cycling back from town that I stopped for a freshly percolated coffee at Excelsior Caffé. That perked me up.
Wolfgang: Some have such sensitive and gloomy natures! What brought you so low this time?
Joseph: Brother-in-law wrote that he had been knocked around by chemo and radiation. I felt hungry because of this girth-reducing diet I’m on. I lost a video editing gig, at the ATM got confused and forgot my card PIN number. And being between houses, I felt homeless putting all my belongings in boxes. Plus, just feeling old… all this deepened my depression.
Wolfgang: Wow, that’s a good cluster of downers.
Joseph: Seriously, it was a rough day. The coffee helped a bit, though.
Wolfgang: Glad the coffee perked you up. And you have me to unload onto, right?
__________
Voice-over
Coffee to tide you over the dietary downs, and friends to bring you up from down under.

Nominalizing an Adjective

Linguistics class…
Professor Pivot: Who can give me an example of an adjective which also has a noun form?
Ann: I heard the word “anodynity” recently. I always thought it was an adjective, anodyne, but someone used it as a noun. 
Professor Pivot: Oh dear, the liberties taken with language these days.“Anodynity” as a noun, you say? 
Ann: Isn’t language is meant to evolve? 
Professor Pivot: There was a time when language adhered to strict rules and conventions.
Ann: Well, Shakespeare played with words and grammar. He invented new terms all the time. 
Professor Pivot: He could bend the rules with poetic license. But today’s rampant word formation lacks such artistry.
Ann: I don’t know. Look at how “google” became a verb. It’s a natural progression. People are just finding new ways to express themselves.
Professor Pivot: The verbification of “google” is a prime example of modern linguistic decay. There’s a danger of losing richness and precision of traditional language.
___________
Voice-over
A subjective subject. Is it language change, or language decay? Undermining the professor’s argument is that any language was never an immaculate conception. Undermining the student’s view is that neologisms can be clumsy and imprecise.

Gen X advice to Boomer

Daughter thinks her father should expand his social network…
Jessica: If you joined a club or went to church?
Clint: I could. Friends come and go. As you get older, you lose many of them. 
Jessica: There are plenty of good people who would love to spend time with you. What about Mario?
Clint: Ah, the plumber. Has a lot of energy. 
Jessica: You deserve to be around people who care about you and bring out the best in you.
Clint: I appreciate your concern. Sometimes I just think it’s enough to keep in contact with those who go way back. Lots to talk about.
Jessica: As you say, friends disappear, though.
__________
Voice-over
The daughter can see her father’s social circle shrinking and thinks he should get out more often. He’s fine with that. He’s reached a stage where he is happy with either praise or criticism.  

The Poetry of Plumbing

Hotel desk
Receptionist: Good evening Mr Lynch! I hope you’re enjoying your stay. Everything alright with your room?
Lynch: Oh, yes, wonderful. I was particularly intrigued by the exposed plumbing below the wash-basin. I was tempted to call it “a poem of plumbing.”
Receptionist:  The pipes are exposed to allow for easy access in case of a sudden leak or any urgent maintenance. This way, there’s no need to tear off walls or panels.
Lynch: Clever. It also adds a design feature to the room while being practical.
Receptionist: Functionality with a bit of artistic flair you might say. Enjoy your stay.
_________
Voice-over
Plumbing, is derived from the Latin “plumbum” for “lead”, which early pipes were made of. Lead being soft is easily shaped. Gradually an awareness of lead poisoning led to copper being used. Which has been replaced by cheaper materials such as stainless steel or PVC.