Blithering Thoughts

Join me, The Hopeful Humanist, for a blethering trite conversation about the apostrophe's demise, a "This, that, there ..." challenge and an invitation to take and make the invented, silly, post-modern tradition of 'Festivus' your own. Check out the resources below: Videos: 1) Watch these clips of the Seinfeld episode called "The Strike" to learn more about "Festivus," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX55AzGku5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdnqjnegEs Festivus Books 1) Here is a great book (I borrowed it in audio form from my local library) about the history of the sitcom called "Seinfeld." Seinfeldia - attached is the link to Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Seinfeldia-About-Nothing-Changed-Everything/dp/1476756104/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31EIJOCPZ1X8P&keywords=seinfeldia&qid=1575412624&sprefix=Seinfeldia%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1 2)Festivus: The Holiday for the rest of us - Again, I borrowed this book in audio form from the local library, but here is the link to Amazonhttps://www.amazon.ca/Festivus-Holiday-Rest-Allen-Salkin/dp/0446540668/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=festivus+book&qid=1575412700&sr=8-3 To learn more about the apostrophe's demise go to the following link: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.5380932/apostrophe-protection-society-shuts-down-after-18-years-blaming-ignorance-and-laziness-1.5380935 Peace, Take Care and I hope for you a "festivus miracle" this holiday season!

On October 21, 2019 Canadians will cast votes for the next federal leader of Canada. In this episode, I encourage Canadians to get informed, engage in respectful conversation and get out to vote because voting is a right. I provide a number of resources to explore to prepare for the upcoming vote. So please, check the sources, check the images, and check the claims, and stand up to the "Why vote?" meme, because choosing not to vote allows those who do vote to double-down on the weight of their vote. Let us use our critical thinking skills (i.e. know your bias, suspend judgement and ask questions) so we can make the wise decisions and send the message that we will not fall into the role of "emotionally provoked persuadables." Resources: 1) Learn about logical fallacies (i.e. hasty generalizations, appeal to emotions, bandwagon effect, etc.) at these two links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IawIjqOJBU8 2) And: https://thebestschools.org/magazine/15-logical-fallacies-know/ 3) Explore the expansion of Democracy from 1816 to 2016 at: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/its-2016-here-is-the-state-of-voting-rights-around/ For voting Canadians: 1) First time voters uncertain of your leanings - check out Vote Compass - Canada Votes 2019 at: https://votecompass.cbc.ca/canada/ 2) Feeling like you don't have any clarity about campaign positions go to: https://pollenize.org/en/elections/canada-2019 3) Want to learn about the Canadian Democratic system and how to get ready to cast an informed vote access "classroom resources" at https://studentvote.ca/canada/ Lastly, feeling creative? If so, before October 21, 2019, make a concrete prediction about the overall voter participation rate (68.5% in 2015) and the final election outcome (i.e. Liberal minority government with surges in the Bloc and NDP?) by putting pen to paper. It is a healthy way to put those automatic thoughts we have into check and an invitation to be open to surprise. Remember, voting makes a difference! Thank-you for joining me in another "tip of the ice-burg" conversation. Take care & peace from the Hopeful Humanist, just some guy, attempting to share inspiration and inspire creativity.

Welcome to another "make you think," "one take," blithering moment at the Hopeful Humanist Cafe. In this episode, I invite you to step into the nuts and bolts life of Bruce as he struggles with social acceptance. The focus of the episode is this novel first sentence: "Bruce's silicon synapses spontaneously started sparking with a gnawing curiosity. Would they accept him? What if they didn't? Hmmm, how could he test the waters with his kids? MAYBE he should tell them: 'Your mom is a robot'" Suggested song to enjoy as background theme by Supertramp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=low6Coqrw9Y

The "crumple basket," the joy of nonsensical words, and "dialoguing memes" are explored in this final episode of the three part series called, "Pass the salt, I'm in France." It concludes with this novel first sentence for your free-writing pleasure: "Back there, I had everything but nothing; here, I have nothing but everything." And in the non-sequitur spirit of Blithering Thoughts about T-shirt ideas, novel first sentences, and etcetera moments, remember to "Give your head a shake, concussions are serious!" Trying to share inspiration to inspire creativity. Peace and take care.

This is the second episode of the three part series called, "Pass the salt, I'm in France." Explore your creativity as I share a quote, a T-shirt idea, and a novel first sentence.

"I'm almost here" is the first episode in a 3 part series called, "Pass the salt, I'm in France." It is my attempt to re-boot the Blithering Thoughts podcast where my goal is to share inspirating thoughts to inspire creativity by talking about ideas for T-shirts, share novel (play on words) first sentences for novels I never imagine I will write and explore some "etcetera moments" related to the topic of creativity. It is a sister podcast to The Hopefulhumanist Cafe but it will be different in tone. It is unscripted, raw, blithering and includes all the sounds of life without editing. Tune in when you are experiencing a creative block and perhaps together we can get the creative juices flowing. The sentence for reflect upon: "Ironically, or not so, there was nothing funny about the absurd clown, not even they way he dressed. He had been a part of the angry clown coalition after getting conscious about his predicament but after deep contemplation he realized under the anger was a foreboding sadness."

Join me for a creativity-building activity as we IMAGINE working in the "OFF-SCRIPT LIVING" department for a car manufacturer to explore ways to help Generation Alpha adjust to a mobile existence in a jobless world.

Let's get out our journals and learn a little more about our selves so we can manifest that self. In this episode, I thought I would suggest a self-reflection topic for journaling.

A thought from Jean Paul Sartre and Socrates about the meaning of life.