Why does toilet paper need a commercial? (Who doesn't use it?)

In response to last week’s question, "Why does toilet paper need a commercial? (Who doesn't use it?)," my social media friend Mark noted, "The ads are necessary, because without them, we would never really fully understand the joy one can have by using one particular brand of wiping product over another," to which my dad's beach buddy Bob expounded, "Anyone who asks that question isn't doing the shopping.  The quality ranges from old newspaper to flushable wipes." Then my friend Royce added, "The bears have to have a job too!"

My Parrothead friend Samantha shared her experience, "It teaches people it's other uses - decorating the dog, house and women at bridal showers..."

My writing and sailing friend Rich replied, "It makes me kind of happy to think that so many people are working hard to help me with my business" to which my cycling friend Ted, responded, "You must use the 'right' TP to be a 'smart ass'! "

My college roomie John then provided this baffling thought, "Do we assume people shake with their right hand and wipe with their left?   Hmmm!" 

Please share your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

How can you tell a good pollen from a bad pollen?

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably And never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Best wishes to my friend Ted, who's doing a week-long bike ride to celebrate his milestone birthday…..

 

www.nichelabs.com

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

Is there anything else certain in life beyond death and taxes?

In response to last week’s question, " Is there anything else certain in life beyond death and taxes?", my friend Richard declared "There is one other certainty:  On the first evening in several weeks on which you have nothing planned and can just relax and watch TV, there won’t be a single program in which you are interested!"  My colleague Matt shared a different perspective, "Hunger :-)    As someone who loves to eat, and should probably weigh 500 pounds….I can tell you that Hunger is definitely certain."

And my social media friend Mark called out, "The only certain thing I can think of is this very moment. Oops, it's gone. No, it is back again." 

My writing and sailing Rich Jones concluded, "My wife has a list of things about me of which she is absolutely certain" to which my product mgmt friend Doug added, "Yes,  I am certain that my wife will always find new ways to "Save" me money by spending it...." and my neighbor Al continued, "That no matter how small the infraction, nor how much time has passed .... your wife will remember it and throw it back in your face!"   My cycling friend Ted "chipped-in," Yes, you can be certain your wife will give you grief for forgetting a birthday--even if it is her ex in-law's third cousins once removed nephew's dog walker!!  My friend Royce then wrote, "A nagging spouse."

While my musician friend Bruce replied, "Only death is certain… If you don't pay your taxes you can rot in jail and then you'll die…" but my dad's beach buddy Bob countered, "Yes, Birth and everything in between," to which my friend Lesley added, "The discussion of certainty beyond deaths would have to be with Shirley McLaine. Certainly beyond taxes is simply more taxes."

My sailing friend John responded about living in Annapolis, "Crazy weather creating dramatic swings in temperature!" while my dog rescue friend Kate applied a similar observation much more broadly, writing, "Highs and lows."

My cousin Greg called upon the spirit of the holiday, "A nice Passover food coma."  And my financial friend Norm referenced having just paid his taxes on April 15th,"My taxes are certain to be paid.  Tomorrow, death is a probability, but, not, I pray, certain. Someday, death will be certain, and when that happens taxes will no longer have to be paid (unless I win the big Power Ball lotto first, and owe estate taxes after my death.  Winning the lotto is probable but not certain. One can only wish...). "

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

Why does toilet paper need a commercial? (Who doesn't use it?) from my friend Lon

We don't stop laughing because we get old. We get old because we stop laughing.  Make it a point to have fun and make others laugh.

Hal

    

www.nichelabs.com

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

Where's the line between mental discipline and poor judgment?" (plus Death & Taxes)

In response to last week’s question, "Where's the line between mental discipline and poor judgment?", my writing and sailing friend Richard claims it is "the fourth tequila" which might explain why my friend Royce responded, "It's not a line, it's a blurred area."

My friend Richard explained, "There is no clear line.  Rather, it is part of a continuum.  Mental discipline comes from good judgment. Good judgment comes from experience. And from where does experience come? Bad judgment!  (If at first you don’t succeed … Perhaps disarming IEDs may not be your best career choice!)."

My birthday bud Jon noted, "Saying the first thing that pops into your mind, versus thinking first, such as when posting a response to Hal's Hmmmm's."

My social media friend Mark pointed out "the line is criss-crossing and zig-zagging all over the place all of the time. It even moves randomly (note from last week).  You can never really see the line until you have actually crossed over it and see that you missed it yet again."

My dad's beach buddy Bob replied, "It's sort of in the middle.  For example I love chocolate and am overweight and should I go ahead and eat the chocolate bar or give it to the dog I don't have."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

Is there anything else certain in life beyond death and taxes? (to challenge Ben Franklin's observation)

We don't stop laughing because we get old. We get old because we stop laughing.  Make it a point to have fun and make others laugh.

Hal 

PS:  "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."   Will Rogers

www.nichelabs.com

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.

Is there pure randomness?

In response to last week’s question, "Is there pure randomness?",  my birthday bud Jon observed, "Sometimes.  There’s really no pattern to it."

My friend Tracey replied, "Yes, and it usually comes from one of my children."

My dad's beach buddy Bob queried, "Isn't that what a severe case of ADD is?" to which my IT friend Kosol added, "My wife tells me I have a small case of ADD, so if you're referring to the thoughts in my head, the randomness that goes on in there can't get any purer."

My writing and sailing friend Rich shared, "If the definition of random is 'occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern' then, yes, my wife has achieved purity in her decision making."

My friend Richard explained, "Among the definitions of 'random' in the Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary:  “(1) Not mixed with anything else; (2) Clean and not harmful in any way.” So:

If something is “purely random,” it must (1) not be mixed with anything logical, which seems to apply to most laws that come out of Washington, DC.  It (2) cannot cause any harmful effects, which eliminates most of the laws that come out of Washington, DC.  Hence the conundrum. It would seem that pure randomness conceptually can exist, but it certainly does not appear to be a defining characteristic of our nation’s capital. Perhaps “randomly pure” might be possible:  Such as doing something good just for the sake of doing good, with no ulterior motive? Nah."

And my friend Royce responded, "Yes, and her name is, well never mind."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “: 

Where's the line between mental discipline and poor judgment?

We don't stop laughing because we get old. We get old because we stop laughing.  Make it a point to have fun and make others laugh.

Hal

My friend Richard shared a follow-up thought to the recent "Do you need to earn a nap?," recalling a great question from George Carlin:  “What do dogs do on their day off? They can’t lie in the sun and sleep all day, because that’s their job. Do they go to an office and send out memos?”

If you're interested in spending a week sailing to the beaches of St Martin, Anguilla and St Bart's from May 24-31 with Alison, me, and a small group of friends, there may be 2 open spaces on the boat, so please let me know so that I can share the details.

www.nichelabs.com

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.