"Is ignorance bliss?" and a July 4th question

In response to last week’s question, "Is ignorance bliss?," my writing and sailing friend Rich wasn't sure when, "My wife says I am the most blissful person she has ever met….."

My transportation friend Chris (happy birthday last week, you don't look anything like it), observed, "My 24 year old proves this over and over.  I miss those blissful days and almost envy my 24 year old. ALMOST..."

My birthday bud Jon declared, "I can happily answer that I do not know."   My temple friend Tracey shared, "Truly.  As someone who has served on several administrative boards, the more you know, the worse it can be," to which my transportation friend Joe added, "I wouldn’t know – I’m not a politician."

My equestrian friend Royce, as if from experience, wrote, "If you are not aware you are ignorant it can be blissful," to which my dad's beach buddy Bob replied, "You are not supposed to feel pain when you are unconscious."

My temple friend Richard replied, "The people on reality TV shows for the most part appear to be happy, so I suppose the answer is “Yes!”   To put a different spin on an old Rudyard Kipling quote:  “If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs…You probably don’t have a very good grasp of your situation!”

My marketing friend Mark concluded, "Absolutely not. I would feel much much better about myself if it were true."  And my temple friend Lesley advised, "How can ignorance be bliss if you don't know what you are missing?"

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

What does freedom cost?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

<> Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. Ronald Reagan

<> Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. George Orwell

<> For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela

<> America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln

<> Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. John F. Kennedy

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

When did you realize that your father was so smart?

In response to last week’s question, "When did you realize that your father was so smart?," my writing and sailing friend Rich noted that it was "the day I became one and every day since."

My transportation friend Joe shared, "When I was old enough to appreciate how good a woman my mom was."

My temple friend Kevin recalled, "At the age of 24" while my dad's beach buddy Bob recalled, "When I turned 25."

My DISH Network friend Mark remembered, "It was 5 years after he told me that I was on my own financially to get through college. Of course, he never gave me a penny, but between scholarships and jobs, I graduated without owing a penny. Happy father’s day."

My sailing friend Kurt declared it was "when he started agreeing with me," while my neighbor Al replied, "Just about the time he started to unbuckle his belt!"

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

Is ignorance bliss?  (from Demetri Martin)

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

Can If a girl fell in the water, could she be buoyant?

In response to last week’s question, "Can If a girl fell in the water, could she be buoyant?," my birthday bud Jon concluded, "yes, if her name is  Bobbie," to which my PR friend Stan added his own groaner, "and if she washed with Lifebuoy soap." 

My Utah friend Bruce suggested, "Perhaps, in the name of Bruce Jenner, if she crossed over to the male gender and floated," to which my cycling friend Ted concurred, "If Bruce Jenner is a woman, then anything goes!"

My writing and sailing friend Rich recalled, "There is a reason that WWII aviators called their inflatable PFD’s Mae West’s."

My equestrian friend Royce called out, "This could be a scientific question" to which my dad's beach buddy Bob noted, "Yes, especially in the "Dead Sea" or in the Salt Lake where she would also be preserved for posterity."

My temple friend Richard explained, "According to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, one definition of “buoyant” is “capable of floating”.  Another is “happy and confident”. For this reason, if a girl fell in the water, she must satisfy the 1st definition, otherwise she most certainly won’t satisfy the 2nd definition!  If so, then the definition of “drown” would likely apply; “to die by being underwater too long and unable to breathe”, to which my neighbor Al  provided evidence, "Not in the case of Natalee Holloway. (Sorry, poor taste but then what do you expect?)" ……or Natalie Wood.

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

When do you realize that your father was so smart?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Happy Father's Day to dad's everywhere who are involved in their kids' lives.  I am truly one of the luckiest.  My dad has given me advice and lived by that advice.  He is a true mensch and I am lucky for every day I can talk or be with him. " "Lately, all my friends are worried that they're turning into their fathers. I'm worried I'm not." Dan Zevin

Also next Sunday, celebrate the Druid holiday of Summer Solstice.  It's your chance to get a lot of Vitamin D naturally.  That's 14 hr 30 min of sunlight in Atlanta (34°N)!

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

Can you be stationary in Mobile (AL)?

In response to last week’s question, "Can you be stationary in Mobile (AL)?," my cycling friend Ted observed, " Yes you can.  And it seems like the most stationary folks in Mobile live in mobile homes.

My neighbor Al queried, "You can have a stationary bike, so why not?"  My flower shop friend Bruce challenged, "I don't think you can be stationary, but perhaps a stamp (you'd have to ask my therapist)."

My dad's beach buddy Bob pointed out, "I know of a place called Office Depot there that is full of stationery items."

My temple friend Richard recalled, "Bob Dylan released a song in 1967 titled “Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again.” If you are stuck in Mobile, that would certainly indicate you are stationary!"

My PR friend Stan replied, "Yes, especially if their traffic lights stay red as long as Atlanta's."

My writing and sailing friend Rich proposed, "Yes you can!  I recommend that get you get real stationary during Mardi Gras and just let the party flow right over you."

My temple friend Bob concluded, "If you're not a stickler for the spelling of the word station(a)(e)ry and you were a tree in a previous life or a statue in this one, the answer is, yes."

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

            Can If a girl fell in the water, could she be Buoyant?  (from my young drinking friend Ellie)

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.

     

Can you be right using your left hand?

In response to last week’s question, " Can you be right using your left hand? ,"  my florist friend Bruce believes, "Yes, in the mirror."    My transportation friend Joe had a different rationale, replying, " Yes, because if you can't use your right; what's left?," to which my temple friend Tracey declared, "Absolutely! Left handed people are in their right mind."

My dad's beach buddy Bob concurred, "as long as you do not defy your teacher or giving me a donation."

My cousin Greg confidently called out, "As a proud lefty I'm always right!" while my equestrian friend Royce noted, "I am always right no matter what hand I use."

My engineering friend Steve pondered, "I guess that depends on whether you can be wrong with your right hand."

My favorite MC Stuart queried, "Interesting question. That's like asking what's left for people to the far right?"

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

Can you be stationary in Mobile (AL)?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by www.nichelabs.com to see what else I'm up to.