In response to last week’s question, "Is there a good pirate?," my dad's beach buddy Bob concluded, "Now let me see.....the one that gave us the exam questions ahead of time.....or the computer application I didn't have to buy."

My equestrian friend Royce queried, "And how do you define 'good' [thank you bill Clinton]?," as my writing and sailing friend Rich shared, "The 5 year old is a good pirate, all he wants is adventure and booty all the live long day.  Not often, but sometimes you will catch the wild glint in his eye, the mischievous smile on his face.  You will see the pirate still lives in the 55 year old; all he wants all the live long day is adventure and maybe a little booty from time to time." 

My temple friend Richard declared, "Having grown up in central Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh), I am obliged to respond with Honus Wagner, Ralph Kiner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Andrew McCutchen."

While my cousin Greg recalled from a Seinfield episode, "But I don't wanna be a pirate....," my sailing friend Michael replied, "Let's not have an ARGH-ument about that matey   Why are Pirates called "Pirates"?  They just arrrrrr." 

My network engineering friend Andrew pointed out, "I am taking an online course right now on "R Programming" (not kidding!)*   I guess this would be an officially approved "Pirate" software language, although saying that may get it blacklisted at certain organizations." 

My cycling friend Ted shared, "I know of only one truly good salty dog, and he's just as adept with two wheels as he is with a schooner.  He kinda has that authentic pirate look about him, and his thick pirate brogue is hard to understand, but we all know him as Cap'n Hal! But I still wouldn't trust him with my booty!"

And my social media Mark noted, "Aaarrr rated is as good as they get." 

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

Is it good being easy?

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

Hal

PS….

My new sailing friend Liz replied to the prior week's question, "When If someone 'rips you a new one', then what happens to the 'old' one?," with "Shed the 1st like an old layer of skin. Smooth the new one!" 

Now is time to make plans for 9/19/17 as the next TLaPD (Talk Like a Pirate Day).

*More on Andrew's class:  https://www.coursera.org/learn/r-programming/   R is actually invented in New Zealand and used worldwide by data scientists in the Microsoft environment. Of course, some people would call Microsoft "a bunch of greedy, looting pirates", but that is a different discussion."

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.

When If someone 'rips you a new one', then what happens to the 'old' one? AND Talk Like a Pirate Day info

Aarg, matey, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day!  In response to last week’s question, "When If someone 'rips you a new one', then what happens to the 'old' one?,"  my social media friend Mark believes, "The 'old' one automatically transfers all sphincter-like properties to the 'ripper' of the new one."   Yet my engineering friend Steve thought, "After much pain you now have a useless spare" to which my equestrian friend Royce suggested, "You donate it to charity."

My dad's beach buddy Bob clarified, "If it a great compliment, it will always take precedence.  If it is criticism, it usually goes into the circular file."

My cycling friend Ted replied, "My first thought would be it stays with you, which would make you twice the asshole, but then I thought, no- old wounds eventually heal, and we continue straight on life's old trajectory like nothing happened!"

And my writing and sailing friend Rich shared, "Hopefully it got a little wiser, alas that is so rarely the case."

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

Is there a good pirate?

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

Hal

Les ye be lookin' fer a dull day, may ye find booty at this link as we celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.

When is a critique not criticism?

In response to last week’s question, "When is a critique not criticism?," my writing and sailing friend Rich counseled, "A critique is always criticism when it comes from your Mother in Law, Wife, Boss or Cat.  It is never a criticism when it comes from your Dog."

My cycling friend Ted concluded, "When you are NOT married to the critiquer!" to which my equestrian friend Royce agreed, "When your wife or significant other is the critic ."

My PR friend Stan believes "When it’s favorable."   My social media friend Mark clarified this, " 'Every time' from the person giving the analysis. 'Never' for the person receiving the analysis."

And my neighbor Al shared his advice, "When it is done right.  A critique is a detailed analysis.  It does not have to be negative.  (See how I critiqued your question?)"

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

If someone "rips you a new one", then what happened to the "old" one?  from my friend Bruce

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.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.

When is labor a labor of love?

In response to last week’s question, " When is labor a labor of love?,"  my cycling from Ted wondered, "When you are giving birth! .,..or is that a labor from love? What do I know? I'm a dude," to which my dad's beach buddy Bob agreed, "Could it be that which brought the birth of your first child?"    My neigbhor Al  sought to solve this, replying "Gee .. let me ask my wife or an obstetrician."

My network friend Andrew advised, "When you love the labor, noting that Confucius said, 'Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.' "

And my social media friend Mark concurred, "Always.  Otherwise, we would not do it. Even when we whine, we are getting something worthwhile out of our 'labors!' "

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

When is a critique not criticism?    from my friend Liz  

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

Hal

Thanks to the many, many friends who made Noshfest such a warm, friendly and fun event this past weekend, enabling thousands to enjoy the food and fun.  This is community!

And if you thought yesterday was Labrador Day, you weren't alone.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.