by Clifford James | Dec 23, 2023
Writer’s Rant for 12/23/23″Adults are always asking children what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” (Paula Poundstone). My grandson Jack likes to play this game with me. He calls it the...
by Clifford James | Dec 20, 2023
Writer’s Rant for 12/20″The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true.” (James Branch Cabell). Is your glass half full or half empty? Are you an optimist or a pessimist? I believe in the...
by Clifford James | Dec 17, 2023
Writer’s Rant for 12/17/23 The Other Side of Me “Sometimes I wish I were a nicer person, but then I laugh and continue my day.” OK, so I admit, I can be a little brash sometimes. I’m sure you have a general idea what brash means: self-assertive...
by Clifford James | Dec 14, 2023
“Tact is for people who aren’t witty enough to use sarcasm.” (I don’t know the source of this quote, but I have it on a T-shirt). I prefer sarcasm. It’s a means to avoid being tactful. Tact requires honesty, but is not always kind. My problem is, honesty...
by Clifford James | Dec 11, 2023
Sometimes English doesn’t make sense. We drive on parkways and park on driveways. Speaking of driving, Robin Williams asked the question: “Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?” After graduating college in Connecticut, I moved to Long Island. I...
by Clifford James | Dec 9, 2023
“I don’t get you” can mean either, “I didn’t understand what you just said” OR “I don’t understand why you act as you do.” Those statements are more questions than observations. Some people have questioned the value of my blogs. In that sense, both...
by Clifford James | Dec 7, 2023
“Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.” (Phyllis Diller) Personally, I don’t know how people can sleep after an argument. I know I can’t. I think it has to do with self-awareness. The primary difference between humans and animals is said to be...
by Clifford James | Dec 6, 2023
Many English words begin with the letters EX and are used in an equal number of contEXts. Some EXamples include: EXpert, EXactly, EXclude, EXpect, EXhibit, EXtra, EXtravagant, EXcuse, EXpand, EXploit, ETC. (which actually doesn’t begin with ex, but sure sounds...
by Clifford James | Nov 30, 2023
Writer’s Rant for 11/30 “Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.” (Steven Wright)- You have probably heard a similar expression, “It’s better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your...
by Clifford James | Nov 28, 2023
Writer’s Rant 11/28 “Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.” (Jules Renard) Don’t you love people who interrupt you with something they think is more important than what you were saying? Writing for me is an escape from the banalities of...
