Some years ago, I wrote about returning items that, for one reason or another, just don’t work. Sending back items has become substantially easier, what with so many of us doing our shopping online. Vendors have made it easier to return items by putting them back in their boxes and dropping them off at a pick-up center. No personal interaction, no lengthy explanations. Sometimes you can indicate what was wrong – it came too late, it was damaged in shipping, whatever. And you can even check off “other”, and in the box write: “I changed my mind.” Even your refunds come back quickly – no waiting until they receive the item. Just pass “go” and collect . . . .
Continue reading “More on the Art of Returns”Month: July 2025
Our Fascination with Exotic “Pets”
I don’t understand it, myself. Most wildlife belongs in their natural habitat. Other than the woodchucks and rabbits that feast on my gardens, which may be considered by others to be their natural habitat, but I don’t. Some animals have been domesticated – dogs, for example, or house cats, or the occasional gerbil or goldfish. Others are work animals, like oxen and mules. People keep horses for riding, pulling carriages, or jumping over fences, and I get that. Cows, sheep, and goats are sources of food. But does it really make sense for humans to “collect” exotic animals that aren’t designed to be house pets?
Continue reading “Our Fascination with Exotic “Pets””July 4th: Again, thoughts on Independence and Patriotism
In full disclosure, I posted this last July 4th. But much of it still seems relevant today as we all look to the future and try to figure out what’s important to us as a country. On the news last night, a recent poll indicated that only 63% of the respondents said they were “proud to be Americans”. That’s down significantly from a decade ago.
Continue reading “July 4th: Again, thoughts on Independence and Patriotism”Robbing from the. . . . .poor
We all know the legends of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. According to the legend, he was born a nobleman but experienced the inequities of society and decided to correct them. Whether or not Robin was real or fictional, the notion that the bounties of society are not distributed equally has always been with us.
Continue reading “Robbing from the. . . . .poor”
I'm Thinking...No! 