Early bird gets to see the sleepy horsies. (And one donkey.)

Too much middle-of-the-night swing time, methinks. #Colombia #Nature

The joy of a blissfully empty park in the pre-dawn. :)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could...

😅 I've already been up and working for two hours, and am now headed out for a predawn run in the light rain. SO WIRED.

This will either work out magnificently for workflow and catch-up tasks today, or I will flat-out pass out by noon. 50/50!

I rewrote Wednesday's piece because the first version was very grumpy. This one is less so!

Today, we talk about other animals' violence, and how poorly we tell stories about it.

But just because we keep getting in our own way, when trying to describe the rest of the natural world, doesn't mean we can't still learn something from the stories we tell about it.

#ScienceLiteracy #Humanism #Nature #Culture #MediaLiteracy

https://open.substack.com/pub/mlclark/p/when-humans-narrate-for-other-animals

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfCoSo

This is an excellent reflection on the state of the mainstream publishing industry, looking at the highly exclusive cultures in which key actors move.

It might prove to be a thoughtful read for any writers who wonder why they struggle so much to get “in”--and serve as a gentle reminder that, while frustration with the system is valid, it should also be used constructively, to give us a better sense of our next steps.

#Essays #Publishing
https://open.substack.com/pub/emptyrailroadgulch/p/literary-world

Also, after looking over the draft I left for myself last night, I am so glad I chose not to post it before bed. Two bleak newsletters in one day? Eesh. No thanks.

Well! Back to the word mines with me.

TTFN, you wonderful weirdos, you.

Cutting out caffeine and shifting to ridiculously clean eating have done wonders for resetting my daily routine.

I'm still adjusting to how it affects my end of day, but I got up naturally an hour before my alarm today, so I'm knocking out some admin tasks before the run and feeling great.

Bodies are so weird, but it's nice to figure out the lifestyle that works best for one's own.

Morning, all you strange and wonderful vehicles of change! Hope you're feeling nurtured by what fuels you, too.

I got a good quality used phone from a friend today (mine has been in HAL singing Daisy, Daisy... mode for the last month), and ooo boy, I can't wait to creep on nature with the "new" camera.

Watch out #BugFriends, #BirbFriends, and merry little #MooCows!

I am going to capture all your weird 'n' wonderful features soon!

All right. Off for an adventure across town, and working in an office for a few hours.

Rewind Wednesday later tonight.

Something lighter, methinks, than talking about the usual nightmares of our world. 🤞🏻

*A few typos fixed now. Silly things.

Yesterday's post took longer than expected, because it's a tough topic.

We've been saturated in so much propaganda around #Israel and #Gaza that it's difficult to process how even cease-fire talks are being reported in gamified ways.

But if we're all stuck as pawns in this gridlock between leaders with their own ambitions at cost to civilian lives, we should at least have some sense of why nothing's going forward in talks between all involved.

#Politics #International
https://open.substack.com/pub/mlclark/p/on-diplomacy-games-and-the-media

I'll still take getting slobbered on by a bitey pupper over being slobbered on by an Old Enough To Know Better neighbour getting handsy in the park, though, I tell you what! 😅 What a week.

🤔 How do I calorie count the energy burned getting slobber-mauled by a hyperactive pupper for an hour?

NEVER A DULL MOMENT. 🙃

😅 Well my day already took a turn. A dog ran into me on the street, abandoned in the highway (no tags) and play-biting everyone he came across... but because of his breed/energy, I didn't think it was safe to leave him barrelling after everyone on a route kids use for school. I took him with me on my "run" while trying to find help from officials, but none would do a thing. Fortunately, a fellow in the park known to have land nearby was ready to take him. I'll be returning tomorrow to check in.

I conked out after class last night, missing two tasks at the end of my day, but so be it. Must've needed it.

Now I'm leaving for a run before my alarm's even gone off this morning, and I'll edit yesterday's newsletter when catching up.

(It's a doozy. Definitely need to take a moment to check all the links and claims.)

Silly bodies, needing to recharge at odd times. 👍🏻 Morning, gang!

Every now and then for my English students, I bring out the Nightmare Poem.

This is that day for two of them. (We never get through all of it, but certain sections are great for building mnemonic devices to differentiate between tough words.)

Wish them luck!

#English #Languages #LanguageIsFun

chateauview.com/pronunciation/