Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

FOWC with Fandango: Unfurl

This magpie in my garden decided to unfurl its wings preparing for a flight. FOWC with Fandango: Unfurl

FOWC with Fandango: Unfurl

8 Ways To Embrace Your Weirdness – Belladonna’s Flashlight

Life is too short not to be weird!

Normal is a monotonous routine, often predictable. Ordinary people set schedules that they adhere to every day. But imagine the exhilaration, the liberation, when you break free from these societal norms and engage in something beyond the ordinary whenever you desire.

Like, Uh uh, I don’t have time to be weird today, so next Tuesday will have to do”!

NO, opt to do something unconventional and enjoyable today. Laugh and behave like a free spirit. As we age, we tend to overlook the sheer joy we experience in unscheduled and spontaneous activities. Embracing these moments can bring a sense of freedom and creativity and even improve our mental health. 

Have you thought about the best times you had growing up?

You were probably doing some weird and spontaneous stuff that you wouldn’t dare do now. You made time to live a little and have fun. Now, I’m not saying you have to do anything risky; use your brain, but step away from your regular schedule.

A Guide to Embracing Your Unique Weird Self

  1. Embrace your quirks and unique qualities with confidence.
  2. Surround yourself with people who appreciate your uniqueness and celebrate your individuality.
  3. Share your passions and interests without fear of judgment.
  4. Explore new experiences and opportunities that align with your authentic self.
  5. Remember that being different is a strength, not a weakness.
  6. Express yourself authentically without fear of judgment.
  7. Find joy in the things that make you stand out.
  8. Celebrate your individuality, and don’t be afraid to be different.

This is not a guide to just being weird but a celebration of the joy and empowerment that comes from embracing your true self, your unique self. Being ‘weird’ implies doing things that are unconventional or unexpected, while being ‘unique’ means embracing your individuality and the things that make you different from others.

Embrace both things and LIVE!

You could have chosen any blog to read but chose mine, and I’m honored!

Source: 8 Ways To Embrace Your Weirdness – Belladonna’s Flashlight

♫ Dancing On The Ceiling ♫ (Redux) | Filosofa’s Word

Now, I have been duly chastised for not playing enough Soul or Motown … when I thought I had overplayed both and was trying to add a bit of variety!  Anyway, the person urging me to play more soul and Motown happens to really like this one, so tonight, this one is for you, Lord David Prosser!  I hope you enjoy it and I will take your other suggestions into consideration in the coming days … I promise!  This one is guaranteed to get your toes tapping … sorry, Clive, but into each life must come some Lionel Richie!!!  🤣


I initially had a different song on the schedule … a real downer, but a good song nonetheless.  Then last night, a friend suggested that to pick my mood up, instead of listening to sad music, I might try Lionel Richie’s Dancing on the Ceiling.  I did, and it worked … who can cry when they’re listening to this?  I figured you guys could use a little pick-me-up too, so here it is!  I do have one question, though … how the heck does he dance on the walls and the ceiling?  I was going to try it, but … gravity stepped in and I figured I might end up with some broken bones.

Written by Richie, Mike Frenchik, and Carlos Rios, the song became a worldwide top ten hit, but not everyone liked it.  Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said …

“This isn’t entirely a good thing, since it means he indulges in silliness …”

Since when is a bit of silliness not a good thing?  Methinks Mr. Erlewine needs to lighten up a bit.  Apparently there were others who felt the same, though, for Blender magazine published a list of the “50 worst songs of all time”, with Dancing on the Ceiling listed at No. 20.

It is said that this video cost $400,000 to make!

Dancing on the Ceiling
Lionel Richie

Source: ♫ Dancing On The Ceiling ♫ (Redux) | Filosofa’s Word

A Trump running mate who praises Jim Crow? That’s a red flag – Los Angeles Times

…He is trying to sell Trumpists on the idea that Black people were better off when more than half of us lived under the thumb of the KKK and in poverty.

It’s bad enough that Donalds wants power so bad that he’s willing to romanticize legislated Black oppression. But what are his chances of actually clawing his way upward? His run for House speaker was so short that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didn’t have enough time to complain about him.

Apparently undeterred, Donalds is now trying to become Trump’s pick for vice president by looking for Jim Crow’s silver lining. Those racist laws had no silver lining. Black families were suffering because of them. Whenever Black communities started to thrive too much, white supremacists were able to murder residents and burn down businesses without being held accountable — as happened in Tulsa, Wilmington, Atlanta…

Source: A Trump running mate who praises Jim Crow? That’s a red flag – Los Angeles Times

Julia Louis-Dreyfus pushes back on Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘PC crap’ comments | Movies | The Guardian

…Louis-Dreyfus spoke to the same journalist 11 days later to clarify her thoughts on the subject, saying: “My feeling about all of it is that political correctness, insofar as it equates to tolerance, is obviously fantastic. And of course I reserve the right to boo anyone who says anything that offends me, while also respecting their right to free speech, right? But the bigger problem – and I think the true threat to art and the creation of art – is the consolidation of money and power.”

However, Louis-Dreyfus defended the idea that it was important to anticipate problematic issues, adding: “Even classically wonderful, indisputably great films from the past are riddled with attitudes that today would not be acceptable. So I think it’s just good to be vigilant…”

Source: Julia Louis-Dreyfus pushes back on Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘PC crap’ comments | Movies | The Guardian