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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Review of the Speech, 'Sticky Ideas,'" reads as follows:

(There is an important caveat to this review of the speech, “Sticky Ideas.”  This is my own speech that I am reviewing.  (I have never done this before!)  I conceived the idea; I constructed the speech; I delivered the speech.  To be certain, I am biased.  This review was written on the day I saw the speech published in the book Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 8e by Steven A. And Susan J. Beebe (Allyn & Bacon, 2012, pp. 410-414).  I had not read the speech for four years and, it was my re-reading of it after four years that prompted this review/essay.)

Ask yourself the question, after hearing (or reading) a speech, and knowing that you were impressed by it, what is the ingredient or element that contributed most to that impression?  In some cases, of course, it is how the speech was delivered.  Often, delivery dominates people’s impressions because, first, it is obvious, and, second, because we judge others on how they look and behave.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

The language of the speech is colloquial with no special jargon, literary flourishes, or complexities.  It was delivered from a manuscript; however, I knew (and had practiced) the material thoroughly; thus, I delivered it without depending on the manuscript much at all, in an extemporaneous manner.  It took about 25-30 minutes to deliver the speech, and several questions from the audience of about 50, followed.

*This speech (“Sticky Ideas: Low-Tech Solutions to a High-Tech Problem,”) was originally published in Vital Speeches of the Day (1 August 2007): 73:8.

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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "There is So Much Pettiness in the World, " reads as follows:

As I looked at the political picture in the U.S. today, I thought of a quotation by Margaret J. Wheatley that so accurately captured the situation: “In our daily life,” she wrote, “we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.”  It's embarrassing to admit that we harbor pettiness in our lives, but the fact is that most of us do.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

“Those who occupy their minds with small matters,” said Francois de La Rochefoucauld, “generally become incapable of greatness.”  Although I am not seeking greatness, nor will I ever, such a quote offers some sanity in this world of pettiness.  I don’t get involved with it, I don’t try to change others, and I don’t lower myself to their level.  If you see pettiness of any kind, do as I do, smile, understand it, appreciate it for the pettiness that it is, and go on with your life.  It was Winston Churchill who said, “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”



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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "When I Cook Popcorn Over the Stove (Heart-Healthy Habits), " reads as follows:

It was an essay by Nanci Hellmich in the “Your Life” section of USA Today (March 15, 2011, pg. 3D), titled, “Doctor’s orders for himself: Even for a neurologist, adopting heart-healthy habits is a challenge,” that prompted this essay, and if the doctor’s [Ralph Sacco, president of the American Heart Association, a neurologist and chairman of the department of neurology at Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami] habits contribute to anyone else’s change of behaviors, then this essay has made a significant contribution.  Hellmich’s essay, obviously, had a powerful influence on me.
   
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

This was Hellmich’s entire essay.  There was nothing more.  What was amazing to me, after I read her essay, was that I am currently doing (and have been doing for more than 30 years) all that I can do to prevent heart attacks and strokes — according to Sacco and what Hellmich has written.  Sure, there is no guarantee just as there are no guarantees in life, but it certainly adds to your security, self-confidence, and composure knowing that you have adopted and are following heart-healthy habits.




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Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "Nag, Nag, Nag --- A Humorous Essay, " read as follows:

An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution.

His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed.  As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about,

'What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it . . . . And on and on and on . . .

[This joke continues for several more paragraphs.  Read the rest of it on Thursday.]

  
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraphs of the essay

[Obviously, the following is the end of a joke that begins earlier in the essay.  Read the beginning of this joke on Thursday.]

All  the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy man.   He
fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly  during the entire
return drive.
    
The more he chided her, the more agitated he became.  He just wouldn't let
up for a single minute.
    
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.  As  the woman got
out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old  geezer
yelled to her,"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."    




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And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraphs of Thursday's essay, "You Must be Joking!, " read as follows:

A newlywed couple just moved into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?"
    
The husband just looked at his wife and said, "What do I look like, Mr.Plumber?”
A few days went by, and he comes home from work and again his wife asks for a favor, "Honey, the car won't start, I think that it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?"

"What do I look like, Mr.Goodwrench?" was his response.    

[This joke continues for several more paragraphs.  Read the rest of it on Thursday.]
  
    
Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

[Obviously, the following is the end of a joke that begins earlier in the essay.  Read the beginning of this joke on Thursday.]

    
The plane moves faster and faster down the runway and the people sitting in the window seats realize they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport. As it begins to look as though the plane will plough in to the water, panicked screams fill the cabin. At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into t heir magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.
    
In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots turns to the other and says,"ya know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late and we're all gonna die."
 




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