Daily writing prompt

What technology would you be better off without, why?

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It is difficult to think of anything that, now that it’s here, we’d be better off without. I don’t believe the technology itself is a problem. Maybe it’s more the issue of its advent, arriving before anyone realized they needed it. Or maybe it’s the evolution of it, everything added on that has led us down some road where we’ve become obsessed, and islands unto ourselves, or we’ve succumbed to the siren song of relentless marketing and variations on evil intent, i.e. surveillance, spying– all the Big Brother stuff.

What’s not to like, for example, about a handheld device that serves as phone, decent video and still camera, GPS guide, list keeper, means of written communication across the miles, access to the world wide web, etc.? Trouble is, we’ve let the technology gain the upper hand. And, of course, people will find devious ways to use it.

When it comes to AI, the important thing to remember is the word that begins with A. Humans are still the real thing, though we’ve begun some sort of descent to a place where we give up control, become too dependent on something that can only ever approximate the intangibles of a soul.

Daily writing prompt

Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?

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Nothing too exotic, though my wife came across a recipe for stuffing from Kamala Harris that we’ve been using for the last few years. Delicious! Besides that, it’s the same fare we’ve had forever– turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, butternut squash, corn, cranberry sauce, and oftentimes some sort of store-bought rolls. Though, on occasion my wife will make some homemade potato rolls, which are pretty popular and quite tasty.

Then there are the pies.

Daily writing prompt

If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

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Find a third shift job that I could see myself doing, maybe look for a bigger place, or at least one where I’d have room for a woodshop and my wife would have a bigger space for her embroidery efforts, then hone my woodworking skills and start a small business.

I’d probably try to read more, play the piano and guitar, maybe learn a language or two, watch some late-night soccer matches or something.

I guess it might depend on whether or not others didn’t need sleep, too, or if it was just me. If it’s just me, there’d be a lot of alone time to fill. I’d have to find some way to turn my brain off every now and then.

Daily writing prompt

Who are your current most favorite people?

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My wife, my children, spouses, and their children, my siblings and most of their spouses, and anyone willing to speak out in opposition to the paper-thin veneer of authenticity Donald Trump and his ilk present to the world. Folks like Paula Poundstone, Texas Paul, Danainspired, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jen Psaki– pretty much everyone at MS Now– along with Adam Kinzinger, Father David, the late night hosts, and any members of Congress exhibiting an ounce of courage.

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite animals?

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Some humans, dogs, and butterflies.

Other humans are scourges and serve no useful purpose.

Dogs can be grace-filled gifts.

Butterflies arrive after a fascinating transformation, and they grace our presence for only a short while. They add beauty and lightness as they flit about.

Daily writing prompt

What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

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If it’s just my wife and me, it might be Baked Cod with sides of pilaf and asparagus, Thanksgiving dinner, and either Beef Barley Soup or Chicken Wild Rice soup.

The extended family’s choices would be all over the map, but I think a fair amount of them would lean toward healthy– Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes, lots of fresh ingredients.

Well, and let’s throw in some mac and cheese and chicken nuggets along the way.

Daily writing prompt

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

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I think it would be Abraham Lincoln. I’d want to match the voice that’s been often quoted over the years with the face, pick his brain, say thank you for his level-headed leadership during trying times, ask him what he thinks of the current occupant of the Oval Office– or if he’d even offer an opinion– and see if he’d have any suggestions regarding how we get out of this mess.

Daily writing prompt

Do you trust your instincts?

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Sometimes. Other times, it’s hard to know if what I’m feeling are instincts or just reluctance to engage because I don’t feel like it. Truthfully, human instincts, to me, are a bit more nebulous than migratory patterns or nest building.

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

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I think it would have to be May. Spring has sprung. The trees have new foliage, perennials are returning, the sky is deep blue sometimes, the winter winds have finally died down, the grass is green, and the temps haven’t yet risen to their summertime ridiculousness.

And toward the end of the month, we can start planting vegetables besides peas and lettuce.

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite place to go in your city?

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I live in a small town. The nearest city is 35 miles away, and we go there to shop, on occasion.

When we lived closer to Philadelphia, we would drive in to the Broad Street area and park, walk around Market Street, have lunch at the Reading Terminal Market, then walk through City Hall, stop into the lobby of the first Comcast building, walk around Love Park and then make our way down to the Art Museum, ascend the Rocky steps, and take in the view looking out over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, back toward Center City.

On a couple other occasions, we’d drive down to the 6th Street area and walk around The National Constitution Center, wait in line to see the Liberty Bell, find a street vendor selling cheesesteaks, then enjoy lunch sitting on a bench in the shadow of Independence Hall (it was always closed for renovations when we were there).

Great ways to spend the better part of a Saturday.