Season 2, Episode 7 of What I Learned on NPR Today: Happiness in Black America

A new poll released Tuesday by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health found that the overwhelming majority of black Americans (86 percent) said they were satisfied with their lives. Nearly 60 percent said they would eventually achieve the American dream of financial security and homeownership. A little more than half of those polled (53 percent) said they felt their lives had gotten better in recent years.

A surprising finding was the desire for a long-term relationship. Only about one-third of respondents in the "prime marrying cohort" (18-49 years old, and either never married, divorced, or widowed) said they were looking for a long-term relationship. Of those, significantly more men than women wanted a relationship - 43% of men and 25% of women.

I think this survey helps dispel some of the myths and negative stereotypes about black Americans. It also shows that are very optimistic. I wish I had that kind of optimism! I would be very interested to see how some of these statistics compare to various subsets of the American population - by race, by age, by gender, by economic status. I wonder how many other subgroups of Americans have an 86% satisfaction rate with their lives?

Sources: http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/04/188301149/new-survey-takes-a-snapshot-of-the-view-from-black-america
http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/surveys_and_polls/2013/rwjf406076

Words No Longer Allowed in My Presence #2: boots on the ground

Admittedly, this is a phrase, not a word. But it's my blog and I make the rules, so phrases are allowed.

I get it - we don't want to send troops to Syria. Just say that. I don't understand why you won't. Is this a euphemism that is supposed to somehow ease the minds of constituents?

Oh, I understand now. You're incapable of thinking independently. So when one person uses a phrase that you think is innovative, you parrot it ad nauseum. Got it. This is why I have such great faith in our politicians and the future of our country.

Suggested alternatives:

• troops
• ground troops
• soldiers
• soldiers in country
• military ground invasion

Season 2, Episode 6 of What I Learned on NPR Today: Travel Warning for Those Traveling to Turkey from......Syria?

The Syrian government has issued a traveled warning to its citizens, cautioning them against traveling to Turkey because of the unrest there.

In the words of Marco Wehrman, "Pot calling the kettle black, much?"


Source: PRI's The World with Marco Wehrman, 6/3/2013

Season 2, Episode 5 of What I Learned on NPR Today: Mel Brooks Doesn't Care for Dubya

Mel Brooks was offered Kennedy Center honors in early-mid 2000s. However, feeling that he had enough awards already (he's an EGOT - winner of an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony) and not being a particular fan of then-president George W. Bush, he demurred. He told the Kennedy Center that he'd really prefer to receive their honors from another president, and asked if they could hold off a few years. They obliged. He was honored by the Kennedy Center on December 5, 2009.

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/182609040/mel-brooks-i-m-an-egot-so-i-don-t-need-any-more

Source: David Bianculli's interview with Mel Brooks on 5/20/2013, Fresh Air with Terry Gross; interview taken from the PBS American Masters documentary "Make A Noise"

Words No Longer Allowed in My Presence #1: double-down

When did "double-down" become the favored word of every political and social commentator ever? Can I blame KFC's disgusting heart attack-inducing variation on a sandwich for my misery? STOP USING THIS PHRASE! You don't sound "cool," "young," or like you actually play poker. You don't even sound like you know what the phrase means anymore. Just stop and talk like a grown-up when you opine on grown-up subject matter (even if the actors on the subject are acting like little boys, ahem, *cough-politicians-cough*).

Suggested alternatives:

• increase one's commitment
• take on additional risk
• strengthen or reinforce one's initial dedication to an idea or strategy
• compound one's short-sighted and/or single-minded mistake
• commit to a single tactic, strategy, or goal while abandoning other priorities

What You Will Find Here

I felt my Facebook page was getting crowded, so I decided to move my uninvited thoughts to a blog. Things will mostly be numbered contributions to ongoing lists.

Lists to be included:

• What I Learned on NPR Today
• Words No Longer Allowed in My Presence
• Tips for Crazy Cat Lady Living
• Advice for Being a Good Citizen of Planet Earth (or, How to Be a Better Tree-Hugging Dirt-Worshiping Hippie)
• Minor Irritations That Make Me Want to Gulp Handfuls of Ativan (I haven't started this one yet, but it sounds like a list that might be useful)
• Cool Gross Science Stuff
• People Who Are Way Smarter Than Me

and any others I deem useful. I'll try to label them all so you can find your way around in this sea of great wisdom.