THIS AND THAT

More items from my files:

1. Whale Play

Jennie Rothenberg Gritz reports that in summer, male Baluga Whales blow bubble rings "swatting to change their shapes and swimming through them as though they were hoops."

Biologist Michael Noonan says, "This is a species that makes its own toys."

Balugas are mammals and humans are mammals. Noonan says, "... I think we can assume that we are more similar than different."

2.  Joy and Purpose

In Japanese, iki means "to live" and gai means "reason."

Japanese "celebrated" neuroscientist, broadcaster and author Ken Mogi, wrote: "Awakening your ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day."

Mogi writes:  "Ikigai resides in the realm of small things, the morning air, the cup of coffee, the ray of sunshine, the massaging of octopus meat and the American President's (Obama on Sushi) praise are on equal footing."

Mogi describes the five pillars of the ikigai way of life: 

Starting small

Releasing yourself

Harmony and sustainability

The joy of small things

Being in the 'here and now' (Mindfulness)

This interests me and I just ordered Mogi's book for my Kindle.

3.  Big Bird?

The English census-taker handed Farmer Brown an abacus and congratulated him for siring nineteen children, but then said, "Why don't you throw a rock at the damn stock and chase him away?"

Farmer Brown replied: "Aw, 'e ain't doin' much 'arm, 'e's just kiddin' around."

I know, I know, not very funny.

Elaine tells me that from her hospital window she could see a big white bird circling around!

A seven-year-old boy asked his mother where he came from.  She was embarrassed and replied: "A stork brought you."

"Where did you come from?"

""A stork brought me."

"And where did Grandma come from?"

"A stock brought her too."

Later, the boy mentioned to his friend, "I just found out that there has not been a normal birth in our family for three generations."

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