Alexis Rankin Popik's Blog, page 25
March 13, 2017
A MEME AND TRUMP’S RUMP
I have never gotten a clear definition of “meme,” though the word gets used a lot. Everyone has a slightly different take on it when I ask, usually involving incoherence and a lot of “you knows.” If I knew, I … Continue reading →
March 6, 2017
YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!
I have never liked being bossed around. Extreme bossiness is one of the irritations of the TSA lines at airports: “Take off your shoes!” “Belts and keys in the bin!” And on and on. Likewise, Facebook encourages a certain amount of … Continue reading →
February 26, 2017
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BIGLY
Last week I heard the President of the United States vow to “get rid of the really bad dudes in this country.” While it’s true that Donald Trump has a small vocabulary weighted towards extreme adjectives (“big league—or bigly,” “disaster,” “dangerous,” … Continue reading →
February 19, 2017
UNBELIZABLE!
I regret to inform you that on Saturday we went from here: To here: Ambergris Caye, Belize or Hartford, Connecticut after a snowstorm? Hmmm. Well, we’re back and trying to prepare for another six weeks or so of cold weather—or … Continue reading →
February 12, 2017
COMFORTING WORDS
The most comforting words I’ve heard in a long time are, “I will be right there with you for all my remaining days.” That was what President Obama promised in his farewell speech. Politics aside (and how I’d like to … Continue reading →
February 5, 2017
COUSINS LOST AND FOUND
“Cousins are a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” —Marion C. Garretty I learned last week that one of my aunts on my father’s side of the family died. The information came from my cousin Jerry, via … Continue reading →
January 22, 2017
THE BOSTON WOMEN’S MARCH
This past Saturday, January 21, more than 1 million people across the United States and the rest of the world marched in protest of policies President Trump is vowing to put in place. It has been 30 years since I’ve … Continue reading →
January 15, 2017
STRONG WORDS
My mother used strong words. Some of her tendency to overstate was inherited from her mother, my grandma, who used thrilling expressions like “Bloody murder in the third degree!” As she aged, Mom’s ways of expressing exasperation became increasingly dramatic. Among … Continue reading →
January 8, 2017
SNOW DAYS AND RESPONSIBILITY
Today is a Snow Day. Until we moved to New England I had never heard of Snow Days, but after my first experience I was hooked. On Snow Days, schools are closed, as are some public agencies and businesses. It is … Continue reading →
January 1, 2017
WORDS MATTER, MY DEAR
Words DO matter. There are reminders of the power of words all around us. Think of the way extreme words were slung around during the last election. Or don’t think of it. Let’s start off the new year on a constructive … Continue reading →
