Episodes
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Compelling and Riveting: Nuptial Gifts in Insects
The wonders of evolution and the sexual arms race between male and female insects. Truly fascinating.
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They Don't Just Suck
Towards a more respectful relationship with the humble leech.
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Bridge as a Bridge
How the game of bridge gave a boost to this timid college freshman.
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Riverview Ramble
Memories of classic event seedy, very seedy Chicago Amusement Park.
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Open Letter to a Woman Who Put a Bag of Dog Shit in My Purse
Shit makes things personal; this was no exception.
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Upside of Maggots
Set aside your revulsion. Maggots can be life and limbsaving.
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Squirrel in the Kitchen
A squirrel teaches us gender roles.
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My Brother Charlie Part III
The story of my deeply autistic nonverbal brother who still found a way to enjoy life and charm his caregivers. Part I: Childhood Years Part 2: Adulthood Part 3: Challenge of End of Life Care Decisions
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My Brother Charlie Part II
The story of my deeply autistic nonverbal brother who still found a way to enjoy life and charm his caregivers. Part I: Childhood Years Part 2: Adulthood Part 3: Challenge of End of Life Care Decisions
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My Brother Charlie Part I
The story of my deeply autistic nonverbal brother who still found a way to enjoy life and charm his caregivers. Part I: Childhood Years Part 2: Adulthood Part 3: Challenge of End of Life Care Decisions
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Hail to Thee Allan Sherman
Tips from the master of the song parody.
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Open Letter to Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Baseball
Here some 14-carat gold free advice to make major league baseball more interesting.
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In a Morass of Confirmation Bias
Of all our perception biases, confirmation bias is the most ubiquitous and misleading.
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Only in America
Only in America can you build a whole ad campaign about the annoyance of tags on T-shirts.
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A Piece of Me
Up close and personal with my 23 pairs of chromosomes.
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Marketing Puffery
How to read through all that meaningless blather on labels.
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My Life in Music
The rest of my family was musical. I was tone deaf and told "please don't sing." Finally I found my small musical niche with the carillon bells. I was only responsible for two notes!
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Simple Bright Ideas I Should Have Thought Of
Five simple ideas that changed our lives, plus one more that I'm giving away for free. It's a sure winner!
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Brand Recognition on a Low Budget: Logo Pens
Too uncomfortable with flat-out self promotion, my logo pens are the perfect way to anonymously support my Substack account (lizabluehumorist.substack.com). I have left them at the bank, Starbucks, Social Security office and grocery store. Goal is to have a pen in every state by the end of the year.
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The COVID Couch
I spent two weeks on the couch riding out the extreme fatique from a COVID episode. My constant companion? Dateline TV, a non stop calvalcade of true crime documentaries, perfect for my flickering attention. Here's what I learned.
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The Cookbook That Saved My Mother's Sanity
In the mid 60's, many 1950s housewives found Betty Friedan's "Feminine Mystique" too aggressive to assimilate. My mother found the same message more palatable in Peg Bracken's "I Hate to Cook Book."
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Our Fridge Ourselves
Take a look into your fridge. What does it say about you?
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Now Thank We All Our Sphincters
Repurposing hymns to honor those hardworking sphincters that make us human.
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All at Once: Wonder, Resentment, Guilt, Remorse, Pride
A memoir piece, a swirling jumble of our common "social emotions."
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Word Freak
Advice for crossword puzzle enthusiasts, collected over a 50 year span of doing the NY Time Sunday crossword.
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The Beatles in My LIfe
Life lesson from the Beatles as a 12-year-old in 1964.
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What D Day Beaches Can Teach Us
The emotional experiene of visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy, France, overlooking Omaha Beach.
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Selfishness, Disiollusionment, Failure, Ferr
My first ever experiences with these basic social emotions.
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Respect, Cleverness, Shame, Pride
My first ever experience of these basic social emotions
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The Best of Word Play
Pithy nuggets of word play curated from a year of Substack notes.
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Lessons From the 1964 Beatles
A tutorial on young love. The four lads made it seem to easy!
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A Whiter Shade of Pale
The song that entranced me in the 1960s. After 55+ years, what do those lyrics mean?
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The Best of Wordplay
Pithy nuggets of word play culled from a year of Substack notes (lizabluehumorist.substack.com).
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My Life in Glasses
Do glasses frames contribute to your self-identity?
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That Moment in Time
Aside from the real one, everyone porbably has at least one near-death experience in a life time. Have you had yours yet?
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Everything You Wanted to Know About Heinous
The US audience has been introduced to the term "heinous" through 20+ seasons of Law and Order SVU. Who would other authors define the term?
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Can a Woman Talk Sports Like a Guy to a Guy
Or is the man-cave or barbecue grill an inviolate male space?
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Worms in Dirt
Frustration and anger taken out against the convenient target of a worm farm.
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Much Love, Ralph
A fictional story based on my father's letters, as an 18 year old contemplating mortality as he faces the upcoming WWII draft.
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Grave Situation: Part 2
A second foray into the funeral industry. Lessons learned from Part 1.
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Grave Situation: Part 1
Tangling with the funeral industry
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NFL Draft vs. US Political System
What the NFL draft can teach us about our political system
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The Nostalgia of Mouth Feel
Honey Mousse brings back memories of Sunday lunches with Granny.
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Was I a Loser When I Was a Kid?
My son wants to know.
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I Did Everything Right Except for That One Last Thing
My efforts to be the good daughter.
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Bras and Mortality
At age 65, how many bras will last me the rest of my life?
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Human Pearls
The beauty of gallstones
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Just Another Golden Scepter
Inspiration from King Tut
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Now Thank We All Our Sphincters
Song parodies based on Christian hymns
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If It's a Zit or a Pimple
Song parody of "It's a Gift to be Simple." Not to everyone's taste, but hell, we've all been there!