To start with an apology … and an invitation.
The apology is to the legion...oh, all right, a small but select, happy band of faithful followers of The Bluffington Post, which ran to 344 editions every week (sort of) up until COVID. The last edition in June 2020 (*gulp*) finished with “The Post will return", and here it is, albeit with a delay, which even Northern Rail would be proud of.
This invitation is to new readers. The Bluffington Post will be published every fortnight, and each fun-packed edition will feature a (reasonably) serious 'Business Bit', along with some whimsical news items you may have missed.
That's not all though...I'll also include a few heart-warming quotations to offer some light relief from inflation/elections/energy prices/Rwanda/Nigel Farage/the Post Office/the weather/Forest’s defence … (please cross out which – if any – don’t apply). All you have to do is read it!
Enough already – on with the motley.
A recent study reveals that anger (arguably the most potent of emotions) is potentially even more destructive than previously thought. It has harmful effects not only on you (your blood vessels are affected for forty minutes even after you’ve calmed down) but also on your relationships with others. Rage can cause you to do (or say) things which can’t be taken back and can have long-term effects – it makes you have a more hostile view of the world and be less trusting of others.
Everyone throws a wobbly (if not crockery!) occasionally, but how can you get out of the habit? It comes down to mindset (as so many things do). Having a sense of perspective and regularly developing it helps you to see things more objectively.
Imagine if you had access to a group of seven other independent business owners who you meet every month and who will not only give you a different perspective but also robust feedback, support, and advice, with no axe to grind?
If this sounds attractive, you know where to come…
Moving swiftly on, here’s some flotsam and jetsam you may have missed in the meejah recently:
One of the sure signs of advancing age is that language continues to change (and not always for the better hem hem).
A recent survey (who funds all these?) revealed that some tried and trusted insults are dying out, including “tosspot”, “toe rag”, “pillock”, “plonker”, and “prat”. Gen Z (whatever that is) prefers jibes such as “Karen” (meaning entitled or too demanding).
Other Gen Z slang includes “that’s calm”, “that’s beg”, “motive”, “peng”, and “leng” (answers at the end of the post – but no cheating!)
The march of AI is not without the occasional bump in the road – Fr Justin (a computer-generated Roman Catholic priest developed in California – where else? – to answer questions about Catholicism) has been defrocked after “going rogue” (including hearing confessions, giving absolution, and giving penance). One wonders if these guys have previous (step forward, Liz Truss….)
… and there is the usual crop of animal stories –
Finally, to Columbo Corner (“one last thing, sir”). To mark the feast day of St Honoré (the patron saint of bakers – as any fule kno), France is issuing a new postage stamp featuring the baguette – and it's scratch and sniff (“transferring bakery fragrances all over the world”). There’s no news (yet) of whether other stamps may follow (croissants? camembert? …) (that’s enough fragrant philately – Ed).
For a light-hearted look at some of what TAB does, check out this video:
I presently run two Boards:
Get in touch if you want to find out more.