On The Fly

In this special episode,  Oh, the Things You Can Ask and the Dreams You Can Grasp! In a world full of wonders, all wiggly and grand, There's so much to see, all across the whole land! Don't just sit in your spot like a glum-looking Gnu, There's exploring to do, just waiting for YOU! So open your eyes and look all around, At the sights and the sounds that happily abound! And when something seems strange, or a bit out of whack, Don't just shrug and say, "Well, I guess that's that!" No, no, little friend, that's not the right way! You must ask a question, today, yes, today! Like "Why does the sky turn all colors at night?" Or "Why do the stars twinkle so shiny and bright?" Be curious, friend, like a fox in the woods, Investigate things, like a good question should! Poke and you'll peek, and you'll try, and you'll see, The marvelous mysteries waiting for thee! Now, while you are looking and asking with glee, Don't forge...

In this episode, Fascination . . . Why do people experience boredom? Have you ever pondered this question? I searched my dictionary for the word “bored," but it appears to have no meaning. Or maybe someone tore that page out? Anyway– Some may argue, "Come on, be realistic; surely there are moments when you can't find anything engaging to do." Obviously, we all experience times every day when we sit and stare with a glassy gaze, contemplating our world. When you decide to schedule some free time, I challenge you to pick up a book outside your usual reading habits. Lately, I've been intrigued by Isaac Asimov's short stories from the book Nightfall, which I mentioned in last week's On the Fly podcast.   Today, I read the 1954 story “It's Such a Beautiful Day." The story is set in a futuristic society (2117) where transportation is primarily done through teleportation devices called “Doors." The tale follows Dickie Hanshaw, a young boy who ...