The Little Words Mean the Most

On Thanksgiving, we gave thanks for

3 good, many-dimensional movies in a row: Captain Phillips; Thor: The Dark World; and Dallas Buyers Club. While American dining habits made vegans ill, we hopped from dark space to dark space and only once had to shame someone into shutting down her "smart" phone, also known as a flashlight. Multiple choice: are phone-iacs in theatres, once the feature has begun, [1] hopelessly self-absorbed, [2] clinically stupid, [3] socially disfigured, [4] human waste material or [5] doctors checking on their patients. Choose all that apply. We did a 4th movie last night: Elysium. Matt Damon punched the time clock on an indifferent script. Forgettable. Totally.

Today's new word: Necrometrics

Looking up: "How many died by war in 1994?"

"What R U doing?" Figuring

out the case for an HIV/AIDS vaccine worldwide. I like BIG work

legend building

i'm listening to a guy make music by banging his shoe

Toronto Abstractus

Mulching done

L-r: hibiscus, the fig tree, the transplanted poppy

Simone and I are fighting

the "pay attention to me" wars. We've both had moments

Why you go: A few AFP Toronto Congress All-Stars I spoke with

Tony Elischer, Guy Mallabone, Marie Burnett, Kay Sprinkel Grace, Ken Burnett. If you see a certain grumpiness, it's for good reason. The usual enemy: too little progress taking too much time. These are best practice "tugboats" trying to influence the direction of a massive industry that's deaf in one ear. Kay's grandmother used to say, "You measure a person from the neck up."

Why I love Porter Air: Approaching Boston

Alan Clayton's shtick

Note to ALL other speakers: NEVER EVER make a presentation AFTER or NEXT TO Alan Clayton. (1) he's a 3-ring circus; (2) he's bloody loud; and (3) his audiences always sound like they're having far more fun with Alan than yours are with you, so he'll make you look bad, too. I was in the adjacent room at Toronto Congress. And their honking and hollaring completely interrupted MY stately and sober talk on turning your donor newsletter into a revenue and retention powerhouse.

I hope this goes well (enough)

I've ordered a salad ... and 3 glasses of Canadian reds, an ad hoc in-room tasting of Peller Estate Cabernet/Merlot, Featherstone Red Tail Merlot, and Trius Cabernet Sauvignon. All from the Canadian Niagara region. I need to finish 3 shows tonight before tomorrow's flight. Fingers crossed, friends. LATER: Finished. Shows tight as a cantilever bridge. Listening to The Hit Girls singing Bad Reputation. Peller was the only wine worth the price. The others? Left to rot by the hotel? Maybe.