February 28, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
This is fascinating, educational and fun. One of the things they may not tell you when they give you the keys to the time travel machine is that language is a living thing, and English is now very old.
Linguist and teacher Colin Gorrie decided to illustrate how the English language has changed over the last 1000 years by writing a post that slowly transitions from the modern day, in hundred year increments. How far back can you understand?
How far back in time can you understand English?
He arrives, he checks in. He walks to the cute B&B he’d picked out online. And he writes it all up like any good travel blogger would: in that breezy LiveJournal style from 25 years ago, perhaps, in his case, trying a little too hard.
But as his post goes on, his language gets older. A hundred years older with each jump. The spelling changes. The grammar changes. Words you know are replaced by unfamiliar words, and his attitude gets older too, as the blogger’s voice is replaced by that of a Georgian diarist, an Elizabethan pamphleteer, a medieval chronicler.
By the middle of his post, he’s writing in what might as well be a foreign language.
The last 300 years aren’t so bad, but then things start to get squiffy enough that I hope you’re planning to pack a fairly comprehensive dictionary. The success of your time travel adventures may depend on it!
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, English, history, inspiration, language, Thoughts, time travel, what to pack when going back, Writers, writing | 4 Comments »
February 27, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
Like so many of you, I spend a lot of my life looking at screens. I try to keep my eyes healthy but you know how it is, you start the day at the writing computer and then move to the work computer, and then you’re just about to take a break when an email comes in about an important work project, or family thing, or taxes. And when I do get time to take a break? I read a book.
By the end of the day, my eyes are frazzled. Just me? I’m betting the answer is no, which is why I’m sharing this happy little comic about taking care of your eyes.
How to prevent digital eye strain: An illustrated guide
Ophthalmologist Dr. Rupa Wong and optometrist Dr. Valerie Lam explain how to avert those symptoms with 5 eye care tips.
(Have I shared this before? I don’t think so and I couldn’t find it on my site, but it’s possible my eyes just too tired!)
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, health, Thoughts, Writers, writing | 13 Comments »
February 26, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
Sadly, the Artemis II moon mission has been pushed back again, and the new launch window now won’t happen until April at the earliest. Pesky helium flow issues!
Happily, this week we can entertain ourselves with a planetary conjunction!
APOD: 2026 February 24 – Planet Parade over Sydney Opera House
Look up this week and see a whole bunch of planets. Just after sunset, looking west (mostly), planets Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter will all be visible to the unaided eye simultaneously.
Mercury Completes the Planetary Parade at Dusk
Seeing all the naked eye planets at once is set to become a rarity in coming years.
Here’s hoping the skies are clear where you are!
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Posted in Science! | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, astronomy, NASA, science, space | Leave a Comment »
February 25, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
Creativity is infinite. Creativity is infinite. — Reese Witherspoon
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, art, creativity, inspiration, productivity, Thoughts, Writers, writing | 3 Comments »
February 24, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
That’s four years too long.
Our thought, our song
Will not die, will not perish…
Oh there, people, is our glory,
Glory of Ukraine!
— Taras Shevchenko
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, poetry, Thoughts, Ukraine |
February 23, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
As much of the Northeastern US hunkers down under many, many inches of snow, here’s a short condensation of winter-related happiness to get you through your day.
Simon Beck’s Snow Art – Banff National Park
The maple leaf is a particular favorite:)
If you’re in the path of the storm, stay warm, stay safe!
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, fun, snow, winter | Leave a Comment »
February 22, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
* Full post title: And so, for reasons completely and entirely related to the hockey game just played at a certain Italian ice rink, Mr Man and I are heading out into the woods in order to embrace the beauty that is inherent in Nature, and immerse ourselves in the glory and joy that is to be found in this great nation. Because we could use some calm right about now. (And could I have titled this post “Oh, Canada”? Yes, but I very much did not because this country punches way above its weight through sheer heart and vision and commitment (and insanely early hockey practice, let it be said!), and there is no way I’m trash-talking that.) So we didn’t get gold this year, and yeah, that stings. But we are winning where it counts. Go Canada!
“We have nothing to fear and a great deal to learn from trees, that vigorous and pacific tribe which without stint produces strengthening essences for us, soothing balms, and in whose gracious company we spend so many cool, silent, and intimate hours.” ― Marcel Proust
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Go Canada!, hockey, Olympics2026, Thoughts |
February 21, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
This story is so encouraging:
The Ordinary People Who Saved the Bluebird
There was a time when seeing a bluebird felt less like spotting a bird and more like witnessing a small miracle. But then, the Eastern bluebird population made a comeback. The hero?
A lot of volunteers — and an ordinary box.
Sure, we broke it. But now we’re fixing it, and that’s a story I think we all could use.
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Posted in Other, Science! | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, birds, broken isn't always forever, inspiration, nature, people power, volunteering | Leave a Comment »
February 20, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
This was a fun article to stumble upon:
Tiny Memoir Contest Winners
We challenged teenagers to write a story about a meaningful moment in their lives in just 100 words. These are the subjects of some of the 14,232 “tiny memoir” submissions we received.
Teens do (nonfiction) drabbles. The New York Times called them miniature memoirs, but regardless, they are wonderful!
This reminds me of a book that my father gave to us all one Christmas, a lovely collection of poetry by children: Ten-Second Rainshowers: Poems by Young People.
The perspectives were touching and timeless, full of meaning, depth, joy and humor, much like these stories.
The Times chose 17 winners, but the detail I particularly like is that there were over 14,000 entries.
So much vision, so much thought. So much life!
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, inspiration, Writers, writing | 2 Comments »
February 19, 2026 by J.R. Johnson
It has come to my attention that my site’s subscriber emails sometimes arrive with only parts of the post included, particularly when there are quotes involved. Sorry!
I’m not sure whether this is a WordPress thing, a “my theme on WordPress” thing, or what, but I do know that I don’t have a fix for it at the moment. At least without even more time in CustomerServiceLandia and/or overhauling my site, which, sure, I hope to get to… eventually.
Given that, if you are an email subscriber and posts look incomplete or otherwise wonky, please click through to the site for the full entry.
And enjoy!
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, blog, notes, technical issues | 1 Comment »
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