In uncertain times, it is human nature to seek solace in cubes of baked clay, generally known as “bricks.” And since all times are uncertain, “bricks” have remained a perennial anchor in the eternal maelstrom. But who cares about all times? This time, right-here-right-now, is uncertain; hence Reader Replies of the Weekexclusively speak to “bricks.”
Elsa Woodman of Richmond, Virginia, writes:
Marvelous, wonderful Chilehaus - I have gone to the official website where I will contact Christian to rent – oh excuse me – “let” an office unit so I can socially distance responsibly while ensconced by 4.8 million beautiful dark Oldenburg bricks. Hamburg, here I come...!
And Nancy Terrill reports in from downtown Sint-Amands, Belgium, with a thousand words worth a picture:
Maybe an artist lives here.
Detail: Not all bricks are six-sided cubes. (But all bricks do provide refuge from the maelstrom.)
And Jeffrey Benson writes from Brookline, Massachusetts, with a brick pathway to a better whirled world via a friend’s organization:
"Brick by Brick is a nimble, innovative partnership that develops and tests entrepreneurial, inventive approaches to business, healthcare and education. Learn more about the work we are doing with Ugandan communities."
And from another dimension of the maelstrom, we share the benefits of throwing caution off the courts while discovering that tennis is a lot more fun without the damn nets.
·The net really slows the game down.
·The net gets smack in the way of some really amazing
shot-making.
·The net destroys a lot of the good feeling imbued by
bricks.
Throw caution to the wind and play tennis without a net!
Next step: Tennis without a court. To hell with those annoying white lines.
Fictionary Friday: Words You Need. Whether you know it or not.
Botchalism(bott chah lizzem) Noun: The belief that people have no reason to believe that everything happens for a reason.
In a sentence: Jay Walker insists that we have only botchalism to thank for joyful tennis being devoured by nets and
lines.
Wikipedia Friday Favorite: In honor of the intersection of curiosity and logarithmically expanding human knowledge, we offer a weekly favorite obscure Wikipedia page. Now that springtime is all a-bloom, maybe we can open some windows . . .
Fizzdom Friday: from our collection of favorite quotes, thrice.
“Things are more like they are now than they have ever been." – Gerald R. Ford
"We're lost but we're making good time." – Yogi Berra
"I'd just as soon play tennis with the net down." – Robert Frost (Everyone agrees!)
Reader Reply of the Week:
And a final Reader Reply from Don Gawlik in Durango,
Colorado, tying up several outstanding issues quite tidily:
Funny you should mention
stamps. I learned years ago that my stamp collection was worthless as a retirement investment. The stamps were only worth their face value. With that in mind, we "mailed a bunch of letters." Bricks? Build a patio.
Write if you (do) or (do not) bake some clay.
Yours without the lines or the nets, maelstrom be damned, Jonathan www.jonathanmarcus.org
PS: If you're not going to submit anything for next week, do not click here.
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