Michelle Bumgarner’s Post

Look up and live. Some life-changing takeaways from this latest blog in our new 2024 series of insights and tips to keep the Black Dog at bay.

Small steps and fragile snowballs - Tim Ferriss reminding content creators, movers 'n' shakers, changemakers, disruptors, artists, writers and all, that it starts bit by bit. Take that first step and share. You will be practicing your communication style, finding your words, your voice, your themes ... but you need to start taking those steps.

You strut and stroll with gall and grace and flamboyance as you run, with your gleaming coat of chestnut plumes flashing violet in the sun. That emerald throat, those scarlet cheeks — Eden has surely no finer mascot! And a tail so fine it could finish off the grandest hats at Ascot. For my latest post on Substack I wrote a poem about - wait for it - a pheasant:

Okay, I'll play. Here's what I see . . . These are all phrases. More specifically, verbal phrases. "Verbal" just means these words are derived from verbs. *Watch*, *Notice*, *Photograph*, *window-shop*, and so on, in constructions such as these, are verbs. The related *-ing* forms all on their own are not. More specifically still, these are either present participial phrases or gerund phrases. It would take seeing them in context to know whether they're functioning as adjectives (and so are present participles) or as nouns (and so are gerunds). Forms like this all on their own, in a heading, say, would be considered gerunds. But down in the text, it could be a different story. If a clear adjectival function were in evidence, they'd be participial. Being verbals, they spark with the energy of verbs. Meaning that, used well, these forms also bring life and color to your writing. Not to mention variety of structure. Still following this line of thought, in some of these phrases what follows the verbal is a grammatical object. In others, what follows are adverbials. "Watching a flock of grackles," "noticing something beautiful," "drinking water," these are all verbal forms (the larger phrases here simplified) taking a direct object. "Lying on the floor in the sun" is a verbal further modified by two adverbial prepositional phrases. The other two are a bit more complicated. More in the comments, if you're looking for it. :) The most interesting thing about all this is that the same patterns by which we can analyze sentences — which are patterns based on type of verb — apply also to phrases headed up by verbals. Infinitive phrases, past or present participial phrases, gerunds. So, *to be* patterns, linking verb patterns, the intransitive verb pattern, the intransitive verb patterns. (Yes, *to be* is similar to a linking verb, but distinct in having also an extra pattern. Not just "I am a person" [noun] and "I am tall" [adjective], but also "I am here" (adverb]. You can't do that third thing with linking verbs.) And, of course, these verbal forms — not themselves verbs — are easily converted to verbs, with the addition of an auxiliary: (I; he, she, or it) was watching (we; you/you; they) were watching (I/we; you/you; they) have been watching (he, she, or it) has been watching  etc. Now, this is looking at the constructions through the lens mainly of traditional grammar, understood visually through the Reed-Kellogg system. There are other systems that would analyze using different terms, different concepts, different visual schematics. Anyway, that's the first thing I see when looking at these phrases, particularly in the absence of further context. Without context, I look to see how they're constructed. Naturally, that's just one lens. With language in context — in service of a purpose, with relationships to other words, phrases, clauses — you could dive into a whole lot more. What lenses do you view language through? 

5 ways to avoid getting fooled on April Fools Day… Step 1: (do this first) …..see more

काग़ज़ की ये महक, ये नशा - रूठने को है आख़िरी सदी है यह, किताबों से इश्क करने की I recently revisited George Orwell's 1984 after many years. However, I found myself unable to continue reading after encountering these lines: "Under the spreading chestnut tree I sold you and you sold me: There lie they, and here lie we Under the spreading chestnut tree." As for discussions on reading, I often encounter questions like "Why should one read?" or inquiries about the right approach to reading. When asked about the first book to start with or the methods of reading, my response is simple: Just start reading. Be flexible, and don't set strict timelines. Let each read bring you a sense of victory, like winning a tournament. Share your current read with me!

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Excited to share the latest episode of Break The Internet! This week, we’re diving into the journey of Will Smith, how he dominated the world of stage, screen, and social media, and more importantly, how he’s working to rebuild after some challenging years. From mega stardom to facing public controversy, we explore what it takes to maintain relevance in the face of adversity. If you're curious about personal reinvention and staying in the spotlight, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. 🔥 Check it out and let me know what you think! #BreakTheInternet #WillSmith #SocialMedia #PersonalReinvention #ContentCreation

Here is Tom Palumbo's latest Two Minute Puzzle and salute to St. Patrick's Day. Each clue will give you a word that has PAT in it in exact order (beginning, middle, or end). Share this puzzle with a classroom or as a business meeting warmup. See if you can find three words we did not think of... Examples: A. George S. _ ...Patton B. Liver _ ...Pate C. Hamburger shapes...Patties 1. A pushover... 2. A home improvement... 3. A loyal American... 4. A tiny fight... 5. A design... 6. A region in South America... 7. An 8 letter girl's name... 8. Ownership document... 9. A walk... 10. Helper for a flat tire... 11. Highway denizen on... 12. A carried message... 13. A calm person has... 14. Sharing someone's sorrow... 15. Small talk... 16. A really poor person or plan... 17. Fatherly/Male head of a family... 18. A crazy person... 19. An organism that causes disease... 20. A consistent attendee... 21. Disease of the liver... 22. Hold your blackjack hand...

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