Happy Saturday, digital neighbors! Good morning to all of you wherever you might find yourselves today.
A few final thoughts (and quotes) on laughter and humor. After faith, humor is the thing that has most changed my life for the better. Without it, I’m certain I’d be in far worse shape—and so many talking heads on the internet seem utterly devoid of it. I often mention my appearances on The Rubin Report, Phetasy, and TRIGGERnometry, but I really should add Scott Adams to that same list of content creators, talking heads, and podcasters who strike an excellent balance of humor and serious discussion. There are plenty more, of course, but one can only listen to so much in a week.
A good conversationalist learns their own proper blend of humor and seriousness. Scott Adams has often said that at least 25% of people have no sense of humor at all. I suspect the number is higher. Too many people’s absence of humor has left them bitter souls. Take life seriously, but take yourself a little less so. The further you move toward the extremes of political engagement, the harder it is to maintain a sense of humor. And if you do manage to keep one, it tends to be the cynical, sarcastic, biting kind that wounds more than it refreshes.
I can think of nothing worse, when it comes to giving meaning to your life, than making politics your sole passion and interest. That we’re here in these communities is a sign we’re aware of politics but not consumed by it. You know the consumed types—you probably talked to a few of them last Thanksgiving. Buckle up; you may see them again soon. Happy Saturday, dear neighbors—may your day be touched by laughter and joy.
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
“Laughter is wine for the soul—laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness—the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.” ― Seán O’Casey
“Laughter is poison to fear.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
Breitenwang, Tirol, Austria- Pexels - Lucas Allmann
Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
Good Morning, Digital Neighbors, and Blessed Sunday to one and all!
Sundays are for gratitude, and few things impact our lives more than intentional gratitude. It is not enough to say you are blessed or that you are fortunate; the actual naming of our blessings plants them deep in the heart, transforming us as persons rather than leaving us with the bland “thankful for everything.”
Two years ago, I wrote this reflection on resentment and gratitude. In light of the celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, I think it’s worth revisiting. We can choose to be among those who are thankful for America or among those who find nothing but fault with it.
You cannot build a future based on resentments of the past. You cannot grow if you are mired in the injuries of yesterday. God and life do not call us to ignore such experiences, but He constantly calls us forward—to be more, to receive more, to live more. Heal those wounds and work through those injuries, but do not be defined by them, and do not try to ...
