I was waiting for inspiration for a longer topic for this post, but instead I’ve decided to gather all the little topics that have accumulated, and make one big one. (I’ve made a number of posts on my tumblr blog, which you can read here or access via the Timbledown Annex links elsewhere on this page.)

Update on the bone scan
I met with my GP earlier this week to get the results of my bone scan. He said there’s no sign of a fracture, but there is some inflammation of the cuboid bones. He’s prescribed an anti-inflammatory to take the swelling down on my right foot. (It’s no more swollen than when I first noticed it about a month or so ago – in fact it may be less so – but at least another possible cause has been eliminated.)

I’ve also put in a request for a copy of the full body scan that was done. I’ll see about posting some samples when I receive it.

Facebook posting styles
I’m not a heavy FB user, so the following may qualify as newbie in nature, which I freely admit to. Lately I’ve been interested in the various styles people have for answering the perennial FB question, “What’s on your mind?” The postings seem to range from the cryptically short (“Bill is backed up”) to the mini-essay.

When they’re the former, a number of comment posts from friends are usually required to tease out more information from the original poster in order to clarify what was meant. My opinion: Being deliberately cryptic for effect can be fun or amusing, but if your intent is to connect with your FB friends, why make them work to understand you?

As for the novel-as-mind-content posting, I would think that the best outlet for that instinct would be to start a blog, post your opinion, and then link to that longer posting in your FB post.

Perhaps you think I’m wrong on all of the above. Or you feel the same way. Either way, feel free to tell me so in the comments.

Tactical communication
My fellow Edmontonians will likely be aware of this already, but our police chief has issued an interdict against officers using foul language on the job. The rationale is that cursing tends to provoke suspects and detainees.

So, what’s the alternative? Something called “verbal judo”, also known as “tactical communication”. As I was writing this, CBC’s “As It Happens” did a short piece on the major proponent of tactical communication, Dr. George J. “Rhino” Johnston. You can hear the AIH piece here (jump ahead to 16:27); Dr. Johnston’s website is here, where you can hear more of his TC teaching.

Overheard in the supermarket today
“Honey, do you want the normal hamburger buns or the bun buns?”