New Year, Breakfast of Kings, Boxing and Betrayal for bumfuzzled EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

TM Marie inspired us to be a blessing to others in 2024.

TM Chris got us thinking about New Year's Eve-related topics, and we soon realized that...

* TM Terri's marriage began -like many of ours-  one enchanted evening with champagne and strawberries... and ended with "See you in court!"

* I, Ana, have been blessed with a challenging and rewarding 2023 during which life has been fully in session.

* TM Pam concludes that life goes faster and faster, so 2024 is bound to pass with breaknecking speed as she unclutters.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Ricardo will spend New Year's Eve in Villa Paramacito, where there's nothing to do except maybe jump in the river.  His sisters and he will surely take the town by storm!

* TM Jim G. avoids New Year resolutions because they have never, ever, ever, even once, come to fruition.  He's planning to celebrate a 2-month wet birthday in January and February!

* TM BeckyJo is a fiery person who grew up in Canada thinking the fireworks on July 1st were specifically dedicated to her birthday.  Ah... sweet bird of innocence...

* TM Marie reminisced about Guy Lombardo's rendition of Auld Lang Syne which, to her, means let bygones be bygones and move on, people!

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Aleta likened Toastmasters with a healthy nutrition plan: breakfast of kings, lunch of princes, dinner of paupers.  It helps us navigate the complexities of bumfuzzled simplicity  and marks a beginning where there's an end.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Tom brought us into the world of boxing, where scarface Teddy Atlas was betrayed by Mike Tyson and fired by Cus D'Amato  in the Catskills of NY where Dirty Dancing proved that without fear we can't be brave.

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM Marie was awed by TM Aleta's remarkable capacity to make a teambuilding speech entertaining and... teambuilding!

* TM Jim G. marveled at the fact that TM Tom explained clearly -and facing the camera-  how Teddy Atlas's throat scar is a symbol of a bumfuzzled childhood but Teddy was clearheaded when it came to 15-year-old Tyson's sexual advances to Teddy's 11-year-old niece.  Jim won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

BUMFUZZLE, verb

Confuse, perplex, fluster

Example:  Teddy Atlas was not bumfuzzled when it came to 15-year-old Tyson's sexual advances to Teddy's 11-year-old niece and put a gun to his temple, pure and simple.  

Here's a link to the recording:

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Tp6xcoqkE

See you next week!

Ana I.

Bumfuzzled Recap Writer

Profound revelations, Ephemeral Life and A Visit from St Nicholas - an elaborate morning at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Returning TM Paula led us with elaborate but not shallow, frivolous Table Topics.  We slowly discovered that...

Alonso del Rio, Andean medicine music man, inhaled a lot of funny things while elaborating theories for Table Topic use, such as Pachamama and Pachakamaq, spirit and matter, the invisible path and absolute and relative unity.  Get it, people???  Alll joking aside, Paula did a great job at Table Topics and stirred our brains into motion.

* TM Chris listens to her mind so as to avoid wrecking her body, dreams of running without a bum knee.

* TM Jose has transcended from material cares to spiritual cares but mostly has become a paella foodie.

* TM Emmanuel (Manny) firmly states that habits are the great teachers of the heart so he's elaborating new habits for 2024.

* TM Aleta has enrolled in Psychotherapy to discern why They Call the Wind Mariah. The wind - both beautiful and whistling with destruction in its path.

* TM Jim G. reminisced of old days when he heard My Peace I Give You, My Peace I Take From You in the House of the Rising Sun.

* I, Ana, am still trying to elaborate who I was, who I am, who I will be, when I will find that last object I lost and be able to improve my daily puzzle ..ment.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.

The last one was Wisdom Costs Flesh and Heart but we were ... saved by the bell!  Pfiiuuuu.....!  

As far as prepared speeches go...

* TM Ricardo reminded us of the ephemeral quality of life when flying around in a home-made motorized lawn chair and a striped awning.  Thank God he's now improved the ultralight trike by using a sturdier beach chair and a polkadot awning.

* TM Jim G. gave us his annual rendition of A Visit from St. Nicholas, of questionable authorship but with Jim G. copyrighted superb, timeless multifaceted backdrops.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

And then came the awaited evaluations....

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM Ricardo for speech technique experimentation and for surprising the audience with exciting adventures.  She can only anticipate the next speech will be Snow Skiing Ahead of an Avalanche in Kilimanjaro".  We can't wait!

* TM Terri appreciated TM Jim G. (aka St Nick) for his enthusiasm, his baritone voice and for bringing a timeless poem to life in front of our very eyes.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

ELABORATE, verb or adjective

Verb:  to develop or present an idea in detail.  Example:  She planned an elaborate wedding celebration and now is planning an elaborate divorce commemoration.   

Adjective:  involving many carefully arranged parts or details.  Example:  The elaborate Edible Arrangement was devoured in an instant.

Below is the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8m9hVWgbOs

Merry Christmas!  Feliz Navidad!  Joyeux Noel!  Buon Natale! S Rozhdestvom! (for our missing Russian guests)

See you next week!

Ana I.

Elaborate Recap Writer (methinks)

Christmas Trivia, Arti General Intelli, Find Your Passion - an authentic morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

As we began self-introductions, TM The Tom puzzled me with a tale of Athena and her daughter Telemarketer.   We also found out that joining our meeting was Yoodli (pronouned "Yodeling (by the side of the lake), Toastmasters' Artificial Intelligence and vying for the job of Recap Writer. 

We proceeded to Table Topics, and I, Ana, stimulated thoughts about the non-conventional side of Christmas.  We soon learned that:

* TM Randolph indulges in guilty pleasures and totally ignores healthy foods over Christmas.  We're all with you, TM Randolph!

* TM Ricardo likes his ex-wife and would give her a Poinsettia, but his ex-girlfriend... that's another story and besides, she's in an undisclosed location.  No Poinsettias for her!

* TM Jose once shorted his entire neighborhood stringing up Christmas lights and is now trying again with LEDs... good luck, Javea!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Paula created the line of "Weird" Barbie from her grandma's gift - she chopped the hair, dyed it, permed it and maimed the doll for posterity.

* TM BeckyJo refuses to name female Rudolph "Rudolpha" but will wokely agree to use she/her/they for all the raindeer.

* Guest Millie does NOT agree to combine Halloween and Christmas, no siree - two parties are better than one!

Along came two fantastic speeches...

* TM Pam left us in awe of AGI (not to be confused with Adjusted Gross Income) but Artificial General Intelligence which allows us to draw vertical lines while acquiring "Bette Davis' Eyes'. Buckle up, everybody, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

* TM Chris found her passion in technology but is currently auditioning to be a sultry singer at a local night club for the technologically advanced.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

With regards to evaluations...

* TM The Tom displayed a stopwatch and alerted TM Pam that they are to be used, not ignored.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Randolph praised TM Chris' hand gestures and asked for her autograph for her rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

TM Terri was our first-time General Evaluator and handled the role with grace and authenticity.

The Word of the Day was

AUTHENTIC, adj.

real, actual, not false or imitation

True to one's personality, with no pretensions

Example:  To be authentic, one must learn to draw intersecting diagonal lines to form a cross or signify "The X Files".  

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/_ifFAm5xV74

See you next week!

Authentically yours,

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Would You Rather... Fort Liquordale and The Inner Cheerleader - a morning with rizz at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

After an inspired Invocation by TM Terri M. and a hilarious un-Hallmark joke by TM Aleta, TM Jim G. launched us on a thought-provoking Would You Rather Train of Thought.  We discovered that...

* TM Marie would rather meet her Lithuanian great-grandparents than her future great-grandchildren as she would give them unsolicited advice and it would not go well.

* TM Emmanuel would rather have World Peace than End Hunger although sadly the UN, the WHO, Unicef and the rest of them have failed miserably at it.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam would rather be stuck in a ski lift than in an elevator with some people deserving to receive the un-Hallmark cards.

* TM Tom would not like to either rewind life (and have to do it all over again) or pause life (and prolong it). It's definitely a no-win in his eyes!

* TM Terri would rather have a salad than soup because she's not a soup connoisseur and associates soup with the sniffles.  TM Terri had the spontaneous phrase of the day pre-meeting by asking "Where Have The Days Gone?"

We then got to prepared speech(es)...

*I, Ana, having lived in a cave for 41 years, just recently found out that the Fort Liquordale name originated during Prohibition, not during Spring Break.  Who knew?? I Won Best Speaker Award in a highly contested race.

* TM Jocelyn Tyson, 2023 TM World Champion, regaled us with her journey to a Triathalon, and asked us Would You Rather be a self-critic or a self-cheerleader?

As far as the evaluation goes...

* TM Chris learned the true origin of Fort Liquordale rumrunners and suggested I stand up to give speeches so I can get rid of my Mafia Files.

The Word of the Day was

RIZZ, noun

Generation Z slang that means style, charm or attractive to plain or romantic relationships.  Presumably derives from charisma, but in the world of Generation Z, or maybe Alpha, who knows.

Example:  Authenticity is the key to having rizz - and playful, flirty banter too!

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/eKUaUIsOisA

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer with Rizz

Table Topics Contest Fondest and Silver Linings - a plethoric euphoric day at EarlyBirds!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

An exciting Table Topics Contest at EarlyBirds brought a plethora of new perspectives.  Our beloved SAA, DTM Mary Helen, suffered a temporary bout of Psychosis Susceptibility Syndrome, but quickly recovered after a second cup of Java and getting those other voices to agree with her.

A couple of contestants experienced premature ejection from the Breakout Room but were nonetheless able to pretend innocence in front of the Judges. Hear ye! Hear ye! The Court's in session, the Court's in session- here comes the Judge! Here comes the Judge!  (First rap song by Shorty Long in 1968)

Our Contest Master, TM Aleta, and Chief Judge, TM Jim G., aided by his own SELF  and TM Chris as Tech Cohorts, got the contest under way.

The theme was "Now or Never" 

It's now or never

Come hold me tight

Kiss me my darlingw

Be mine tonight

Tomorrow will be too late

It's now or never

My love won't wait

Just like a willow

We would cry an ocean

If we lost true love

And sweet devotion

(sung to the tune of "It's Now Or Never", but I digress)...

We found out that 

* TM BeckyJo exercised her choice of Now or Never... and chose Never.  So there.  She Won Third Place Award.

* TM Marie waxed philosophical about "Regrets - I've had a few... but then again... too few too mention..."  (sung to the tune of My Way by Ol' Blue Eyes). She Won First Place Award.

* TM Jose declared that he is NOW, unequivocally, going to an Asian restaurant for lunch, smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Paradise known as Javea, Spain.

* I, Ana, definitely choose NEVER to engage in thrilling sports such as paragliding, jumping our of airplanes and the like.  Videomatography is where it's at for me.

* DTM Jim D. is laser-focused on travel, travel, travel after retirement.  The time is NOW!

* TM The Tom is a man of action and will take action to be involved in action-packed adventures for the duration of the next coffee break.

* TM Paolo will jump at the chance to do now that which can otherwise never be done.  The decision to move to Italy?  Wait for the Sequel Speech in a few more years.  He Won Second Place Award.

And along came our prepared speech by our newest Toastmaster, Terri M.  Based on a true story...

* After breaking a leg in the mountains of New Mexico, she made it home to Miami where an array of friends, neighbors, sons, acquaintances, bakers, butchers, grocers and strangers equipped her, transported her, fed her, entertained her and made sure she never missed her daily "CORTADITO" (Cuban Cafe Con Leche, which resuscitates the dead, according to Calle Ocho lore).  She Won Best Speaker Award (as well as new member fastest  to hop on the Pathways track).

* She was evaluated by TM Marie, who thoroughly enjoyed Terri's  motivational speech and has already signed up for a Cuban Cantina (weekly meal plan) to be delivered right to her door, including CORTADITO.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

PLETHORA, noun

A large or excess amount of something.

Example: Some EarlyBird members joyfully take on a plethora of roles for the successful completion of the agenda.

Here's the link to the recording: 

https://youtu.be/NTngZ_W2L0k

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Fallonette Thankyous, Together We Stand and a Tree-a-thon, a non-profligate morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie rocketed us into a grateful state of mind with topics for thank yous.  We realized that...

* TM The Tom preferred GE, made-in-the-USA lightbulbs but then China took over and he must change lightbulbs profligately.

* TM Jim G. went from novice to connoisseur of microbrewery beers thanks to a Brit friend who turned him on to the Funky Buddha.  He Won Best Table topics Award.

* Guest Millie waxed poetic about the pronouns of roses in this woke day and age.

* DTM Jim D. leaves Christmas decorations up to his other half, although in her absence he admitted that she sometimes goes a little profligate.

* TM Ricardo is thankful to even be alive, what with all the chaos and turmoil going on in oh so many fronts, but he still likes to be gifted strange, exotic chocolates.

* TM Aleta avoids profligation by avoiding FaceNook, a humongous time sucker if there was ever one.  It's about avoiding people we know but wish we didn't.

* TM Terri has learned to navigate through pesky Pop-Up Ads and has un-profligately learned the basics of Pathways.  Go Terri!

Along came our prepared speeches and we were in for 2 treats...

* TM Jose brought us up to date with the Current Chaos and Confusion proliferating in Spain thanks to a selfish, power-hungry, corrupt individual who is allied with soon-to-be-amnestied criminals and seccessionists.   The population has taken to the streets to demand a unified democratic Spain.  Together We Stand! is the motto, but corruption has penetrated the 3 branches of government and the outcome looks bleak.  *Note:  Breaking News:  The corrupt Pedro Sanchez has just been officially 'crowned'  as ongoing Dictatorial Ruler of Spain.  God help them!

* TM Pam's direct communication style almost caused a heart attack and several syncopes, which required a citrus-infused air diffuser to revive them. In order to reduce casualties, Pam has since changed her communication style from direct to semi-direct.    She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations...

* TM Paolo praised TM Jose for his excellent narration skills sprinkled with humor and educational content.  He suggested reducing the history slides and increasing the pictures of protests with Spaniards eating paella while draped in the Spanish flag and being tear gassed by police.  He Won Best Evaluation Award.

* TM Terri loooved the Tree-A-Thon informative speech about her beloved state of Citrus Florida.  Up to now, she always thought Mangoes were the Florida Indigenous Fruit - who knew?

The Word of the Day was

PROFLIGATE, adjective

Spending money or using something wastefully and not wisely.

Example:  We EarlyBirds avoid being profligate by measuring and timing our words and our fillers.  Yes sireeee!

Dates to Remember:

NO MEETING NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 23, DUE TO THANKSGIVING.  GOBBLE GOBBLE.....  

Table Topics Club Contest:  November 30

Evaluation and International Speech Contest:  January 18 and January 25

Note for newer members:  International Speech contest consists of a (usually) motivational speech.  It does not mean the topic has to be international.  It simply means that the winner will go on to compete at Area, District, up the Toastmasters Ladder, till they reach the International Contest with members from everywhere.  Methinks.....

Here is the link to today's recording...

https://youtu.be/CxEwEtc0hj4

See you on November 30!  

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Generators, Canal Cruises and Cliches - no siree, no inertia for EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Terri started us off with a beautiful Invocation in the Christian tradition.

TM Aleta juggled our morning inertia by starting us on loose but interwoven topics. We soon discovered that...

* TM Jose is still waiting for the governmental subsidy for solar batteries for power outages.  Keep those candles handy!

* I, Ana, saw my generator-acquisition husband transform from an idiot to a visionary in a matter of 24 hours before Wilma.

* TM Terri chickened out from getting a generator because many generator owners in South Florida end up six feet under from the emanations.

* TM Marie, essential employee, became even more essential during Wilma with the help of  handsome and essential military guys who gave her essential assistance.

* DTM Jim got a complete generator... right after Wilma.  That's why he's honing his timing skills in Toastmasters very often.

* TM Aleta has a generator in SW Pennsylvania but doesn't use it because she sleeps best in dark, quiet and secluded environments, while ignoring the falling 100-ft trees!

* TM Tom looks at the moon and the stars in awe and wonder while everyone frets during hurricanes.  He Won Best Table Topic Award.

Then we had 2 prepared speeches...

* TM Ricardo streamlined his Cruise de Midi speech, eliminated verbiage and added a map which helped us sail through 30 of the 64 locks in the canal.  Good job Ricardo!

* I, Ana, reviewed a few gazillion cliches and touched on some malaphors (wrong blend of cliches) - not to be confused with malapropism (wrong usage of a word or term).  Too many chefs in too many pies!  I Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go....

* TM Paolo sailed the Midi Cruise himself "All Aboard"  "All Aboard" with Captain Ricardo.  Good inertia in motion!   He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom enjoyed my speech but suggested I use Spanish cliches next time so I can roll the rrrrrs as I pronounce them.  That's his favorite!

The Word of the Day was

INERTIA, noun

To do nothing or remain unchanged

Example:  I lean forward in the car by inertia when the brakes are applied suddenly.  

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/VbxrnpMriyg

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Fwd: Great topics, Google in London, Part I and Part II - no phubbing at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

TM Tom started us off with a deep, heartfelt invocation.

TM Jose got us thinking with great Table Topics.  As we soon learned...

* TM Marie spends her day playing with Silly Putty to improve her mobility and to be able to do The Camino.

* DTM Jim D. forces himself to be inquisitive because his friends who are not end up 6 ft under after a year of retirement.

* TM Aleta agreed that yes, yes, yes, she lies without even saying a word and will spend the rest of today thinking about it.

* TM BeckyJo stated unequivocally that WHEN IS TUESDAY, the day of action, come ready to go, Monday is a slump, Wednesday is a hump, Thursday is the peak, Friday is weekend anticipation.  The rest is phubbing, no more, no less. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, smile about a lot of things because I'm gifted with finding the humor in the absurdities of daily life.

* TM Pam would like high schoolers to read anything as we are facing a completely illiterate next generation.  What was she talking about anyway???

* TM Terri dons a Thanksgiving-themed orange leg cast, an orange knee scooter, lounges like Cleopatra and wears orange garbage bags to shower. That's different for sure!

Along came the impromptu prepared speeches - thank you, Geeks, for bailing us out today!

* TM Chris, PES (Product Expert Summiter) introduced us to a real-life Siri.  Now we're waiting to meet Alexa for Seniors, who responds to any similar name - Adessa, Annetta, Coretta, Axeta, Loretta, Alphonsa.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Jim G., London Tour Guide par excellence, toured us through Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and its tenants, pubs that served gringos haddock and french fries, and took us on the London Eye with a champagne flute while reciting Churchill quotes. Quintessential London!!

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM Randolph is signing up, as we speak, to become a Product Expert for LonCroogle and take the hop-on hop-off bus wherever the next summit is.

* TM Pam praised TM Jim G. for his calm demeanor while missing the wild parties at the summit.  Raise the vocal passion or join Madame Tussaud's!!  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Tom evaluated TM Pam's evaluation and sincerely commended her for not phubbing the audience during the rendition.

The Word of the Day was

PHUBBING, noun

Ignoring who you're with and giving your undivided attention to your phone.

Example:  Phubbing has become an art form for the masses.  To think Iphones did not even exist 15 years ago!!

Here is a link to the recording:

https://youtu.be/mjXXkUoJUkI

Here is a link to the Geeks' summit photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PHadcMgb8CxLTUKfA

See you next week, phubbers!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Brief Topics, Cruising the Midi Canal and Finally Getting Warmed Up - an anecdotal/antidotal morning at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

In honor of our late DTM Kip, TM Pam did a Universalist Unitarian Halloweenish invocation that got us right in the mood.

DTM Mary Helen is preparing us for upcoming contests by providing us with 2-word topics.  We found out that..

* TM Marie loves so-called holiday savings, recently on Prime Day her husband stocked up on grass-fed, prime t-bones to be cooked with some obscure kitchen utensils I have not heard of before.

* I, Ana, have experienced a few second chances and have more than likely missed quite a few, but I'm on alert for future ones to come.

* TM Emmanuel is keenly aware that time starts ticking the minute we exit Mom's womb and is determined not to miss a minute of it!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jose consults Saint Google (officially canonized in Spain) to make a tortilla, to walk The Camino, and he originally thought the name was dumb.  Who would have thunk??  Spanish citizens are ready to revolt at the prospect of a St. Google taxation without representation.

* TM Randolph is trying to teach his daughter to press the dishwasher button after loading.  (Note: daughter is pushing 30, but she's making progress).

* TM BeckyJo gets helpful tips from crime movies, and exerts gentle pressure on a victim's elbow or hand fingers to make them compliant.  She's losing patience so straight marching orders are best.

* TM Paolo recalls his first time as a Table Topic speaker, an unforgettable disaster that motivated him to become an accomplished adrenalin-filled impromptu speaker.

* TM The Tom asks "What? What?" when asked to remind someone of something.  Who can remember anything anymore??

* DTM Jim D.'s most frequent plea is "Forgive me! Forgive me!" - it's much easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission - motion is usually NOT granted.

* TM Pam and her husband mark their glass door to the garage with dry erase markers and then cannot even figure out who, out of the two, wrote it or what for.  One example is "ANTS".  Huh????

We were in for two outstanding prepared speeches.

* TM Ricardo delighted us with an educational speech about his trip with his sisters down the MIdi Canal, built by Louis XIV, who took 2 baths in his life and was surprisingly NOT decapitated - no one could get close enough to him with the smell.  He used great visuals of the canal views.  More to come!

* TM Aleta recited the Cremation of Sam McGee, who from Tennessee had the not-so-great idea to go gold prospecting in the Yukon, where he happily welcomed being cremated in a warm furnace instead of spending one more second in the freezing cold.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Paolo thoroughly enjoyed TM Ricardo's educational speech and is currently booking a canal cruise by gondola in Italy. He's already got the Captain's hat as a prop.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Randolph marvels at TM Aleta's capacity to make such great eye contact by looking straight at the camera.

The Words of the Day were

ANECDOTE, noun

A short or amusing story about a real person or incident.

ANTIDOTE, noun

A medicine taken or given to counteract a poison

Example:   A good anecdote about a headless mouse is the best antidote against  early morning somnolence.   It awakens your senses IPSO FACTO (look it up in Saint Google)

Our dates for Evaluations/Table Topics and THE OTHER contest (following today's theme, I can't remember contest of what) have been set for November 30 and December 14.

Stay tuned and get more dry erase markers for murky Notes To Self.

Here's the link to the recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YecKkM7yBU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Fwd: Meeting link

Logical Fallacies, Centering Prayer and Watercolors - a morning of alacrity at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests:

Recap done a posteriori - based on experience gleamed from the impeccable recording.

TM Aleta started us off with an invocation that irrefutably demonstrated that kids are as bratty today as they were in the times of Socrates (470-399 BC (before computers). Ahhhh.  some things just never change!

TM The Tom did a Sequel of a Logical Fallacies deck of cards.  We found out that...

* TM Ricardo's favorite movie is Bambi, which to him symbolizes Ad Hominem, pure and simple.

* DTM Mary Helen abhors to quoque - attacking opponents by criticizing them.  What cheap shots.  That's because she's not a politician...

* TM Aleta's profession makes her adroit with persuasive influence and leads her to presentation mastery with unequivocal engaging humor and there you go! She's completed all 11 Pathways, pretty much.  She Won Best Evaluator Award. 

* TM Chris is convinced that social media appeals to our emotions (it's all about the likes) and 200 hours of video are uploaded every minute to YouTruuuube. Get a handle, people!

* DTM Jim D. has good anecdotal practices and disarms opponents with storytelling rather than confusing them with boring statistics.  It really works!

* TM Jim very smartly accepts that begging the question is futile in spousal circular arguments.   One person is invariable right, and the other is the husband.  

Along came prepared speeches....

* TM Marie suggested we use silence to find out what God is doing within us, make a steady commitment to stillness and keep returning to your sacred word...   "A Man's Reach is Further Than His Grasp - Or What's a Heaven For?"

* TM Pam was able to share the screen with us of the results of her watercolor hobby, and we were keenly aware that in her watercolor world, pelicans eat dandelions in a field of magnolias all because of the extra salt of the earth.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* Returning TM Paolo was impressed with TM Marie's message of seeking the presence of God but her speech would have more spiritual breath and depth if given in Italian... or at least in Latin.  Per secula seculorum!  Ite, missa est.

* TM Terri praised TM Pam for her audience awareness, her comfort level, and inspiring us to persist with alacrity in sharing screens while the pelicans eat Florida Pink Shrimp.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

ALACRITY, noun

Brisk and cheerful readiness

Example:  Let's all brush up on our Latin with alacrity, people!  Get your Trosetta Strome out of that closet, NOW!

Here is the link for the recording: 

https://youtube.com/live/1OoI6EJ2Z_A

See you next week!

Ana

Creativitas Scriptor

Link to the recording

https://youtu.be/NTngZ_W2L0k

Cognitive bias, A Killer Project and On The Road for Turkey Time - it's all in the giving at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

After a thoughtful invocation and a humorous pre- Halloween trifecta of jokes, TM The Tom launched us in Table Topics about Cognitive Bias, bequeathed to him by our late DTM Kip.

We were to discover that...

* TM Terri has an ingroup bias to one of her groups, where members understand parenting crazy offspring and even find humor in it.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam bought a typewriter B.S. (Before Selectrix) and was suffering from sunk cost bias, or giving up the $5 it cost you because today its cost is negative $100.

* TM Randolph experiences bystander effect out of not knowing, not from indifference, and thinks it's best left that way.

* TM Marie believes in the placebo effect because after all, it's all about attitude and centering prayer.

* DTM Mary Helen's mind is made up so please don't confuse her with the facts.  She suffers from acute confirmation bias.

We then moved on to (2) outstanding prepared speeches...

* Soon-to-be-officially crowned DTM Aleta definitely went through the wringer succumbing to her weakness for volunteering.  Her murder mystery party with casino involved resulted in a near-real-life murder, three downed dealers and croupiers and a hefty fund collection for a worthy cause.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* DTM Jim D. and his HOG did 50,000 motorcycle miles to alphabetical Florida city (except X which is vacant) and presented photographic evidence to quality.  The HOG raised over $4000 for underprivileged families.  

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Marie commended DTM Aleta for turning into Kenny Rogers' The Gambler and knowing when to fold 'em, and when to hold 'em   She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Chris praised DTM Jim for showing us a little bit of crazy indeed and his good use of slides.  A formal petition is under way in Tallahassee  to rename Yeehaw Junction,  Zeehaw Junction East.

As TM Pam pointed out, today's prepared speeches showed that the public speaking and leadership skills we acquire in Toastmasters are applied to worthy causes in our communities.

The Word of the Day was

LIE, verb or noun

Be or assume a horizontal resting position

As a noun: the way, direction or position in which something lies.

Example:  He was getting familiar with the lie of the streets.  

This word caused a chronic state of confusion in the group, between lay, lie, lied, laid.  TM Chris is working on a syllabus for a 40 minute workshop.  More will be revealed, and that is not a lie.

The link to the recording will be forthcoming.

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Pondering, What Does That Button Do and Communication Styles - aficionado morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We were led in a thought-provoking invocation by TM The Tom about listening rather than talking.

First-time Table Topics Master Jose had us thinking even deeper... We soon found out that...

* TM Jim G., like his fellow adult males around the planet, trembles in fear at the sound of 4 words from his wife "We need to talk".  It led to 25 years of married bliss.

* TM The Tom thinks what he believes is right but recognizes that others may not be in agreement.

* TM Marie chops onions vigorously and continuously to keep her tear ducts duly irrigated.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo differentiates living - grabbing life - versus existing - no joie de vivre, no raison d'etre, and other Frenchisms - while bending down to tie your shoes.

* TM Pam gets lost in reading books but lives versus exists by devouring boxes upon boxes of chocolates.  La visible difference!!

* I, Ana, believe that it's best to try and fail than never to try at all - one of the many childhood myths I had to unlearn.

* TM Aleta's best years were her mid thirties, when she stayed out of trouble but managed to have fun, fun, fun!!

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM Chris reminded us that life began in 2007, with the advent of the first I-Phone.  You can talk on it, play solitaire, share location, track your wandering husband, and fulfill a stalker's delight.  The trick is to STAY CURIOUS, friends!  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* A posthumous video of DTM Kip's speech was shown where he evolved from a dictatorial communication style in 2018 to a mellow, supportive, non-analytical style in 2021.  It worked much better to inspire EArlyBirds to do Pathways!  He Won Best Posthumous Speaker Award.

Regarding evaluations...

* TM Pam reminisced about the scary early days of computers and praised TM Chris for modeling excellent TM behavior.  Pam is poised to become DTM -Don't Time Me - in the blink of an eye.

* First time Evaluator TM Terri admired DTM Kip's exercise in introspection and it was a great learning experience for her.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.  Good job, Terri!

The Word of the Day was

AFICIONADO, noun

A devotee who likes or knows a lot about a subject.

Example:  Bulls are definitely not bullfight aficionados.

The link to the recording will be provided later on.

PS In this glitchy technological day, my GMail's underlining capability has disappeared into the void.  

See you next week,

Ana I.

Recap Aficionado