Better Conversations Newsletter
"Raising the Standard of Conversation in Life"
Dr. Loren EkrothLoren Ekroth, Ph.D.
 
aka "Dr.Conversation" 
"The Silent Treatment"?
Loren Ekroth photo
Today's Contents
Alternate Formats?
Conversation Quotation
Barbed Ire
Word-a-Week
Words of Inspiration
La Triviata Quiz
"The Silent Treatment"?
Today's La Triviata Answer
"My Other Card" sample
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This Week's Issue:
April 28, 2011

Hello again, subscriber friend!

 

Today: A "Non-Article"

Read on.  
  
 
Loren Ekroth, publisher

[email protected]

Today's Contents

Words this issue: 626   Est. Read Time:  2.5 minutes 

 

1.   Alternate Formats?

2.   Conversation Quotation

3.   Barbed Ire

4.   Word-a-Week

5.   Words of Inspiration 

6.   La Triviata Quiz

7.   This Week's Non-Article:

8.   Today's La Triviata Answer

9.  Sample of "My Other Card" 

 

1.   Alternate Formats for Newsletter?

In reviewing reasons for unsubscribing, I learned that "I get too many emails" reason was in the majority.  A few months ago I introduced the short 1-minute "nugget" publication, and feedback was highly positive.  Since that time, I have published both formats every week.  Alas, I think that 2x per week is "too much of a good thing."  Subscribers who receive missives from me twice each week are tending to look for the unsubscribe box.

 

Therefore, I am going to experiment with alternating the 2 formats so that you'll receive only one each week.  Let's see how that works for you.

 

Your thoughts?  Please let me know:  [email protected]


2. Conversation Quotation     

"No one would talk much in society, if he knew how often he misunderstands others."   

 

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749 - 1832


3.  Barbed Ire

"As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand."

 

  --Josh Billings


4.  Word-a-Week:  wiki 

Pronunciation:  WIH-kee

 

From Hawaiian wikiwiki, which means "superfast."

English words beginning with wiki- proliferate:  wikipedia, wikileaks, wikihow, wikinomics.

Its adapted English meaning is "a collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it."  "Wikipedia" was best known among the wikis, but perhaps by now Wikileaks has surpassed its fame.  In any case, I like that our robust and inclusive American English borrows from any and all languages. 

 (Now I think I'll go have some kaukau, and tonight some pupus.)

 


5.   Words of Inspiration

 

Lyrics for "I'll Remember You" by Hawaiian-Chinese musician Kui Lee (1964)

 

I'll remember you
Long after this endless summer is gone
I'll be lonely, oh so lonely
Living only to remember you

 

I'll remember too
Your voice as soft as a warm summer breeze
Your sweet laughter mornings after
Ever after I'll remember you.

 


6. La Triviata Quiz 

Which of the following phrases was not written by Shakespeare?

 

a.    "wild goose chase" (Romeo and Juliet)

b.    "Greek to me"

c.    "into thin air"

d.   "eaten out of house and home"

 

(Check answer at end of today's article.) 


7.  "The Silent Treatment"? 

For the very first time in 9 years, I am skipping the article feature of "Better Conversations" to ask you which topics you'd like me to explore in future issues.  For example, "the silent treatment" is a topic I haven't written about, and several subscribers asked me to explore it.  Therefore, I will do so in the near future.

 

What's a topic or question you'd like me to write about?


8.  Today's La Triviata Answer

Which of the following phrases was not written by Shakespeare?

 

a.    "wild goose chase" (Romeo and Juliet)

b.    "Greek to me" (Julius Caesar)

c.    "into thin air" (The Tempest)

d.   "eaten out of house and home" (Henry IV, Part II)

 

Answer:  All of the above were written by Shakespeare, the most quoted author of all time.  He was born on April 23, 1564 and died on April 23, 1616.


 

9.  Sample Version of "My Other Card"


For readers who asked to see the layout for "Clever Business Cards" to use when you meet people who have run out of cards?  Here it is:

myothercard

My Other Card

 Basic information:  My Name, email, and Tel. 

Loren Ekroth �2011, all rights reserved


Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life. 


Contact at [email protected]