Overheard

When you do not want to see something, you can close your eyes. This simple action can protect you at least in part from cruel or inane scenes.

Human ears do not come with a closing mechanism, despite what you may think when you see some people's lobes. In everyday situations outside of a very loud but reassuringly OSHA compliant workplace or a heavy metal concert, you use your hands to shut out or dampen sound.

The blogster considers this unfair from both practical and philosophical points of view. Unless you wear in-ear protection, you look like a dork, and if you forget to bring it, it's your palms again, dorkier yet.
Philosophically speaking, it is another tiny bit of circumstantial evidence against "intelligent design", unless god had a prankster moment, saying to himself, 'well, this way they have to invent OSHA if they don't all want to be deaf by age 25'.

The blogster also has to admit that some of the most amusing moments he remembers have come from overhearing conversations.
We know of at least one man who made a good living by collecting overheard fragments of bar chit chat into best selling books. A Frenchman.

One such entertaining moment is from this year's carnival parade day. On the way home, we found ourselves a couple of yards behind a middle aged couple. They were very animated, not as sure footed as you'd expect on a normal day, the male half was carrying a bottle of beer, sipping from it during a break in the conversation.

The other day I saw the Mueller kid smoking pot on the porch again.

Marijuana is evil, said the male.

Junkies!

Addicted idiots, no self control, said the male, washing the insight down with a swig from the bottle.

I hate these pot smoking junkies.

Me too, really.