Day: October 8, 2023

High school revelation: Lyrics are poetry

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment

During a discussion about poetry way back in a high school English class, some kid lamented that few poets other than Rod McKuen — I told you this was way back — made a living writing the stuff.

Our teacher, however, disagreed, and pointed out that plenty of folks, including McKuen, make a comfortable living writing poetry as song lyrics. What then followed was a fascinating discussion of song lyrics through the years.

What also followed was my first taste of the bad American tendency to enjoy disparaging successful people. More than a few of my classmates had already formed opinions that McKuen was a hack, a purveyor of kitsch, and a populist phony. I lacked the courage to ask them how McKuen was any different from the Beatles.

Over the years, I’ve often recalled that day at Jefferson High School when encountering a particularly good song lyric. Like just a few days ago when Apple Music played on past my KDP Rodeo Days playlist and treated me to “I Don’t Feel That Way Anymore” by Danni Leigh.

I love these lyrics. . .

Well, I’d love to take my clothes off
and throw them on your floor.
And I would,
but I don’t feel that way anymore.

How about you? Have you discovered any lyrics lately that you like?

I love the turn of phrases in “I Don’t Feel That Way Anymore.”

The perplexing packaging plight of everyday items

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment
Photos of the packaging for Imodian A-D soft gels and Duracell CR2032 lithium batteries, both of which are a challenge to open.
I swear, the difficult-to-open packaging for both these products is enough to make you shit your pants.

Why, oh why, has accessing a CR2032 lithium battery become as complex as deciphering Morse code?

As if the extraction challenge weren’t enough, they’ve added a bitter coating to deter the adventurous kiddos from giving it a taste test. While I champion the safety-first approach, I’m left scratching my head when the same layer seems to revolt against some of my devices, including my beloved AirTags.

Ironically, there’s a quirky remedy to this. A dab of isopropyl alcohol or a swipe with a wet paper towel revives the battery’s spirit by washing off the bitter coating. And, in my moment of curiosity, I gave it a lick. It’s bitter, all right, but hardly the worst thing on the flavor spectrum.

Now, let’s shift gears to Imodium A-D soft gels, which come with their own catalog of woe. Because some folks have discovered that abusing these gels in high dosages produces opioid-like effects, there’s a federal restriction on the number you can buy at once.

In addition, the gel caps aren’t sold in bottles anymore but in blister packs that test my patience. The elaborate ritual to access just one gel cap feels like an intricate dance sequence. And I’m no Fred Astaire.

On the brighter side, the liquid version of Imodium is refreshingly user-friendly. Pop, pour, and done.

I’ll take a moment to mention a longstanding beef over the presence of combination prescription tablets with codeine and acetaminophen.

I’m one of those conspiracy-minded folks who think liver-toxic acetaminophen in the combo is less for the convenience of having both medications in one tablet and more for deterring those inclined to pop multiple pills recreationally. Why is this a deterrent? Because there’s a risk of destroying your liver with high doses of acetaminophen. I see no reason codeine and acetaminophen can’t be prescribed as separate medications.

To wrap up, while safety is paramount, there must be a middle ground. If using everyday items becomes a Herculean task, it’s time for creative rethinking.

Until then, you’ll find me here, wrestling with a battery pack, yearning for the days of more straightforward access.