21 Interesting quotes by Edgar Allan Poe

05/12/2025 by

Today, I thought exploring some quotes by Edgar Allan Poe might be interesting.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and macabre.

Born in Boston in 1809, he was the first well-known American writer to earn a living solely through writing, which resulted in a financially difficult life and career.

Whatever you might think of his work, he was successful because his name and written work live on to this day.

So, take a few moments to consider these quotes, and please feel free to pass them on.

QUOTES BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
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Quotes by Edgar Allan Poe (1-10):

  1. Lord, help my poor soul.
  2. Stupidity is a talent for misconception.
  3. We loved with a love that was more than love.
  4. All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
  5. With me, poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.
  6. I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it.
  7. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary.
  8. The nose of a mob is its imagination. By this, at any time, it can be quietly led.
  9. Man’s real life is happy, chiefly because he is ever expecting that it soon will be so.
  10. To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.

Quotes by Edgar Allan Poe (11-21):

  1. If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered.
  2. All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.
  3. Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.
  4. They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
  5. The true genius shudders at incompleteness and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be.
  6. It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.
  7. There are few cases in which mere popularity should be considered a proper test of merit; but the case of song writing is, I think, one of the few.
  8. That pleasure, which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.
  9. The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true.
  10. In one case out of a hundred a point is excessively discussed because it is obscure; in the ninety-nine remaining it is obscure because it is excessively discussed.
  11. I need scarcely observe that a poem deserves its title only in as much as it excites, by elevating the soul. The value of the poem is in the ratio of this elevating excitement.
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How will your life be measured? Here’s what matters most

05/11/2025 by

How will your life be measured? A philosophical question, perhaps, but an interesting one nevertheless.

Some time ago, I attended the funeral of someone whom I’d known quite well professionally but not at all socially. Someone I liked and respected, but I wouldn’t claim to have known them well overall. Nevertheless, funerals are a time to reflect on someone’s life. A time to consider the impact they’ve had on other people throughout their lives.

The funeral service was held at a large, traditional church in London, and it was crowded.

Listening to the eulogy and associated readings, I began to appreciate how much my late colleague had meant to so many people. It’s fair to say that she meant a lot to many people. The lives of so many people had clearly been blessed by her presence in them.

This experience made me think.

How-will-your-life-be-measured
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So in life, what matters most?

As human beings, we’re all driven to achieve and leave our mark on life before we pass on.

However, we do tend to measure our impact on life in terms of careers and money. With those things, it’s fairly easy to keep score, wouldn’t you agree, dear reader?

Careers provide tangible evidence of achievement, or so it seems.

So, climbing the greasy pole and increasing our wealth tend to be the measures we use when we consider the idea of success. Nevertheless, as I sat there listening that day, I had to ask myself, are these things the most appropriate measure of the lives we lead?

Anything we do that only has a long-term payoff, we tend not to measure because there’s no immediate evidence of achievement. We can’t see the immediate impact of the small things we do, so we don’t believe they matter much.

However, I realized that day that they do matter. They matter a great deal.

It’s all in the little things we do:

A random act of kindness might not mean much to us, but to the recipient of our action, it could mean the world. It could have had a profound effect on that individual. And it might prove to be a life-changing experience for that person.

So, how will any of us be remembered?

When our lives have passed, how will they talk about us at our funerals?

People won’t talk about the size of our house or our car, but they will talk about how we made them feel. They won’t talk about the importance of our jobs, but they will mention how we helped them at a difficult time in their lives.

Perhaps they’ll talk about how we mentored them and how they’re a better person because of the impact we had on their lives. Maybe they’ll say they enjoyed our company, and they’ll talk about how they looked forward to seeing us whenever we were around. Perhaps they’ll just mention how we made them smile.

When you think about it, why would we want to be remembered in any other way?

Material possessions are meaningless:

Let’s face it, material possessions are meaningless. Equally successful careers are as much a reflection of good fortune as they are of anything we did to justify them.

That’s not the case when it comes to the impact we have on the lives of others.

The help we give and the kindness we show are all down to us and our actions day-to-day.

So, how many people we’ve helped seems to me like a much better measure of success than the size of the car we drive or the size of the house in which we live.

Real success in life comes down to the difference we make. How we’ve touched the lives of other people.

Certainly, that’s how I think we’ll be remembered by those who knew us, however much we’re focused on careers, money, and material possessions.

How great would it be to be remembered fondly and with respect by all who crossed our paths during our lives?

How will your life be measured?

I remembered my thoughts that day at the funeral when I stumbled upon this video of a presentation given by Clay Christensen at TEDxBoston.

It offers a great perspective on how your life will be measured.

I recommend you watch this video, as it’s well worth a little bit of your time.

And after you’ve watched it, I would suggest you reflect on this question:

Should the measure of our lives be just about money and achievement, or should it be more about the lives we’ve touched and the people whose lives are better for us having been in them?

How do you want to be remembered, dear reader?

For me, life’s measure should be in terms of how I’ve touched the lives of other people and not money, career, and the size of my house.

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31 sarcastic responses to rude people

05/10/2025 by

Looking for some sarcastic responses to rude people, dear reader?

If you’ve ever worked in the retail trade, as I have, you’ll have encountered plenty of rude people.

That said, just travelling on public transport these days can expose us all to rude people.

Well, if you meet any, it’s always helpful to have some ammunition to respond.

So today I’ve put together 31 sarcastic responses to rude people that you might find come in useful in the weeks and months ahead. They might just make you smile, too.

So take a few moments to enjoy them all, and please feel free to pass them on.

sarcastic responses to rude people
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Sarcastic responses to rude people (1-10):

  1. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were such an expert.
  2. Well, thanks for your input. I’ll be sure to ignore it.
  3. Oh, pardon me. I didn’t realize you made all the rules.
  4. My bad! I didn’t realize my sarcasm would be lost on you.
  5. Well, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize I was speaking to a genius.
  6. Excuse me, I didn’t realize I was dealing with a professional critic.
  7. Well, thank you for that germ of wisdom. I’m sure it will come in handy.
  8. Gee, I’m sorry I didn’t realize you were the only person on the planet who really matters.
  9. Wow, your rudeness is truly impressive. I’m sure it takes a lot of effort to be such a complete jerk.
  10. Thanks for your advice. It’s always nice to have an opinion from someone who thinks they’re an expert.

Sarcastic responses to rude people (11-20):

  1. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was talking to an encyclopaedia.
  2. That’s a great point. And here’s me thinking you were just stupid.
  3. I’m sorry if I dared to have an opinion of my own. I’ll make sure to only speak when spoken to next time.
  4. I can only apologize for not being a mind reader. I’ll be sure to work on my telepathy skills before we meet again.
  5. Thank you for your valuable feedback. I’ll be sure to take it into consideration as I strive to be an even worse person.
  6. Your kind words are truly appreciated. I’ll be sure to add them to the list of reasons why I never want to interact with you again.
  7. Clearly, I should have recognised that you were in a bad mood before you took it out on me. I’ll be sure to avoid you next time.
  8. Well, I apologize if my presence offends you. I’ll be sure to stay out of your sight next time, so as not to disrupt your perfect world.
  9. Thank you for your generous gift of insults and disrespect. I’ll treasure it always and strive to be a more worthy recipient of your abuse.
  10. Oh, thank you for reminding me of my place. I’ll be sure to remember that people in jobs like mine are unworthy of kindness and respect.

Sarcastic responses to rude people (21-31):

  1. Who died and made you the boss?
  2. Goodness, I didn’t realize I was dealing with a mind reader.
  3. If only I’d known you were such an authority on this subject.
  4. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize being rude was part of the conversation.
  5. Now, that’s an interesting perspective. I’m sure it will help me grow.
  6. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you ruled the universe and were entitled to treat others like dirt.
  7. Clearly, my mere existence is an inconvenience to you. I’ll try to be more obsequious next time we meet.
  8. I can only apologize for not meeting your high standards of perfection. I’ll try harder to be more like you in the future.
  9. Excuse me if I didn’t live up to your expectations. I’ll try to be more incompetent next time to suit your needs better.
  10. I’m sorry for not being telepathic and knowing exactly what you wanted without you having to communicate it. I’ll try to do better next time.
  11. Forgive me! I didn’t realize you were such an authority on everything. Do continue to enlighten me with your vast knowledge and excellent manners.
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If any of these sarcastic responses to rude people made you smile, please share them with your friends on social media.

When you share, everyone wins. It’s always a good idea to pass on the smiles.

Put a smile on someone else’s face, and you’ve done your good deed for the day. So go on, please share this post now.

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Please share:

So dear reader, was this post amusing and worth a few minutes of your time?

If any of these sarcastic responses to rude people made you smile, please share them with your friends on social media.

When you share, everyone wins. It’s always a good idea to pass on the smiles.

Put a smile on someone else’s face, and you’ve done your good deed for the day. So go on, please share this post now.

Then perhaps you’d like some more laughs? Then just click on the links below.

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75 hilarious quotes you’ll just love

05/09/2025 by

If hilarious quotes are what you’re seeking today, dear reader, then I have curated 75 excellent ones for you.

Some are by authors unknown, and some are by famous people. However, they’re all witty and fun.

So, buckle up and see how many of these you can relate to. Either way, enjoy them all.

And feel free to share them with your friends.

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Hilarious Quotes (1 – 25):

I’m not weird; I’m a limited edition. ~Author Unknown

I can resist everything except temptation. ~Oscar Wilde

My superpower is overthinking everything. ~Author Unknown

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. ~Steve Martin

My superpower is my ability to trip over thin air. ~Author Unknown

I’m on a seafood diet. I see food, and I eat it. ~Author Unknown

My hobbies are mostly breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ~Author Unknown

I’m not trying to be difficult; it comes naturally. ~Author Unknown

The only thing I consistently enjoy is avoiding work. ~Author Unknown

I’m not stubborn. I’m just convinced I’m always right. ~Author Unknown

My exercise routine? Does walking to the fridge count? ~Author Unknown

I’m not rude; I’m just honest with a side of sarcasm. ~Author Unknown

My goal at work? Survive until it’s time to go home. ~Author Unknown

You can’t have everything. Where would you put it? ~Steven Wright

My superpower is making food disappear. ~Author Unknown

I’m not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing. ~Author Unknown

If you die in an elevator, be sure to push the UP button. ~Jack Handey

Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. ~ Erma Bombeck

If a book about failure doesn’t sell, is it a success? ~Jerry Seinfeld

The best way to lie is to tell the truth, carefully edited. ~Sacha Guitry

I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it. ~Groucho Marx

I’m so good at sleeping, I can do it with my eyes closed. ~Author Unknown

The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets. ~Al McGuire

They said, Follow your heart. I did, and it led me to the fridge. ~Author Unknown

I’m not single. I’m in a committed relationship with freedom and fun. ~Author Unknown

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Hilarious Quotes (26 – 50):

I’m not lost. I’ve just been taking the scenic route for the past three hours. ~Author Unknown

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well. ~Mark Twain

The trouble with being in a rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat. ~Lily Tomlin

I’m not clumsy; the floor hates me, the tables and chairs are bullies, and the walls get in my way. ~Author Unknown

I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. ~Rita Rudner

The early bird may get the worm, but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese. And wouldn’t you rather have cheese? ~Author Unknown

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get to the office. ~Robert Frost  

My therapist told me the way to achieve inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished two bags of chips and a large pizza. I feel great. ~Author Unknown

I’m not saying I’m Batman, but has anyone ever seen me and Batman in the same room together? ~Author Unknown

I’m not a control freak. It’s just better if we do things my way. ~Author Unknown

I’m not arguing. I’m just trying to explain why I’m right. ~Author Unknown

I used to jog, but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass. ~David Lee Roth

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong. ~Charles Wadsworth   ???

I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early. ~Charles Lamb

I’m not a procrastinator. I’m just extremely thorough about my do-it-later list. ~Author Unknown

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it. ~W.C. Fields

I’m not saying I was addicted to social media, but I miss my imaginary friends. ~Author Unknown

I’m not a morning person, or a noon person, or a night person. I’m just a tired person. ~Author Unknown

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. ~George Burns

If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments. ~Earl Wilson

If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning. ~Catherine the Great

I’m not saying I’m old, but I remember when the Dead Sea was just sick. ~Author Unknown

I’m not a quitter. It’s just that I can never see the point in carrying on. ~Author Unknown

I’m not crazy; my reality is just different from yours. ~Author Unknown

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. ~George Carlin

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Hilarious Quotes (51 – 75):

Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia. ~Charles M. Schulz

I’m not a know-it-all, but I could give Google a run for its money. ~Author Unknown

The difference between a politician and a catfish is that a catfish is good for something. ~Will Rogers

I’m not ignoring you; I’m just very good at pretending you’re not there. ~Author Unknown

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. ~Mark Twain

My mind works like lightning; one brilliant flash and then it’s gone. ~Author Unknown

The problem with reality is the lack of background music. ~Author Unknown

The early worm gets eaten by the early bird. So, sleep in. ~Author Unknown

Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it. ~Author Unknown

For me, a balanced diet would be a blueberry muffin in each hand. ~Author Unknown

I’m not procrastinating; I’m just highly motivated to do nothing. ~Author Unknown

Life is what happens while you are busy scrolling through social media. ~Author Unknown

I’m not a bad influence. I just thought you might enjoy taking a walk on the wild side. ~Author Unknown

I’m not an expert on anything, but that doesn’t stop me from posting my opinion on every subject, however complicated. ~Author Unknown

I’m not responsible for what my face does when you talk. ~Author Unknown

I may not be a superhero, but I can assemble IKEA furniture, eventually. ~Author Unknown

My diet plan: make healthy choices, then reward myself with cake. ~Author Unknown

If the early bird gets the worm, he’s welcome to it. I’m not getting out of bed just for a worm. ~Author Unknown

Just because it’s dismissed as a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it’s untrue. ~Author Unknown

I’m not a hoarder; I’m just a collector of things I might need someday. ~Author Unknown

Between two evils, I always pick the one I’ve never tried before. ~Mae West

Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room. ~Dr. Strangelove

You know you’ve reached middle age when you’re cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of by the police. ~Joan Rivers

A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain. ~Graham Norton

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll be a philosopher. ~Socrates

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31 Interesting quotes by Lucius B. Wack

05/08/2025 by

If it’s interesting quotes you’re looking for, dear reader, then I have 31 more excellent observations from my good friend Lucius B. Wack.

Regular readers will know that a couple of my recent posts have curated quotes from this modern philosopher.

As previously stated, Lucius B. Wack is someone I admire, so I thought it might be interesting to share some more of his thoughts on life today.

So, read these interesting quotes and see what you think.

I hope you find these observations about modern life in the Western world interesting.

If you do, then please feel free to pass them on to your friends.

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Interesting Quotes (1-10):

Who will ever get justice from the mob?

Policy cannot succeed if it’s based on falsehoods.

If the price is your peace of mind, it’s far too expensive.

To live is a beautiful thing. Certainly, it’s better than the alternative.

Work should serve us. We shouldn’t be slaves to our work. Life’s too short. 

There’s no such thing as government money. There’s only taxpayers’ money.

Today will be as productive as you choose to make it. So, make it very productive. 

Why is it that the most hateful people are always those who are the first to accuse others of hate?

The problem with those people who have an unshakeable belief that they know best is that usually, they don’t. 

You won’t get the authentic truth from anyone supported by big money. He (or she) who has the gold makes the rules.

Interesting Quotes (11-20):

Beware of those who love to parade their virtue. Behind every virtuous mask, there’s usually an ugly attitude. 

Life’s full of problems, and we all get our share. No one’s life is perfect, regardless of any indications to the contrary. 

When one is so convinced by the virtue of one’s own opinion, it’s easy to forget that one might be hopelessly wrong.

The cavalry won’t be coming to save you. So, if you want your life to improve, you’ll need to work on saving yourself.

If success is your aim, you must have a definite sense of purpose. Know your why, and you’ll find a way to get where you want to go. 

Beware those who will interpret what you say through the prism of their prejudices and seek to use their distorted views against you.

If it matters, we must make time. Everyone has the same number of hours in the week. How we use them depends on our priorities.

Failure is only failure if we fail to learn from it. Otherwise, it’s a useful lesson that’s the basis of that valuable commodity known as experience. 

When someone says, “Bow to my demands or face the consequences,” there’s only one appropriate response. It’s two words, the second of which is off. 

Have a go at anything, and you’ll make mistakes. However, you’ll learn from those mistakes, and over time you’ll hone your skills. Mastery starts with having a go.

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Interesting Quotes (21-31):

You don’t have to follow your heart, but one day you’ll wish you did. Better to try and fail than spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been.

Whatever you choose to say, regardless of how accurate or true it is, there will always be someone on social media who takes exception to it. That’s life today.

Some people are so blinded by what they believe is virtue in their own opinions that they cannot begin to appreciate whether alternative opinions held by others have merit too.

You may have a sound argument, but if it runs counter to the agenda of those with more sinister aims, they’ll simply dismiss you as a bigot. It’s the classic way of shutting down debate.

They strive to remove as many freedoms from ordinary folk as they can. They have a religious conviction in their own virtue and feel superior to what they see as the stupidity of the little people. 

If you’re in charge, you’re not there to be liked. You’re there to be effective. If you’re effective, you’ll get respect. If you try to court popularity, you won’t be effective, and ultimately, you will fail.

How many serious problems in this world have been caused by politicians making decisions that make no sense but have been driven by their need to be seen as virtuous?

Why do we give so many stupid people so much power over our lives? Wherever you look in politics and public institutions, there are stupid people who should never be anywhere near the levers of power.

Each of us has a different journey through life, and one person’s journey is not necessarily better or worse than another’s. It’s the choices we make and how we deal with the cards we’re dealt that will dictate our life experiences. 

The greatest tyranny is the status quo. Vested interests don’t like to be challenged because they fear someone taking their lunch. They have no intention of sharing the cake with anyone else. That’s why they must be challenged constantly. 

Be prepared to stand and fight if it matters to you, or learn to accept that which would otherwise be unacceptable. If you don’t make a stand, you must bow to those who pursue their agenda even when it runs counter to the interests of the many.

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6 short story jokes guaranteed to make you laugh

05/07/2025 by
6 short story jokes

Here are six short story jokes guaranteed to make you laugh. They made me howl with laughter, so I hope they’ll brighten your day too. Enjoy them all.

SHORT STORY JOKES
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Short story jokes:

1. The Deaf Debt Collector:

The Mafia was looking for a new man to make weekly collections from all the private businesses subject to their protection racket.

As they were feeling the heat from the Police, they decided to use someone deaf for the job. If someone deaf gets caught, they figured he wouldn’t be able to communicate easily with the Police.

In his first week on the job, the deaf debt collector picks up over $50,000. That’s a lot of money, he thinks, and the deaf debt collector’s greed gets the better of him. He decides to keep the money, and he stashes it in a safe place.

However, it’s not long before the Mafia realises that the collection is late and they send out a couple of heavies to look for the deaf debt collector.

They soon find him and ask the deaf debt collector what he’s done with the money. The problem is that the deaf debt collector can’t communicate with them either, so the Mafia heavies drag him off to an interpreter.

They get to a sign language interpreter and the leading Mafioso then says, “I want ya to ask him where da money is.“

So the interpreter signs, “Where’s the money?“

The deaf debt collector tries to bluff his way out of his dilemma by saying, “I don’t know what they’re talking about.“

The interpreter looks at the Mafioso and says, “He’s saying he doesn’t know what you’re talking about.“

The Mafioso reaches into his coat and pulls out a .44 Remington Magnum handgun, which he points at the forehead of the deaf debt collector, and with real menace in his voice, he says to the interpreter, “Ask him where da money is, and tell him I won’t be askin’ again.“

So the interpreter immediately signs, “Where’s the money? He says he won’t ask again, and I think he’s serious.“

At this point, the deaf debt collector’s nerve goes, and he signs, “The $50,000 is in Central Park, hidden in the third tree stump on the left by the gate near 72nd Street on Central Park West, and close to Strawberry Fields.“

Getting impatient, the Mafioso looks at the interpreter and asks, “What did he say?”

The interpreter looks at the Mafioso and says, “He says he still doesn’t know what you’re talking about, he thinks you’re an idiot, and he doesn’t think you’ve got the balls to pull the trigger!“

2. The Balloonist and the Programmer:

A man is flying in a hot air balloon, and soon realizes he’s completely lost.

So he starts reducing height, and suddenly spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon a little further and then shouts: “Excuse me, sir, I was wondering, can you tell me where I am? I seem to be lost.“

Taken by surprise, the man looks up and replies, “Yeah, that’s easy. You’re in a hot air balloon, hovering about 25 feet above this field.“

“You must work in IT. I’m guessing you work as a programmer?” says the balloonist.

“I do and yes, I am,” replies the man, looking a little surprised, “How did you guess?“

“Well,” says the balloonist, “everything you’ve told me is technically correct, but it’s of no actual use to anyone.“

The programmer smiles and then says, “Ah, you must be the CEO of a business.“

“Yes, I am,” replies the balloonist, “but how could you know that?“

“That’s easy,” says the programmer. “You don’t know where you are or where you’re going, but you expect me to be able to help. You’re in the same position you were before we met, but now it’s my fault.“

3. The Tiger, the Man, and God:

A man is being chased by a tiger.

He’s running as hard as he can, and eventually, he gets to the edge of a cliff with the tiger still in hot pursuit.

The man looks over the edge of the cliff and sees a branch growing out of the side of the cliff just a few feet down.

Having no other option, the man jumps down and grabs the branch just before the tiger arrives at the cliff edge.

The tiger is growling viciously and pacing backwards and forwards along the cliff edge. The man sighs with relief, as he thinks he’s outsmarted the tiger.

At that moment, a little mouse appears from a crevice in the rock, and it begins to chew on the branch.

The man looks down at what is a drop of hundreds of feet. If he falls, it will surely result in his death. So he looks to the heavens and yelled out, “Dear God, if you are there, please help. I will do anything you ask, but please help.“

“You say you will do anything I ask?” Without it being questioned?” a voice booms from heaven above.

The man is surprised to get an immediate reply to his plea, but he yells back, “I will gladly do anything you ask, but please save me.“

“There’s one way to save you, but it will take courage and faith,” says the voice from above.

The man can feel the branch begin to weaken as the mouse continues to gnaw at it, and he can see the tiger still pacing around, growling at the cliff’s edge a few feet above him.

“Please, Lord, tell me what I must do, and I will do it. Your will is my command,” shouts the man in despair.

“All right then, let go of the branch,” the voice from heaven responds.

The man looks down to a fall of hundreds of feet and certain death. He looks up at the hungry tiger a few feet above him, and then he looks at the mouse still chewing on the branch.

He then looks up at the heavens again and yells, “Is there no one else up there I can speak to?“

SHORT STORY JOKES

4. The Mercedes Dealership:

An elderly man returned to a Mercedes dealership to find the salesman had just sold the car he was interested in to a beautiful, busty blonde.

“I thought you said you would hold that car for me until I raised the $75.000 asking price,” said the old man. “And now I’m told you just closed a deal for $65,000 to that lovely young lady over there. You insisted there could be no discount on this model.“

“Well, sir, what can I tell you?” replied the salesman, grinning. “She had the cash in her hand, and just look at her, she’s stunningly beautiful. How could I resist?“.

At this point, the young lady approached the old man and handed him the keys to the car.

“There you go,” she said. “I told you I could get this joker to drop his asking price. See you later, Grandpa.”

Moral of the story: Never mess with old people!

5. The Genie:

A customer service agent, an administration clerk, and their manager are all walking to lunch when they stumble upon an old, antique oil lamp.

Knowing that an old oil lamp can often house a genie, they enthusiastically rub it in hopeful anticipation.

Sure enough, out pops a genie.

“I am the genie of the lamp, and you can each have one wish,” says the genie.

“Me first! Me first!” says the customer service agent. “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.”

There’s a poof sound followed by a cloud of smoke, and the customer service agent’s gone.

“Me next! Me next!” says the administration clerk. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.”

There’s a poof sound followed by a cloud of smoke, and the administration clerk’s gone

The genie then looks at the manager and says, “OK, Boss, I guess it’s your turn now.”

“I want those two back in the office in exactly 45 minutes,” the manager responds.

Moral of the story: It’s always a good idea to let your boss go first.

6. The Mexican Maid:

A Mexican maid asks for a pay rise from the lady of the house.

The wife is not happy about this, so she decides to talk to the maid about her request for more money.

“Now, Maria, why do you want more money?” she asks.

“Well, Señora, there are three reasons why I wanna increase,” replies the maid. “The first eez that I iron better than you.“

“Maria, who said you iron better than me?” responds the wife.

“Jor huzban he say so Señora,” Maria replies.

“Oh, he did, did he?” says the wife. “And what is your second reason?”

“The second reason eez that I am a better cook than you,” Maria responds.

“That’s nonsense. Who said you’re a better cook than me?” asks the wife.

“Jor hozban deed Señora,” Maria replies.

“Oh, he did, did he?”  the wife responds, getting increasingly agitated.

“The third reason eez that I ama better than you in da bed,” says Maria.

The lady of the house is now angry and, through gritted teeth, she asks, “And did my husband say that too?“

“No Señora, the gardener deed,” Maria replies.

“OK, how much is it you want?” asks her employer.

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29 jokes for 10-year-olds that’ll amuse adults too

05/06/2025 by

There’s an inner child in all of us. If you love childish jokes, here are 29 hilarious jokes for 10-year-olds that I’m confident will amuse many adults too.

Enjoy them all and then pass them on to the children in your life and the adults who’ve not lost their inner child.

And have a great day too.

JOKES FOR 10-YEAR-OLDS

Jokes for 10-year-olds (1-10):

  1. What kind of exercise do lazy people do? Diddly-squats.
  2. What did the pirate say on his 80th birthday? Aye matey!
  3. Where do you manufacture average things? A satisfactory.
  4. How do you drown a hipster? Throw him in the mainstream.
  5. I broke my finger last week but, on the other hand, I’m fine.
  6. What sits at the bottom of the sea twitching? A nervous wreck.
  7. Why did the chicken go to the séance? To get to the other side.
  8. What do you call a dog that does magic tricks? A labracadabrador.
  9. What’s the best thing about Switzerland? Well, the flag’s a big plus.
  10. Why do we tell actors to break a leg? Because every play has a cast.

Jokes for 10-year-olds (11-20):

  1. No one is completely useless. We can always serve as a warning to others.
  2. Why don’t math majors go to parties? Because they don’t drink and derive.
  3. What do you call a line of rabbits hopping backwards? A receding hare-line.
  4. A parachute isn’t essential for skydiving, unless you want to go skydiving twice.
  5. Why should you never date a tennis player? Because love means nothing to them.
  6. You can’t lose a homing pigeon. If it doesn’t come home, it was only a pigeon.
  7. Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut? He just needed a little space.
  8. What do you call a dog with no legs? It doesn’t really matter because it’s not going to come to you anyway.
  9. My girlfriend accused me of being immature, so I told her she couldn’t play with my toys anymore.
  10. Women used to call me ugly until they realised how much I earn. Now they call me ugly and poor.

Jokes for 10-year-olds (21-29):

  1. What did Charles Dickens keep in his spice rack? The best of thymes; the worst of thymes.
  2. What did the bald man say when he was given a comb as a gift? Thanks, I’ll never part with that.”
  3. Verdana, Arial and Times New Roman walked into a bar and the bartender shouts, “Sorry but we don’t serve your type!”
  4. I saw a guy spill his Scrabble game all over the sidewalk and I asked him, “What’s the word on the street?”
  5. A Roman legionnaire walked into a bar, holds up two fingers and says to the bartender, “Five beers please.”
  6. A woman in labor suddenly started shouting, “Couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, didn’t, can’t, won’t ………” The doctor smiled and said, “Don’t worry mam, they’re just contractions.”
  7. A woman says, “Help me, doctor, I’m addicted to Twitter.” The doctor smiled and said, “I’m sorry, I’m not following you.”
  8. The Preacher said to John, “Come forth and you’ll receive eternal life.” Unfortunately, John came fifth but he did win a year’s supply of Todd’s Snickerdoodles.
  9. A bear walks into a bar and says, “Give me a vodka and ………..Coke please.” The bartender says, “Why the big pause?” The bear shrugs and says, “I don’t know, I was born with them.”

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If any of these jokes for 10-year-olds made you smile, please share this post with your children, as well as your friends on social media.

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Put a smile on someone else’s face, and you’ve done your good deed for the day. So go on, please share this post now.

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29 JOKES FOR 10-YEAR-OLDS
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Tommy Atkins – A Poem and Reflection on VE DAY’s 80th Anniversary

05/05/2025 by

Thank you, Tommy Atkins:

This week marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in (VE) Europe Day, so let’s show some respect for Tommy Atkins. 

VE Day was, of course, a celebration. It marked the end of 6 long years of war in Europe in 1945.

It was a celebration in which our nation gave thanks to the brave men and women who served their country and defeated Fascism.

Yes, of course, many nations played their part, and we must be grateful to all of them too.

VE Day also marked the dawn of a new era. An era in which anything seemed possible.

We can look back now and make our own judgement about whether we’ve made the most of those post-World War II opportunities, but that really doesn’t matter.

What matters this week, and every week, is that we pay our respects to those who served.

There are few of them left now, so this is our last chance to thank those who gave their all for our freedom. Sadly, we must remember that many paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The world may not be perfect, but it’s better than it might have been. And it’s thanks to those brave men and women that it is.

As a mark of respect, I wrote today’s poem entitled Tommy Atkins.

In case you’re wondering, Tommy Atkins is a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army. Tommy is the everyman who served in Britain’s army.

So, let’s give thanks to Tommy and all who served to give us the freedom we still enjoy today.

Tommy Atkins Poem:

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37 sarcasm examples for when you need that little zinger

05/04/2025 by

If you’ve ever worked in retail or some other customer-facing role, dear reader, you’ll know that people can be challenging. That’s life. And sometimes you wish you’d had that perfect little zinger to let people know what you think of them. Well, here are 37 sarcasm examples that might just make you smile. And might be useful next time you need that little zinger.

Enjoy them all and feel free to pass them on.

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SARCASM EXAMPLES

How I envy people who’ve never met you.

Goodness, aren’t you as sharp as a marble?

Do you enjoy humiliating yourself in public?

You really should come with a warning label.

You’re like a penny: two-faced and worthless.

Now aren’t you just the walking motivational poster?

I’m not rude. I just say what everyone else is thinking.

If I had the crayons, I’d willingly try to explain it to you.

You’re about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

I wasn’t ignoring you. I was simply prioritizing my sanity.

I see you’re still an idiot. Well, at least, you’re consistent.

It’s amazing how you can talk so much and yet say so little.

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If you keep talking, eventually you might say something intelligent.

You do realise that you have delusions of adequacy, don’t you?

When I want to hear from a nobody, I’ll be sure to give you a call.

Why don’t you slip into something more comfortable, like a coma?

Yes, of course, I’d like to help you out. Which way did you come in?

I wish I had a lower IQ, then I might enjoy our conversations more.

You’re the reason they must put instructions on shampoo bottles.

I’d give you a nasty look, but I can see that you’ve already got one.

The last time I saw something as ugly as you, I had to pay admission.

I’m not saying you’re ugly, but your bathroom mirror must be scared.

If you’re waiting for me to care, I hope you brought something to read.

I wasn’t insulting you. I was simply explaining how other people see you.

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You know, I thought of you this morning. It reminded me to take out the trash.

There can be few things in life more enjoyable than watching you leave a room.

Clearly, you have an inferiority complex, and, let me tell you, it’s fully justified.

If you want to be taken seriously, you’ll need to speak with someone other than me.

I’m not saying you’re an idiot, but your village just called to say they’re missing you.

If you had a dollar for every intelligent comment you’ve ever made, you’d be broke.

Has anyone ever told you that you have a face for radio and a voice for silent movies?

If only the gene pool had had a lifeguard, you wouldn’t be here now, ruining my morning.

Do I think you’re exceptional? Well, certainly, I’ve never met anyone quite as stupid as you.

You really are like a software update. Whenever I see you, I think, ‘Oh no, please, not now!’

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard you say something stupid, I’d be a very wealthy man.

I can only assume that you were born on a highway because that’s usually where accidents happen.

I’m not being mean, but I did hear that your birth certificate is an apology letter from the Prophylactic Emporium.

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If any of these sarcasm examples made you smile, then please share this post with your friends on social media.

When you share, everyone wins. It’s always a good idea to pass on the smiles.

Put a smile on someone else’s face, and you’ve done your good deed for the day.

So go on, please share this post now.

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Mastering Prompt Engineering for the AI Revolution

05/04/2025 by

Introduction:

Prompt engineering will be an essential skill for the modern age.

The world is changing, and the need for skills will change. Skills that were once in high demand will be less so, if required at all, and new skills will be needed, as technology and the nature of work changes.

Work is just doing stuff for others in exchange for money.

Needs Change:

The stuff others will need doing will change as the world changes. And doing that stuff will require new skills.

The question is:

“What skills will be required for this changing world, and how do you ensure you develop them on time to keep yourself in demand by employers and people who need stuff done?”

Where will the opportunities of the future be?

This article explores one such opportunity, known as Prompt Engineering.

Courses in Prompt Engineering:

If you know these are skills you want to develop, at this point, you can jump straight to potential courses that might appeal. Click the buttons here:

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If you’ve yet to be convinced, please read on.

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The Art of the Prompt:

Many readers will know that artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic fantasy but an increasingly integrated reality.

From sophisticated language models capable of generating human-like text to intricate algorithms powering decision-making processes, AI’s potential is vast and will continue to expand.

However, unlocking this potential is not simply a matter of possessing the technology itself. It will depend heavily on our ability to effectively communicate with these intelligent systems, to articulate our needs and desires in a language these systems can understand and act upon.

This is where the growing field of AI Prompt Engineering emerges, not just as a technical niche, but as a fundamental skill everyone will need for navigating and leveraging the power of AI, making its development a worthwhile endeavour for individuals and organisations alike.  

Prompt Engineering:

Essentially, prompt engineering is the art and science of crafting effective prompts – specific instructions, questions, or initial text provided to an AI model – to generate useful, appropriate and high-quality responses from these AI tools.

This is not simply a matter of typing a general query into a search bar, as would be the case with a search engine like Google or Bing. This is about being more specific and understanding the nuances of language, context, and model behaviour when it comes to using these AI tools.

A poorly crafted prompt can lead to irrelevant, inaccurate, or even nonsensical responses, effectively rendering the AI tools’ capabilities useless.

Conversely, a well-engineered prompt acts as a key, unlocking the AI’s latent abilities to generate insightful analysis, creative content, efficient code, and a myriad of other valuable outcomes.  

Developing Prompt Engineering Skills:

Developing prompt engineering skills is essential for the following reasons:

1. Enhances productivity and efficiency:

In various professional domains, from content creation and marketing to research and software development, AI tools are becoming indispensable.

The ability to formulate precise prompts translates directly into faster turnaround times and higher quality results.

Instead of spending hours refining AI outputs or iterating through irrelevant suggestions, a skilled prompt engineer can guide the AI to deliver targeted information or generate specific content with remarkable efficiency.

This not only saves time and resources, but it also empowers individuals to focus on higher-level strategic thinking and creative endeavours.  

2. Unlocks the full potential of AI models:

AI models are trained on massive datasets and possess a wealth of knowledge and capabilities. However, accessing this potential effectively requires skilled prompting.

Just as a skilled interviewer can extract deeper insights from a subject through carefully constructed questions, a proficient prompt engineer can extract more nuanced, creative, and insightful responses from an AI tool.

This allows users to go beyond surface-level interactions and leverage the AI for complex problem-solving, innovative idea generation, and the exploration of novel perspectives.  

3. Better human-AI collaboration:

As AI becomes more integrated into our workflows, the ability to communicate effectively with these systems will be crucial for seamless collaboration.

Understanding how different prompts influence AI behaviour allows individuals to work in tandem with AI, leveraging its strengths while mitigating its limitations.

This collaborative synergy can lead to more innovative solutions and more efficient workflows than either humans or AI could achieve in isolation.  

4. Understanding of AI capabilities and limitations:

Through experimentation and refinement of prompts, individuals gain valuable insights into how different AI models function, their strengths and weaknesses, and the factors that influence their output.

This understanding is crucial for responsible and effective AI adoption, allowing users to identify appropriate use cases, anticipate potential biases, and critically evaluate the information generated.  

5. Valuable and sought-after professional skill:

As organisations across various industries recognise the transformative potential of AI, the demand for individuals who can effectively harness this power will grow rapidly.

Proficiency in prompt engineering can open doors to new career opportunities in fields such as AI consulting, content strategy, research analysis, and software development, making it a significant asset in the modern job market.  

Developing prompt engineering skills:

So, how do we develop these crucial skills and potentially become a certified exponent of prompt engineering?

While the field is still evolving in terms of formal certifications, a structured approach can significantly accelerate the learning process.

Here’s a basic primer on how one could develop these skills:

(i) Foundational Understanding of AI Language Models:

The first step involves gaining a basic understanding of how large language models (LLMs) work.

That’s not to suggest that we must take a deep technical dive into neural network architectures, but rather we must gain a conceptual grasp of how these models process text, learn patterns, and generate responses.

Familiarity with concepts like tokenisation, attention mechanisms, and the training data’s influence on model behaviour can provide a valuable framework for understanding why certain prompts are more effective than others.

Numerous online resources, introductory courses on natural language processing, and even accessible explanations of LLMs can provide this foundational knowledge.  

(ii) Hands-on Experimentation with Different AI Platforms:

The most crucial aspect of developing prompt engineering skills is practical experience.

Engaging with various AI platforms, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, or other specialised AI tools, is essential.

Start with simple prompts and gradually experiment with different phrasing, keywords, and instructions.

Observe how the AI responds to subtle variations in the prompt and begin to identify patterns and best practices.

This iterative process of prompting, observing, and refining is the cornerstone of developing intuition in this field.  

(iii) Learning Core Prompting Techniques:

Learning by doing is an effective strategy.

If you start experimenting, you will actively learn about different prompting techniques that have proven effective.

Some fundamental techniques include:

  • Clear and Concise Instructions: Avoid ambiguity and provide specific directions on what you want the AI to do.
  • Role-Playing: Instruct the AI to adopt a specific persona or expertise to guide its response. For example, “Act as a seasoned marketing expert…”
  • Providing Context: Offer relevant background information to help the AI understand the task and generate more tailored responses.
  • Specifying Format and Structure: Clearly define the desired output format, such as a list, a table, a specific writing style, or code in a particular language.
  • Using Delimiters: Employ clear delimiters (e.g., triple backticks “`, quotation marks “”) to separate instructions, context, and examples within the prompt.
  • Few-Shot Prompting: Provide a few examples of the desired input-output pairs to guide the AI towards the desired style and content.
  • Chain-of-Thought Prompting: For complex tasks, guide the AI through a series of intermediate reasoning steps to arrive at the final answer.
  • Negative Constraints: Explicitly state what you don’t want the AI to do or include in its response.

Numerous online communities, research papers, and blog posts dedicated to prompt engineering offer valuable insights into these and other advanced techniques.  

(iv) Iterative Refinement and Analysis:

Prompt engineering is an iterative process. Don’t expect to get the perfect output on the first try.

Analyse the AI’s responses critically, identify areas for improvement, and refine your prompts accordingly.

Keep track of successful prompts and the variations that led to better results. This systematic approach will help you develop a deeper understanding of what works and why.  

(v) Engaging with the Prompt Engineering Community:

Connect with other individuals who are learning and practising prompt engineering.

Online forums, social media groups, and conferences dedicated to AI and natural language processing can provide valuable learning opportunities, sharing best practices, and staying updated on the latest advancements in the field.  

(vi) Exploring Available Resources and Courses:

While formal certifications are still evolving, various online courses and resources are emerging that focus specifically on prompt engineering.

Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and specialised AI learning platforms offer courses that cover fundamental and advanced prompting techniques, often with practical exercises and real-world examples.

Engaging with these structured learning resources can provide a more comprehensive and systematic approach to skill development.  

(vii) Building a Portfolio of Successful Prompts and Applications:

As you develop your skills, consider journaling your successful prompts and the valuable outputs they generated.

Your journal can then serve as evidence of your proficiency and can be a valuable resource when seeking professional opportunities in the field.

Never underestimate the power of showcasing your ability to solve specific problems or generate valuable content through effective prompting.  

Prompt Engineering Certification (Emerging Landscape):

While a universally recognised “Certified Exponent of Prompt Engineering” designation does not yet exist, the increasing importance of this skill suggests that formal certifications are likely to emerge.

In the interim, demonstrating expertise can involve a combination of factors:

  • Completion of reputable prompt engineering courses: Certificates of completion from recognised online platforms can validate foundational knowledge.
  • Active participation in prompt engineering communities: Contributions to discussions, sharing insights, and demonstrating expertise within these communities can build a reputation.
  • Development of a strong portfolio: Showcasing successful prompt applications and their impact provides tangible evidence of skills.
  • Potential vendor-specific certifications: As AI platforms evolve, they may offer certifications related to effectively utilising their specific models through skilled prompting.
  • Contributions to open-source prompt libraries or frameworks: Sharing well-crafted and effective prompts with the broader community can demonstrate expertise and contribute to the field’s advancement.

Conclusion:

AI Prompt Engineering is not a fleeting technical trend. It will be an essential skill for navigating the increasingly AI-powered landscape.

A skilled exponent in the art of the prompt will have the ability to:

  • Enhance productivity,
  • Unlock the full potential of AI models,
  • Foster human-AI collaboration; and
  • Cultivate a deeper understanding of AI.

This will provide valuable professional opportunities, which means developing these skills will be a worthwhile endeavour for individuals in every field.

By embracing a structured approach that combines foundational learning, hands-on experimentation, the acquisition of core techniques, continuous refinement, and engagement with the growing community, individuals can cultivate this essential skill and position themselves as effective communicators in the age of intelligent machines.

As AI permeates through our lives, the art of the prompt will only become more critical, solidifying prompt engineering as a skill worth developing and mastering.  

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