"In the speechwriting business it may be said," I told the readers of the Executive Communication Report (to which only crazy people don't subscribe, because it is useful and free), "the only change is more of the same."

To smarmy people who say they always learn more from their students than they teach: Maybe you should do a better job of teaching.

On the motorcycle last month, it occurred to me that I'm rarely thrown off when good things come to me or when bad things befall me. On the motorcycle, I noticed that I received the problematic sight of rain clouds out of nowhere with the same almost entirely unemotional calm as when, thoroughly rain pelted, I saw blue sky in the distance.

You get laid off. Your team wins the Stanley Cup. Your mother dies. Your book is published. The repair is going to cost $2,500. Your wife is pregnant.

You take in the news calmly. You are pretty good at handling shit. At least, I am.