Give Me Listening, or Give Me...(The Blessed Bulletin: Episode 025)
Published about 3 hours agoΒ β’Β 9 min read
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Give Me Listening, Or Give Me...
(Episode 025)
July 2026
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In honor of World Listening Day (July 18), we are exploring the true roots of the word listen. The dictionary will tell you it traces back to Old English hlysnan, kin to hlyst β βhearingβ β which is, ironically, also kin to loud. π€ (Wonder how that came about: "Linda, Linda...!")
And I'm sure we've all likely heard the adage "two ears, one mouth: so you can listen twice as much as you talk."
But long before the word listen showed up in our language, we listened for prey, we listened for predators...and they listened for us.
Naturally, this is also the basis for the first guideline in the Galactic Communications Safety Protocol.
Guideline 1: Listen first, exist longer.
(Evidence: Alien,Three-Body Problem, even Tremors and Dune.)
It's a protocol, so of course there's more than one rule. (I heard that sigh, and I gently refer you back to Guideline Numero Uno.)
Back in the day, tribe encountered tribe, nobody shared a word in common, and exactly one strategy kept them (at least some of them) alive long enough to invent diplomacy and teamwork: don't just listen; learn the lingo. Learn to understand: tone, rhythm, intent...and meaning.
Which gave rise to the second guideline:
Guideline 2: Understanding vocabulary is not the same as understanding meaning.
(The importance of this was aptly demonstrated in Star Trek: OS "Darmok" and Arrival where words didn't mean what universal translators thought they meant.)
And I know you were hopeful -- but no one ever, ever stops with just two guidelines in a protocol.
By the 23rd century, we're exploring other galaxies, meeting other civilizations. Earth nearly gets vaporized by a probe because we spent a few centuries hunting to extinction those who could listen, understand, andgive the correct response to the whale-song probe (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 1986).
Sometimes, the best "positive" response is nonverbal: a hug, a little bit of telepathy, music (e.g. the five note sequence in Close Encounters of the Third Kind), going back in time torescue some whales...
And examples of the best "other" response might be: staying hidden in the bushes, marking that email or phone call as spam, marking the nebula a no-go, or burying that stargate (Stargate SG:1, S1:E1, "Children of the Gods").
You might be thinking the next rule is "think before you speak/act." But noooooo, that isn't clear enough. Because as we all know, there's always that one person or civilization who has to take a rule too far.
The Ents finally decide to fight
For instance, the Ents (of TheLord of the Rings, The Two Towers), who nearly lost Isengard because a three-day deliberation is not the same as a response, and βstill considering itβ is not the best defense against orcs.
It follows, then, that the third law of the GCSP is:
Failure to Respond Appropriately May Result in an Extinction-Level Event.
So the next time your spouse or significant other asks 'did you get my text?' β choose your words carefully. Civilizations have ended over less.
Whether it's a CAPTCHA deciding whether you're human or an AI detector deciding whether your writing is, modern computers are becoming surprisingly good at recognizing patterns of communication. They don't truly understand usβbut they can often tell when something about the conversation doesn't fit.
Researchers are already working on teaching AI and robots how to read and respond to our emotions visually, as well as developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to help patients who have lost the ability to speak. All of these tech advancements will help humanity (unless misused).
In The Xianova Chronicles, that becomes much more dangerous. When your society, through your tech, can analyze not only your words but your thoughts, what happens when the system decides your responses don't match the pattern it's looking for?
Postdoctoral scholar Erin Kunz holds a microelectrode array. Surgically implanted in the brainβs surface layer, the array records neural activity patterns directly from the brain to a computer. | Jim Gensheimer (image from the Stanford Report)
The Status of Making Stuff Up...
Personal Life:
Me, continuing to work on healthier habits...while also trying to increase butt-in-chair time on The Erebi.
My grand vision (specifically how much stuff I can cram into a single day) and reality continue to be at odds, but not as bad as the beginning of the year.
Updates on the major news from last month:
My cousin Matt, who survived a horrific plane crash in May, just graduated from the ICU to a regular room in Seattle's burn unit. π If you'd like to learn more and support him and his family β through prayers, funds, or just sharing his story β his page is here: givesendgo.com/wrap-around-the-punt-family, updated regularly.
Our son Kyle has deployed overseasβ¦and texted me at 2 AM my time for coffee recommendations, so all appears to be well. Ish. He also informed Jim that shellfish cross-contamination feels like battery acid on the tongue β which we're pretty sure means he used his epi pen.
My brother-in-law, Gary, is recovering well from last month's lung transplant. π
The 70th birthday and 50th anniversary party my siblings and I threw for my parents in June left us all with some great memories.π₯³
Our daughter Sabrina's follow-up endoscopy confirmed she'll likely be on a soft, pureed diet for life. π Small mercy: she got to have mushed-up cake and ice cream for her birthday (instead of liquids-only). ππ
Migraines. More migraines. Also an eye infection, which means twice-daily hot compresses β forced breaks I've decided to spend with an audiobook. For my health. β
And...things are booming right along this month, with help from our closest neighbors on the east, south, and west sides who must have saved up all year to create a super-fun "castle siege experience" for me for a couple days. I used to like fireworks. And my dogs. And my neighbors. π But on the bright side, the grandkids were occupied and happy.
I also had my yearly physical, and I've decided I simply do not need to do that again. I spent the last two years believing and telling people I was already 49 (for real!ππ ), and it's been fun, so now that I've actually arrived, I may as well just stay here and continue the tradition...
There have been some complaints from the Contraband Cartel regarding miscommunications previously shared in this segment, which may or may not have reflected badly upon their character. This month, in an effort to clarify, they've compiled a short list:
πOur Misunderstood Love Languagesπ
The Pleading Soul Stare
π Chicken (15)
π Gazing into your soul until you surrender. Everyone is happier when she's in charge.
πΆββοΈ Ensuring you meet your goals by leading you to your office when "it's time," repeatedly if necessary.
π¨ Un-snoozable alarms at every suspicious noise, so you won't accidentally meet your demise via junebug, firework, etc.
Forcible Snuggling Begins
π Darryl (6)
π€ Forcible snuggles. He does not understand why you would not want to snuggle him permanently, and also scratch his fluffy butt. "No" is not a word.
π½οΈ Complimentary diet support and post-meal cleanup, including relocation of meals, dishes, and silverware to a secret location.
π€π Launching herself directly into your arms, followed by "wet willies" and French-kiss attempts. Seriously, how could you misinterpret those?
π Elaborate, violent ritual sacrifice of Mac, her bestie, in your honor, upon arrival and throughout your time together.
πππ Killing Mac more fervently when you ask her to stop, and calling for backup to prove her dedication.
β€οΈ Letting Mac live one more day so she can do it again.
Gargoyling on Dad
πΆ Shawnie (3)
πΏ "Gargoyle"-ing on your lap β Not only is the increasingly close-up view of her giant Chessie head blocking out most evils, she's increasing your gravitas.
π¨ Personally threatening every possible danger: TV doorbells, trucks, kitchen clinks, any firework anywhere in the world.
π Making sure you are not aloneduring the above-mentioned. Unless you're outside during fireworks β she tried to warn you, that's on you.
Food deemed probably safe for dog consumption...
π» Mac (1.5)
π€Nibbling your fingers while you're walking so you'll be assured of his constant presence if you're not already tripping over him.
π Volunteering as Official Fast Food Safety Inspector. For maximum efficiency, nose or tongue must stay within 1 inch.
βοΈ Carpeting the hard, hard wooden floors β and giving the carpeted ones some of that 'just a little more special' Pyrenees "zhuzh."
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