In a Word - CCJP

11/27/2025

At the doorstep of re‑entries, I’ve been reflecting on how hesitation is not delay but curation. Like seeds rooting unseen before they break the soil, pauses allow anticipation to deepen and possibilities to be curated before revelation.

Stored Wealth: Chrysalis to Spring
— The doorstep holds re-entries, each a seed awaiting soil.
— Hesitation is not delay but curation, the pause that roots before revelation.
— To accept the path is to honor the rhythm: patient anticipation, timely progression, rewarding emergence.

Living Glossary entry by Yvonne LaRose with assistance of Copilot, November 27, 2025.

09/16/2025

What You Need to Know When Using Copilot "Edit in Page"

There are some features of using Copilot that can lead to disappointment or frustration (or both), especially when moving to more advanced tools.

The initial assumption is that clicking on a response from Copilot that has a prompt allowing "Edit in Page" means the entire conversation up to that point will be transferred into a Page where the work can be continued.

Not so.

Clicking that prompt will carry content from that particular activation, point and whatever follows, into a new and separate Page. All of the content that preceded that command is omitted.

Explanation from Copilot:

What “Edit in a Page” Actually Does

When you click “Edit in a Page” on a specific Copilot response, it creates a new Copilot Page starting from that exact message. That means:

- Only the selected response is carried into the new page.
- All prior conversation history is not included in the page.
- The page becomes a clean, editable surface for refining or expanding that one idea.

This behavior is intentional—it’s designed to give you a focused workspace without clutter. But yes, it can feel like a rupture if you were building layered meaning across multiple turns.

🔍 Strategic Use Tip
If you want to preserve more context, you can:
- Copy and paste earlier messages manually into the page.
- Or, ask me to help reconstruct the narrative arc or logic chain that led to that moment.

Question:
Copilot: Strategic Use Tip If you want to preserve more context, you can:
- Copy and paste earlier messages manually into the page.
Me: Where would the user go in order to copy and paste (CP) earlier messages?

Copilot Response:
Great follow-up. Here's how a user can locate and copy earlier messages for manual transfer into a Copilot Page:

🖱️ Where to Find Earlier Messages
- Scroll up in the chat window: All previous messages—both yours and mine—are visible in the same conversation thread. You can scroll to any point and highlight the text you want to preserve.
- Click and drag to select: Use your mouse or trackpad to highlight the desired message(s), then right-click to copy or use Ctrl+C.
- Paste into the Page: Once inside the Copilot Page, click into the editable surface and use Ctrl+V to paste.

📌 Note:
- You can copy multiple messages at once, but formatting may be minimal—so if you're preserving layered meaning or tone, a quick reformat or annotation might help.
- If you're working across multiple threads or sessions, you’d need to revisit each one manually unless you’ve saved excerpts elsewhere.

09/07/2025

Continuing with elements of writing, I queried Google to learn if:

it's accurate to describe the situation leading to a focal point as an "introduction"?

The answer was:

AI Overview
No, it is not accurate to describe the situation leading to a focal point as an "introduction". While an introduction sets the stage and provides background context, the creation of a focal point involves specific techniques to emphasize a particular element, idea, or subject within the larger piece. The "situation" leading to the focal point is the entire arrangement of other elements, and its purpose is to guide the audience's attention.

There was more, in fact, Google compared and contrasted a focal point to an introduction by means of columns showing one form to another, with examples.

Key differences between an introduction and a focal point
Feature

Introduction
Focal Point
Purpose
To bring the reader into the subject, provide background information, and establish the main topic.
To command the viewer's attention and draw their eye to the most important part of a composition.

Relationship
The introduction contains the overall topic, but not all of it serves as the central point of emphasis.
A focal point is a single, specific element that is deliberately emphasized, which can be part of an introduction or another section.

Creation Created by clearly stating the topic, providing context, and signaling the paper's structure.
Created by using specific techniques such as contrast, isolation, placement, and visual cues like lines or color.

Example In a speech on money management, the introduction outlines the topic.
The speaker's call-to-action—for the audience to think about how they might eliminate one debt—is the focal point.

Visual example
In a painting, the entire scene (the background, other figures, and setting) provides the context. Specific artistic techniques like lighting, color, or a prominent figure are used to create emphasis and direct the viewer's gaze toward the central figure, which is the focal point.

A Speaker’s Must-Have: Focal Point
by Beth Levine | May 17, 2011 | Just Mouthing Off
https://www.smartmouthcommunications.com/a-speakers-must-have-focal-point/

How the situation creates a focal point

The situation leading to a focal point is more akin to the surrounding visual or narrative context that directs attention, using methods like:

Contrast: Emphasizing differences in color, light, size, or texture.
Isolation: Placing the subject away from other elements to make it stand out.

Placement: Using strategic positioning, such as placing a subject using the "rule of thirds," to guide the viewer's eye.
Convergence: Using implied or actual lines within a composition to lead the eye toward a specific point.

What do I mean by that? Isn’t your topic the focal point? Uh uh. Your Focal Point is actually the “so what?” or the “what next?” It helps to set the context for your talk, so that your audience knows what’s coming, why, and where to focus. Let’s back up a sec. In March, I

09/07/2025

When it comes to elements of writing, there are terms that refer to a signal about the body of the work in some way. So it goes with the terms "preface" and "epigraph." It's time to draw the distinction between the two via definition and description, as explained through Google's AI function.

In response to the question, "What is an epigraph?" Google AI responded in one of the bullet points by saying:

What is the difference between preface and epigraph?
A preface introduces the author's intent or the context of the work, often written in prose. In contrast, an epigraph is a short quotation or excerpt placed before the main text. While the preface explains, the epigraph subtly suggests themes or ideas for readers to consider.

Not being one to settle for a first explanation (because there are so many prism to understanding), a reading of the most relevant sub-responses also revealed:

What are the rules for epigraph?
If the rest of the document is formatted according to the APA Style rules, the epigraph must follow those rules as well: "The epigraph should appear before the first line of text and should be indented 0.5 in. from the left margin, like a block quotation, without quotation marks" (APA, 2020, p. 277).

Also interesting was this explanation:

What is an epigraph in poetry?

AI Overview
In poetry, an epigraph is a brief quotation, phrase, or even a short poem placed at the beginning of a poem or section of a poem to suggest its theme, set the tone, provide context, or create a deeper literary connection for the reader. It functions as a literary device that gives a glimpse into the upcoming work, often drawing from other literary or even non-literary sources, and is meant to guide the reader's understanding of the poem that follows.

Key Characteristics and Purpose

A Gateway to the Poem:
An epigraph serves as a miniature introduction, providing a thematic hook or hint about the content, tone, or ideas explored in the poem.

Setting Context:
It can establish a larger context or frame the poem within a broader literary tradition, making connections for the reader that might otherwise be missed.

Establishing Tone:
A well-chosen epigraph can quickly set a specific mood or emotional resonance for the poem.

A Reference Point:
It can allude to another work of literature, a religious text, a song lyric, or even a scientific or historical source, inviting comparison and interpretation.

Where You Might Find It
At the Start of a Poem:
A single epigraph is most commonly found on the first page, before the poem's verses begin.

Before Sections or Chapters:
In longer works or collections, epigraphs can also introduce individual sections or chapters to signify thematic shifts or new topics.

Examples of Epigraphs in Poetry
Many poets use epigraphs to establish meaning, as seen in Rita Dove's poem "Her Island," which uses a quote from H.D.'s "Notes on Thought and Vision" to introduce the poem's themes, according to Novel Novice.

Another example is Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend," which uses a Latin quote from Psalm 119 as an epigraph to signal the poem's religious nature and the struggle it will explore.

10/13/2024

One of the frequenters of the local Senior Center wants to form a writers group with me.

She admires my writing, both poetry and prose. She is exquisite and engaging with her haiku creations.

While it would be quite nice to move into the endeavor of creating a writers group (which *could* become monetized as a co-teaching effort), I simply don't have the time for that right now.

The last time I talked with my friend, she wanted to know *how* to start her endeavors in writing. My counsel:

Write about what you see or what you're thinking about and how it makes you feel. The important thing is to just write and let your thoughts flow.

I look forward to hearing what progress she's made in following that advice. Perhaps she'll have something to share with me then, as well.

09/07/2024

A sweet story with a lot of twists and a complicated plot.

Where are the story missteps (things that make it a little hard to swallow)? How would you adjust them?

Warning: the video is 53 minutes long.

We encourage you to subscribe to the channel and to hit 'LIKE' on the video as a show of support for our work. Thank you so much! 💖the stepmother forced her...

09/05/2024

Time to share some serious information:

This weekend I engaged in a conversation thread. While reading the comments, I clicked on one and discovered it was loaded with a virus.

Anti-virus has been running ever since. However, you may receive a new FB Friend invitation from me. Please DM me at my old profile to make certain of the validity of the invitation.

06/25/2024

Mike Tarrani,
I just HAD to share this to you

https://www.facebook.com/reel/386084361118655

06/25/2024

For those who can relate to being called old,

and for those who are just learning about what was before that classification fit our parents,

These are the milestones that need to be remembered and appreciated

https://www.facebook.com/reel/720571900140667

06/25/2024

For those of you who enjoyed the "naughty words" case that went before the Supreme Court,

Here's a Reel that should tickle at least one of your bones.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1096495898123380

05/20/2024

Okay. Omitting the pre-event drama (stumbling on a pathway stepping stone and hailing passing cars for assistance; nervousness affecting my stomach) here is what happened at Sunday's "Fly Me to the Moon" event in picture form.

It was essentially a feminist's POV with an emphasis on how male support and encouragement leads to success.

There were the poster boards that featured images that reflected the theme for several of the pieces, including Rockwell's beating the guys at their game, standing up for one's self, reflections on what it means to be attractive.

Along dealing with the hair thing while emphasizing the important features in spite of "No More Makeup", as well as looking saucy after 50.

As to the program, they're in the foreground on the posters, plus stand-alone images of them.

And those mysterious roses that were left under the bumper of the car that took me home.
Historical Novel Society - the place for new historical fiction
I'm blessed.

05/11/2024

Have you ever wondered how to pronounce a writer's name that derives from a source not similar to your own culture?

Color me when I discovered Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls" was available at my library. I attempted to have a conversation about the author and the play with the reference librarian. Embarrassed, I finally (first attempt) asked the librarian (who is White) how to pronounce the name. With a kind expression that exhibited no annoyance nor pity, she coached me on the pronunciation.

One of the Google search nuggets also provides the pronunciation, along with a description of the author:

Ntozake Shange
Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Su***de ... - Goodreads

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com › book › show › 6058171...

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