I looked into something I have been hearing a lot of of late.  That is, “people don’t read anymore.”
I did have a problem with that.  The first reason was the number of books on shelves I see behind those being interview on tv.  The second was by “believe it or not” a Mills and Boon author.  She said Mills and Boon book production had doubled over the pandemic and has doubled again since. The third was my own experience.  I like to read, and I know others, both young and old like to read.
Yet having said that my research showed that what is considered “deep reading” has declined.  A web site called thoughtco.com defined deep reading as “the active process of thoughtful and deliberate reading carried out to enhance one's comprehension and enjoyment of a text.”
It was put forward that while reading has not declined the method of delivery has.  E-books and social media play a bigger part than ever.  It is more interactive than in the past - to the point where some authors respond to the immediate internet feedback.  I know I have responded to feedback.  My articles are shorter than they were.  Good for others, and good for me really.
It was acknowledged that internet generated reading has some dangers.  Big on the list was distractions.  Two thirds of respondents to a recent study said they were checking social media “often” or “very often.”  While it is acknowledged that digital reading does improve comprehension skills, the improvement is between six and seven times smaller than print reading.  It has also been found that grammatical rules are less often adhered to. 
Yet I found this very interesting. “Recent data from the American Library Association point up some surprising choices by today’s Generation Z (ages 13-25) compared with those of Millennials (ages 26-40). According to their study, Gen Zers are not only reading more books per month (presumably for pleasure) than are Millennials, but are reading more print than their older brethren.”
So it may well be like what has happened to vinal albums.  There has been a resurgence. 
This is not an attempt to harken back to some good old days.  Each generation is different and have pluses and minuses in my mind.  “Different” to me does not mean “not as good.” 
Books may well be in decline, but reading is not.

I have been thinking about a word this morning that I really want to be my experience.  “Clarity.”
When I look up its meaning the first is, “coherent and intelligible.”  I can say I want that for sure.  There are times thought I know where I am not understood or misunderstood.  That is unfortunate and in most cases does not mean what I want to say does not make sense, but sometimes the way I say it leaves a bit to be desired.
I also battle against something I think is prevalent.  People (including myself) hear what they want to hear.   In my experience this is way common.  I think it is often a reason for motives being ascribed to someone that are not there - or are in very small amounts.
The clarity I was thinking of that is important to me is, “clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding’
I really do not want to take on board something that may be believed by another but is built on lies.  Or perhaps built on what they have been taught that really represent the teachers view of the world that is lacking or simply handed down and believed without examination.
To me there are many voices in this world.  None (as far as I am concerned) is invalid.  But being valid does not make it right.  It may be believed, (and I think everyone deserves respect and dignity) but that does not mean I agree with everything I am told.
That is really what I mean by valid.  It is not my role to attempt to shoot down the thoughts and ideas of another just because I do not agree.  What I will always attempt to do though is hear and understand what is being said.
Where I do not agree it is incumbent that I express my thoughts with respect.  Because I respect each person it is my desire to be closer to someone despite my maybe disagreeing with them.  True friendship may involve someone coming around but always at the very least involves respectfully agreeing to disagree.
As far as I am concerned true friendship is based on mutual respect despite differences.  Friendships built on agreeing only are valid but it seems to me are sometimes not as strong.

Today’s dictionary word was “swallow.”  As in the bird.
I had been hoping it was “swallow” as in “cause or allow to pass down one’s throat.”  But no.  That was the word above.  I thought I could make up something, I mean write from a sound knowledge base about swallowing.  Alas it was not to be.  I had to write about Swallows the bird.
There is one saying about Swallows I use often and that is “One swallow does not a summer make.”  That was mentioned in the definition I was looking at. “Warning against hasty inference from one instance.”  Could not have put it better myself.
I was glad I was looking at this definition as when I looked at it in Wikipedia it said, “The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica..”  I was going to say that.  If I knew it.   Which I did not.  So it might be better if I said “I was never going to say that.”
But apparently swallows are common.  A common Swallow seen in Australis is called the “Welcome” Swallow.  It got that name as sailors when they saw them knew that land was close.
I have tried to photograph them, and they are really hard.  I have taken a few pictures of them gathered together at nesting sites but when hunting for insects they fly fast and swoop and dive a lot.  Plus they are really little which adds to the difficulty of photographing them air borne.
I have seen many Swallows here.  The Swallow is of the genus “Hirundo.”  Again referring to Wikipedia “Genus (/ ˈdʒiːnəs / pl.: genera / ˈdʒɛnərə /) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses.”  I knew that.  Well I do now.
It is not some sort of variation on genius.  It is not like Swallows are really good at solving difficult maths problems.
But they are really good at what they do do.  Fly, swoop, nest, breed, hunt.  These sort of things are a part of life in the day of a swallow.