Dinner Talk is a book of 365 useful conversation starters (Table Topics questions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On November 21, 2022 I blogged about how Conversation Starters can also be used for Table Topics questions. Then, on January 3, 2026, I blogged about 135 Conversation Starters (or Table Topics Questions) from the Family Dinner Project.

 

Via interlibrary loan, from the Twin Falls Public Library I obtained a useful book from 2010 by Emily Hall, Philip S. Hall, and Nancy D. Hall titled Dinner Talk: 365 Engaging Conversation Starters to help you and your family connect. It also is subtitled that THERE’S MORE TO SAY THAN JUST “please pass the salt.” There is a Google Books preview. Along with each starter there is a paragraph on What to Expect. For example, Number 209 is How would you describe yourself in five words or less? and What to Expect is:

 

“Expect your children to describe themselves with five positive words that tell about their physical characteristics and attributes like strong, fast, tall, skinny, etc., because these are the characteristics that children are most focused on -the physical and visual. They are most tuned into how people look and haven’t yet learned to be as aware of inner characteristics, at least not in ways they can verbalize quickly. Adolescents will describe themselves in five words that tell how they hope they are perceived by their peers: cool, hip, smart, nice, etc. The adults at the table will describe themselves in five words that tell about their core values: honest, dependable, industrious, etc.” 

 

A dinner of red beans and rice came from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Exnovation is the opposite of innovation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On December 20, 2024 I posted on A comic strip about flipping prefixes from ex- to in-. The opposite direction also works. There is an article by Hector P. Rodriguez et al. at The Milbank Quarterly in 2016 (Volume 94 number 3, pages 636 to 653) titled The Exnovation of Chronic Care Management Processes by Physician Organizations whose opening states:

 

“Exnovation is the process of removal of innovations that do not improve organizational performance, are too disruptive to routine operations, or do not fit well with the existing organizational strategy, incentives, structure, and/or culture. John Kimberly first coined the term in 1981 to describe the removal process at the tail end of the innovation cycle.”

 

Exnovation isn’t either the Merriam-Webster or Oxford English dictionaries. But there is a Wikipedia page on Exnovation, and a LinkedIn Pulse article by Joanne Hagerty on June 24, 2025 titled We Need to Talk About Exnovation.

 

There is a more detailed discussion in the 2023 book by Juergen Howaldt and Christoph Kaletka titled Encyclopedia of Social Innovation (Chapter 10 page 56) which you can read here at Google Books:

 

“Exnovation ‘occurs when an organization divests itself of an innovation in which it has previously invested’ (Kimberly 1981, p. 91). Kimberly offers the example of an organization, which adopted videotape equipment to record staff meetings. Subsequently, the organization no longer actively uses the equipment, its popularity fades away, but the equipment is still there, and costs the organization space and money. Exnovation, in Kimberly’s sense is the active divestment of the innovation) i.e., here the videotape equipment), not just discontinued use. He observes that there are several reasons for exnovating; another innovation replaces the old one, for example the organization might switch to Zoom recordings, or the innovation might turn out not to be justified (perhaps, it was just a bad idea to record the meetings in the first place). The underlying reasons for exnovating might be due to beliefs about the performance of different technologies, due to imitation of other organizations, or result from a change in policy support. In short, exnovation is a rich and complex topic. It is also a topic that is widely ignored due the prevailing pro-innovation bias in innovation studies (more on this below). In a few pages of his 1981 article, Kimberly introduces exnovation along with key considerations for further development.

 

Subsequent research extended the scope of the definition beyond organizations and technology. ‘Expanding on Kimberly’s definition, we understand exnovation as the purposive termination of existing (infra) structures, technologies, products, and practices’ Heyen et al. 2017, p. 326). In this wider sense, exnovation depends on actors across social spheres. The extended definition provides a fertile soil for social innovation research since the latter calls for a shift from a reductive focus on technological change in business contexts to one on change of practices across social spheres (Howaldt et al. 2014) (- SOCIAL INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE). In light of these developments, social exnovation can be defined as the deliberate termination of social practices, and the change in goals and relations as well as materials and techniques required for this.”

  

A 2011 book by Bryan Cohen with 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table Topics is the impromptu speaking section in a Toastmasters club meeting where members provide one-to-two-minute answers to questions. On November 12, 2022 I blogged about how Writing prompts can also be used for Table Topics questions.

 

At the Garden City Public Library I found a 120-page book from 2011 by Bryan Cohen titled 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for blogs, scripts, stories and more. His thirteen categories are:

 

Holidays

Seasons

Memories

Life

Health

For the Kids

Literature and Genre

Art

Sports

The Outdoors

The Modern World

The Weird

General

 

The writing hand cartoon was adapted from OpenClipArt.  

 

How high did Donald Trump score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far from a genius level! The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) from the College Board has two sections: one on Verbal and one on Math, each with a range from 200 to 800. Usually folks report their sum. Recently it was revealed that in 1965 Donald Trump only scored 970 out of 1600 (less than halfway up). As shown above, that is lower than either the 1206 for George W. Bush or the 1032 for Bill Clinton.

 

An article at Collegevine on October 17, 2023 titled Here’s How 16 Celebrities Scored on the SAT said that both Will Smith and Mark Zuckerberg had a perfect 1600, while Bill Gates had 1590.

 

And curiously an article by Steven Walker at the Orlando Sentinel on October 1, 2025 titled Florida SAT scores increase in 2025, but still lag national averages described that:

 

“Florida’s average SAT score rose to 970 out of 1600, a 22-point increase from 2024, according to recently released data from the College Board, makers of the SAT, compared to a national average score of 1029. The increase largely mirrors the national trend.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, as shown above, in March 1966 I scored 661 on Verbal and 613 on Math for a total of 1274. The booklet lists the following percentile ranks for seniors who later entered college (the average was 440 for Verbal and 509 for Math for a total of 949):

 

Score     Verbal    Math

700        99           96

650        95           87

600        89           76

550        81           61

500        69           44

450        54           31

400        37           18

 

 

What type of funny are you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a post by Andrew Tarvin at the Humor That Works blog on August 29, 2024 titled What Kind of Funny Are You? He lists the following seven (which I have arranged in alphabetical order):

 

Advocate

Encourages the use of humor to promote a positive environment, inspiring others to find their own funny sides.

 

Curator

Collects and shares humorous content that resonates, building connections through shared laughter.

 

Engineer

Strategically uses humor to solve problems and improve the atmosphere, employing wit as a tool to lighten tense situations or enhance communication.

 

Entertainer

Uses charm and delivery to captivate audiences, ensuring that their performance enhances the humor’s impact.

 

Enthusiast

Finds humor in the simplicity and absurdity of everyday life. They remind us of the joy that can be found in small, everyday moments.

 

Inventor

Crafts original humor from personal experiences, turning everyday observations into comedic gold.

 

Skeptic

Critically evaluates the use of humor, ensuring it is appropriate and effective within the given context.

 

And there also is an 11-minute video on August 27, 2024 titled What kind of funny are you? | Dave & Andrew Tarvin | TEDx Greenhouse Road

 

The secret psychology behind why audiences clap and how to earn it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a recent, brief post at the Jaimie Abbott blog on November 10, 2025 titled The secret psychology behind why audiences clap (and how to earn it). Her four points are that:

 

1]  Applause is connection made audible

2]  The brain loves closure

3]  Energy is contagious

4]  People clap when they feel proud of you

 

And also:

 

“Applause isn’t something you demand. It’s something you deserve. It’s not about performance, it’s about presence. When you connect, complete, energize, and inspire pride, your audience can’t help but clap.”

 

An image of clapping hands came from here at Wikimedia Commons.

 

The Joy of Solitude is an interesting book by Robert J. Coplan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a very interesting 2025 book by Robert J. Coplan titled The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World. It is briefly discussed at NextBigIdeaClub in an article on December 8, 2025 titled The Power of Being Alone: Why Solitude Is Good for You. His Five Key Insights are that:

 

Solitude is not loneliness.

You are not alone if you are craving more time alone.

We all need solitude – even extraverts.

Parents can help children develop their capacity for solitude.

In the end, it’s all about balance.

 

Professor Coplan’s book has chapter summaries titled User’s Guide for Solitude [pages 227 to 232] as follows:

 

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOLITUDE IS POWER. [Chapter 8, pages 140 and 141]

Keep a solitude diary where you track your time alone, solitary activities, and mood every day for a week. Afterward, examine it for patterns, make some tweaks, and see if you can improve your mood.

 

WHEN IT COMES TO SOLITUDE, YOU DO YOU.

Everyone needs to find their personal ‘just right’ amount of solitude and to personalize their alone time with their preferred solitary activities.

 

IF YOU DON’T ENJOY SOLITUDE, FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT.

Just thinking positive thoughts while alone can improve experiences of solitude, and being reminded of the benefits of solitude can improve the strength of those effects.

 

ENGAGE IN MICRODOSES OF SOLITUDE.

Spending as little as fifteen minutes alone a day can have measurable and lasting positive effects. And remember, ‘practice makes better’ applies to alone time as well. Make a plan for how you can integrate a little bit of solitude into your routine on most days – and stick to it!

 

WHEN ALONE, DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY.

If you find yourself ruminating while alone, try to distract yourself with another activity, write out your thoughts to get them out of your head and onto paper, or make some concrete plan to address your worries. If you still struggle with these negative thoughts, consider seeing a therapist. There is really good help available, and it can make a huge difference.

 

WHEN YOU ARE ALONE, LOOK FORWARD TO LETTING YOUR MIND WANDER. [Chapter 9, pages 158 and 159]

Use time alone as an opportunity to let your mind wander. But be mindful that your daydreams do not deteriorate into daymares. Although this can be challenging, thinking happy thoughts and focusing on positive feelings can help.

 

TO HELP GET UNSTUCK, INCUBATE AND SWITCH.

To boost creative solutions to stubborn problems, take a solitude break and switch to a different activity. Ideally, this activity should not be too engaging, not too boring, but ‘just right.’ Take some time and experiment with different approaches to find your own optimal activity for this.

 

FIND YOUR BALANCE BETWEEN SOLITUDE AND SOCIALIZING.

To help with the creative process, and to generally boost your mood and well-being, alternate between episodes of being alone and time with others. Again, this balance will require some time to figure out, and it will look different for different people.

 

SOLITUDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH THE FLOW.

Time alone can also be an opportunity to achieve a state of flow. Find an activity that you enjoy, find challenging, and feel motivated to pursue. Dive in, immerse yourself in the experience, and let it lead you wherever it goes.

 

IF YOU ENJOY SPENDING TIME ALONE, CONSIDER TURNING OFF YOUR PHONE FOR A WHILE. [Chapter 10, pages 179 and 180]

For soloists and introverts, optimal alone time likely entails no or minimal use of technology. Too much tech can interfere and distract from positive experiences of solitude.

 

IF YOU FIND SOLITUDE ANXIETY-PROVOKING, BORING, OR AVERSIVE, YOUR PHONE CAN BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF MAKING YOUR TIME ALONE MORE PLEASANT.

Be mindful of using your alone time exclusively to interact virtually with others. You are likely missing out on a lot of ‘freedoms’ that solitude has to offer. Consider at least turning off your notifications and refraining from the more ‘social’ uses of your phone.

 

WE SHOULD ALL ASPIRE TO FEEL SOME JOMO.

Try to reframe each solitary ‘time-out’ from technology as a joyful respite from your phone’s constant demands for your attention. Relish and revel in all the stuff you are (temporarily) missing out on.

 

WHEN ALONE, TRY TO USE TECHNOLOGY FOR ‘GOOD’ INSTEAD OF FOR ‘EVIL.’

Aim to reduce obsessive monitoring of social media timelines or doomscrolling through anxiety-provoking news headlines and be mindful of how such activities impact your mood. Instead, focus on activities that reduce your stress, such as reading, listening to music, engaging in hobbies, or playing mindless games that facilitate mind wandering.

 

SPENING TOO MUCH TIME SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CAN RUIN YOUR TIME ALONE – AND LIKELY MAKE YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF UNDER ALMOST ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

This advice is presented without caveat!

 

LEARNING TO PLAY SOLO IS AN IMPORTANT TASK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, AND PARENTS CAN HELP THEM DEVELOP AND FLEX THEIR SOLITUDE ‘MUSCLES.’ [Chapter 11, pages 200 and 201]

Try to build in some solitude time as part of your child’s regular routine. They may resist it at first, but keep with it. Children will also benefit from choosing how they want to spend time alone, but for children under the age of five years, screen time should not be a regular solitary activity.

 

SOLITUDE MAY BE HARDER TO COME BY FOR OLDER CHILDREN, AND PARENTS MAY NEED TO HELP THEM CARVE OUT TIME AND SPACE TO BE ALONE.

Be mindful not to overprogram children’s schedules. Older children are often dealing with a social environment conspiring against them getting time alone. This can be a source of stress that is not often acknowledged, particularly for children who crave solitude.

 

PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF A GROWING NEED FOR PRIVACY AND DESIRE FOR SOLITUDE THAT OFTEN COMES AT THIS AGE.

Parents should strive to grant their teenagers a reasonable amount of autonomy, privacy, and time alone. At the same time, parents should also be vigilant for signs that their teenagers’ experiences of solitude are not solely fraught with loneliness and angst.

 

PARENTS STILL NEED THEIR SOLITUDE TOO.

Grant yourself permission to spend some time alone. For many people, a small investment in ‘me time’ offers the valuable return of being a better parent and a better person.

 

WHEN IT COME TO MAJOR LIFE DECISIONS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO SOLITUDE (SUCH AS LIVING ALONE OR BEING SINGLE), THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS. [Chapter 12, pages 220 and 221]

People benefit from both time alone and time with others, and they should strive to live their lives in a way that encourages a balance that works for them. Even if it were the case that marriage makes people happier overall, this does not mean that getting married will make everyone happier.

 

A SMALL INVESTMENT IN TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF ON ANY GIVEN DAY CAN PAY OFF IN TERMS OF IMPROVING YOUR TIME WITH OTHERS.

Even if you end up spending a little bit less time directly interacting with others, the quality of that time will be improved enough that people around you will feel better about their relationships with you.

 

IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR ALONE TIME.

Taking time for yourself is okay, even when you are the parent of young children. It should be completely normative and acceptable to say to someone you are close with. ‘I love you. I love spending time with you, but right now I need a few hours by myself.’ “  

 

There is another more general article by Flora Tsapovsky at BBC [Culture] on June 10, 2025 titled ‘Humans need solitude’: How being alone can make you happier.

 

The statue is of John Huston.