From ProofreadNOW:

Despite pedantic objection, the use of the phrase “in order to” is a kindness to readers whenever a clause expressing purpose and beginning with to stands at some distance from the verb that heralds it, or when a succession of to‘s might create confusion. In the sentence Kate had seen no way but to borrow the sleek powerboat which she was not sure she knew how to drive to reach the drowning swimmer in time, the addition of in order before to reach and the setting off of the which clause with commas would improve the articulation.

Kate had seen no way but to borrow the sleek powerboat, which she was not sure she knew how to drive, in order to reach the drowning swimmer in time.

Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?:

Lolly, lolly, lolly, get your adverbs here:

How well do you see color? Take the online color challenge, based on the official FM100 Hue Test by X-Rite. Try not to break your eyeballs.

I got a 4. Those tealishes get me every time.

The Balloon
by Jace Daniel (b. 1969)

There once was a balloon on a string. This balloon was your very favorite color, and it belonged to a very fortunate child. A child that had everything.

As fortunate children do, this child spent its time running and jumping and playing, being popular with all its friends. Busy with other more important things, the fortunate child paid no attention to the balloon, and before long, the balloon began to feel unneeded. Taken for granted, the balloon did not feel very much at home, and dreamed of other places it would rather be.

One day, as the fortunate child was busy running and jumping and playing with its friends, it got careless. It forgot about the balloon for a moment, and the balloon got away. The balloon began ascending up to the sky, above the rooftops, toward the sun. Free. The balloon kept rising, higher and higher, dreaming of other places it would rather be, the sun becoming larger and larger in its sight.

Before very long, the balloon got tired. It had gone as high as it could go, and could get no closer to the sun. It began descending back down to the rooftops, slowly pulled down by the weight of its string. It kept falling down from the sky, lower and lower, with the sun becoming smaller and smaller in its sight.

Before very very long, as the balloon descended below the lowest rooftop, two little hands reached up and grabbed the balloon by the string, holding it tightly, not letting go. Ten little fingertips carefully pulled the balloon down, paying all of their attention to the balloon. A little nose smelled the balloon, rubbing the balloon. A little mouth smiled at the balloon, kissing the balloon. Two curious eyes admired the balloon, for, just like you, this balloon was their very favorite color. Suddenly needed, and no longer taken for granted, the balloon felt very much at home, and could dream of no other place, high or low, where it would rather be.

And so the two little hands tied the string to the wheelchair.

Special thanks to Albert Lamorisse.

“Easy reading is damned hard writing.”
— Nathaniel Hawthorne