It's Friday, time for happy hour, a respite from the highest professional priorities, and the opportunity to relax.  A shorter news cycle and letter today, with a few oversized items.  Toads, giant toads, following toads, big boots after the boots, laughter.  Enjoy the weekend!

Last year I started playing music, playing guitar, and working on music programming.  Music is a powerful influence and shapes much of what I do.  I also found a friend who wanted to revisit the music, and we went to practice and play music.  His life changed, and as that relationship changed, I realized that writing and music would be difficult to maintain with the other responsibilities moving forward.  This challenge wasn't about eliminating something non-essential; it was about giving new priorities the time they need to be successful. 

Changing the Night Journal post, ask yourself the same three questions, throw your answers into the comments, and we will highlight some of the responses.

We are big readers of Reuters but don't highlight stories in Reuters often; today, they would be on our front page if we had a front page!  Australia, known as the land of deadly creatures, is now growing Jurassic-sized toads! 

This monster, Cane Toad, was found in Conway National Park in Australia.  The Cane Toad was introduced in Australia in 1935 to control cane beetles; the article states that the toad has no natural predators, but in the land down under filled with deadly creatures, how did this lucky guy survive and grow?

A new Netflix Stand-Up special starring Sheng Wang came out this year.  Wang is a problematic comedian to describe; he's better to see.  This Netflix special was directed by Ali Wong, another comedian you should look up on Netflix if you need a good laugh.

Anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s and listened to alternative music knows Dr. Martens.  Many of us remember the 70s punk rock coming out of the UK, and the punks took the boots from the working class.  The boots and shoes are also as close to indestructible as any footwear out there.  In the 80s, in the US, only the punks wore them; we had other brands for work boots.  The Guardian gave us punks some good news; it seems Dr. Martens is going to miss profit targets, and part of that is due to an overstock in the Pacific Northwest.  Sounds like a sale to us!

Words | Music | Art | Unknown

It’s Friday!

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With A Shout newsletter is written by Johnny Christian with the support of a thousand idea bits and the help of many people.

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