Author Archives: Ann Koplow

About Ann Koplow

I'm a clinical social worker at a major teaching hospital, specializing in group therapy.

Day 4953: TL;DR

Posted on July 25, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I’ve been wondering if people are thinking “TL;DR” about my daily blog posts.

Here is a TL;DR summary of all my blog posts: introductory paragraph(s) containing concepts I think would be useful to share, my photographs from the day before (arranged for maximum impact/humor/connections); the Daily Bitch calendar (except on Sunday) (even she needs to rest), the observations/celebrations of the day, a relevant and (I hope) useful video, and gratitude.

I wonder if a TL;DR (what I used to call “sound bite”) culture discourages deeper understanding of important issues. However, I do appreciate the correct use of the semicolon in “TL;DR.”

Is this blog post TL;DR?

I bet nobody says “TL;DR” about The Daily Bitch Calendar.

Here’s what I find when I search for “TL;DR” on YouTube:

TL;DF.**

Thanks to all who made it to the end of the TL;DR post, including YOU!

—————————

** Too Long; Didn’t Finish

Categories: blogging, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, July 25 2026, Marina Bay, rabbits, self-care, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, TLDR news, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4952: International Self-Care Day

Posted on July 24, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Happy International Self Care Day, everybody!

We deserve to practice self-care 24/7, as difficult as that might be. Thanks for the reminder on 7/24, International Self-Care Day!

Now I’m going to practice self-care on International Self-Care Day by sharing these images.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “International Self-Care Day.”

How are you going to practice self-care today?

Thanks to all who help me practice self-care every day, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: 24/7, “How Music Works” by David Byrne, cats, GCBHS, Hacks, July 24 2026, National Refreshment Day, practicing self-care, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, vegetarian chili | 4 Comments

Day 4951: Talking about the Weather

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I used to think that talking about the weather was a way to avoid deep conversations.

Now, not talking about the weather seems like a way to avoid and deny the existential threat of climate change.

Yesterday, I was talking about the weather because I ventured out for a walk to CVS, underestimating the fury and speed of an approaching thunderstorm. When it hit with intense winds, driving rain, and deafening thunder, I had to focus on reaching shelter as soon as possible. Luckily, a woman driving by with her daughter stopped to pick me up and drive me to CVS. Talking about the weather, this total stranger even offered to wait for me to drive me back home. That’s how bad the weather was!

I opted to stay at CVS until the storm passed so I could walk safely home. Talking about the weather, here are images of before the storm hit …

… and after it passed:

When I got back home and I finished talking about the weather with my husband Michael, I found this email from James Sullivan, the organizer of the inspiring Which Side? protest song teach-out (which I was talking about in yesterday’s blog post).

I wasn’t talking about the weather when I accepted James’s offer for me to share my protest song “You Don’t Scare Me!” at an upcoming show.

The people attending these protest song teach-outs agree: The current USA administration talking trash about immigrants and other human beings instead of talking about the weather is dangerous, unacceptable, and has to stop!

Talking about the weather, here are the rest of my images for today.

It seems right that I’m talking about the weather on Yada, Yada, Yada and Hot Enough For Ya Day.

Here’s what I find when I search for “talking about the weather” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are talking about the weather, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Al Roker TED talk, “You Don’t Scare Me” protest song, cats, climate change, James Sullivan, July 22 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, vegetarian chili, Which Side?, Yada Yada Yada Day | 6 Comments

Day 4950: Inspiring

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Last night, at the first anniversary show of Which Side? (A Protest Music Teach-Out) I heard and saw many inspiring people.

It’s very inspiring (and unbelievable) to me that I will be sharing my original protest song You Don’t Scare Me! at a future Which Side? show.

I think you’ll find my images for today inspiring.

It’s Paula, who is inspiring in her dedication to these inspiring monthly shows!

It’s the inspiring Joyce Linehan and James Sullivan, who organize and host these shows!

It’s the inspiring Todd Thibaud and the house back-up band, The Paid Protestors!

It’s the inspiring Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Kim Driscoll!

It’s the inspiring O.G.’s (Original Gentlemen), who met in prison after wrongful convictions!

It’s the inspiring Ted Landsmark, educator and lawyer!

That’s the inspiring Ted Landsmark in that well-known image of racism in 1970s Boston.

It’s inspiring how much Ted Landsmark has done in his long life.

I look forward to inspiring comments, below.

Thanks to all who helped me create this inspiring post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cool cats, James Sullivan, Joyce Linehan, July 22 2026, Melissa Ferrick, Ted Landsmark, the ACLU, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The O.G.’s (Original Gentlemen), Twitter and Bluesky, Which Side? | 5 Comments

Day 4949: Verisimilitude

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Ann Koplow

The word of the day is Verisimilitude.

Because of Artificial Intelligence, verisimilitude is quite the issue these days.

Speaking of Artificial Intelligence, I’m going to ask ChatGPT to use verisimilitude in some sentences.

In this 4949-day-old blog, I always describe events that really happened (with words and images), and I hope they leave you with a feeling of verisimilitude.

Is there verisimilitude in my images for today?

To maintain the verisimilitude of giving credit where credit is due, I shall reveal that my friend Joe sent me this image yesterday.

Not to brag, but sometimes my images align to give the verisimilitude of research and planning.

Here’s what I find when I search for “verisimilitude” on YouTube.

Is there verisimilitude in my daily gratitude for you?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, cakes, cats, healthy meals, July 21 2026, protests, Tall Ships, the Boston Ferry, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, Verisimilitude in Superman | 2 Comments

Day 4948: How Things Work

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Ann Koplow

As I’m writing this, I’m listening to a recording of my son giving a talk on how things work in category theory. I don’t understand how things work at that level of mathematics, but I do know how things work in comedy, and my son is actually getting laughs as well as enthusiastic applause.

This is how things work when you’re a parent: your child does things beyond your abilities of comprehension, so you may as well enjoy the ride.

You might know how things work in this blog: I introduce a theme and then include a lot of images without much explanation.

Can you see how things work in my images for today?

Considering how things work on social media, I’ll probably ask a question about favorite cakes tonight.

Here’s what I find when I search for “how things work” on YouTube:

Here’s what I find when I search for “how things work in category theory” on YouTube:

Here’s how things work at the end of my blog posts: I express my gratitude to YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: A Sensible Introduction to Category Theory, books I’m reading/listening to, category theory, cats, food, International Cake Day, July 20 2026, Know How Things Work, parenting, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston | 6 Comments

Day 4947: Odyssey

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, at 9 AM, I saw Christopher Nolan’s brilliant cinematic telling of Homer’s Odyssey.

My on-line odyssey doesn’t include writing movie reviews, even though my personal odyssey does include going to film school in my 30’s. However, I will say that I loved The Odyssey and plan to see it again, in IMAX this time, with my husband Michael. Lately, my personal odyssey has been heading off on adventures by myself, as I’ll be doing in Switzerland next month.

Here are my images for this odyssey post.

Here’s what I find when I search for “odyssey” on YouTube:

Thanks to everyone whose odyssey helps me persevere with my odyssey, including YOU!

Categories: movies, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: art and artists, cats, Christopher Nolan, Homer, ICE killings, July 19 2026, The Old South Church in Boston, Twitter, Via Cannuccia restaurant, World Listening Day | 8 Comments

Day 4946: Destiny

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s apparently my destiny to create a blog post about destiny today.

Maybe that’s my destiny because I’m going to see The Odyssey today. According to the reviews, it was Christopher Nolan’s destiny to make this movie.

It is my destiny to share these images with you today.

On Perfect Family Day and Listening Day, it’s my destiny to share this: because I’ve been listening to people in therapy for years, I believe it’s nobody’s destiny to come from a perfect family.

Here’s what I find when I search for “destiny” on YouTube: