I've been on vacation for the last month or so. I've ostensibly been using the time for "rest" At term that is, admittedly, a member of that class of gratuitous English phrases, whose function is to deflect further inquiry without divulging any substantial information. They unanswer questions. The only appropriate response to these phrases, as dictated by the unofficial rules of Western decorum, is a slight nod and a knowing "ahhh!"
Because this is America, dammit!, there is a whole industry that focuses on the monetization of said phrases. It boasts master orators who string the phrases into unending presentations, aided solely by color-coded Power Point slides. They collect millions of dollars to remind you to "de-average" "brainstorm" and "solution the problem," blinding you in a cloud of buzzwords so you don't see us...I mean them, grab the money and run. I kid...somewhat, but thus far my vacation has been an attempt to rebel against my hard-wired reflexes of diversion and discern what exactly "rest" means.
