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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
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The Interrobang in Vet Med: When "?" or "!" alone just doesn't cut it (#372)
Ever seen this combo – !? – at the end of a sentence and wondered what it means? It’s called an interrobang  – a fascinating piece of...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 182 min read
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Gen Z in the Vet Clinic: Blank stares and busy minds (#371)
I first noticed it in the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Vet students, early twenties, listening intently as a I...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 182 min read
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From Calling to Career: Gen Z challenges the corporate vet model (#370)
Generation Z  – those born between 1997 and 2012  – are now entering the workforce in full force. They are the first true digital...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 174 min read
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Habeas Corpus: Protecting freedom for centuries (#369)
In 1963, when I was just 12 years old, my history teacher Mr. Lipscombe asked our class a question that would stay with me for life: Â ...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 102 min read
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Science and Democracy: Russell’s call for citizens who build (#368)
Every time I read Bertrand Russell, I wonder how he saw so clearly into the future. His words about science, imagination, and human...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 95 min read
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Scientific Writing: Elmore Leonard’s 10 rules of writing (#367)
If there was ever a writer who understood the power of economy and rhythm in prose, it was Elmore Leonard . Â Known for his razor-sharp...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 94 min read
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The Four Desires That Shape Humanity: Acquisitiveness, rivalry, vanity, & power (#366)
In his 1930 work The Conquest of Happiness , Bertrand Russell outlined what he believed were the four fundamental desires driving human...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 83 min read
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Golf Course Reality Check: Parkinson’s and pesticides (#365)
Recently, I discovered that three people who lived on Fairway Drive (named for the golf course it leads to) in Davis California had...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 84 min read
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Prams, Tutus, and Perfect Faces: Reflections on modern identity (#364)
A dog in a pram is more than a dog in a pram. It is a statement about the relationship between humans and animals, and perhaps more...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 43 min read
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Nonetheless vs. Nevertheless: A Tale of Two Adverbs (#363)
If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence, wondering whether to use nonetheless or nevertheless , you’re not alone.  Both words seem...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 12 min read
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Through Her Eyes: Lessons from a granddaughter (#362)
In her, you see glimpses of those who came before. Perhaps a smile that echoes her mother’s, or a determined tilt of the chin that...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 293 min read
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Head Injuries, Horses, & Hypocrisy: The helmet debate in Vet Med (#361)
Research into workplace injuries in equine veterinary practice continues to shine a sobering light on our profession. Â Modern Equine Vet...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 282 min read
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Contextualized Care in Vet Med: Consideration or excuse? An opinion piece. (#360)
In veterinary medicine, contextualized care refers to adapting clinical recommendations to the specific circumstances of each patient,...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 274 min read
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Finding Your Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a purposeful life (#359)
In a world consumed by burnout, productivity hacks, and the relentless pursuit of more , the Japanese concept of Ikigai  offers a...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 245 min read
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Cut That Out! The overlooked editing trick (#358)
Growing up in Australia, where “proper English" was prized and verbosity often mistaken for precision, I was slow to appreciate the...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 232 min read
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The Forgotten Workforce: Caring for those who care (#357)
She holds the weight of others' pain, Their sorrow, sickness, loss, and strain. With steady hands and steady grace, She hides the cracks...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 222 min read
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Institutional Memory: The wisdom we leave behind (#356)
In an era that celebrates innovation, disruption, and fresh perspectives, it's easy to overlook a quieter, invaluable resource that too...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 202 min read
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Sten-Erik Olsson: A memorable encounter (#355)
In 1986, I had the privilege of speaking at a distinguished veterinary conference in Lund, Sweden, dedicated to the intricacies of canine...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 193 min read
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The Politics of Power: Lady Chu - a familiar story? (#354)
In the annals of Chinese history, where emperors often take center stage, the story of Lady Chu  (also known as Lü Zhi , Empress of the...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 193 min read
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Limbic Resonance: The unspoken human/animal bond (#353)
Have you ever sat with someone in silence and somehow felt more at peace? Â Or caught someone's yawn, even though you're not tired? Â ...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 183 min read
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