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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 18, 20252 min read
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 18, 20252 min read
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 17, 20254 min read
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: ...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 10, 20252 min read
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 9, 20255 min read
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 . Known for his razor-sharp...
Rick LeCouteur
Jul 9, 20254 min read
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 8, 20253 min read
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 8, 20254 min read
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 4, 20253 min read
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 1, 20252 min read
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 29, 20253 min read
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. Modern Equine Vet...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 28, 20252 min read
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 27, 20254 min read
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 24, 20255 min read
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 23, 20252 min read
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 22, 20252 min read
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 20, 20252 min read
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 19, 20253 min read
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 19, 20253 min read
Limbic Resonance: The unspoken human/animal bond (#353)
Have you ever sat with someone in silence and somehow felt more at peace? Or caught someone's yawn, even though you're not tired? ...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 18, 20253 min read
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