Simplify

I  need to simplify my life. I must end the multitasking of various clusters of my daily activities, and begin living life in one slow, meticulous, and deliberate step after another. And if life becomes too harried and I find myself slipping into the deluge of compound task completion I will muster up all of my courage and stop! At this point I will pick the next appropriate task and complete it as before.

Cookies

The spirit of giving.

I heard this damn Oak Ridge Boys song the other day; it’s about Christmas cookies and how much the Oak Ridge Boys love them, and they were performing it on TV at 5:00 in the morning.

Apparently, any music I hear at 5:00 in the morning sticks in my head for a long time. Especially the part of the song when the bass-voiced Oak Ridge Boy says, “Oh yeah,” and “Mmhmm,” after the chorus.

My holiday gift to you is not posting an mp3 of the song here on this page to ambush you, thereby lodging it in your head, too. Just a little bit of seasonal generosity, and you’re welcome.

The truth is that I couldn’t find a copy of the song for free and there’s no way I’m paying good money for an Oak Ridge Boys song about cookies. Or, really, an Oak Ridge Boys song about anything or, for that matter, probably any song about cookies by anyone except Cookie Monster. So it turns out that I’m both seasonally ungenerous and cheap. And also a cookie song snob.

Bah. Humbug.

onepotmeal > It's all true, mostly..

Tiny

I would tell you the exact number of tiny humans who have been living under my floorboards undetected until today—building tiny buildings and driving tiny cars, even founding a tiny university with a tiny pond and an supertiny scale model of the campus in the tiny visitors’ center—but I don’t think you would believe me because it’s a very big number.

onepotmeal > It's all true, mostly..

Choice

It occurred to me recently that our only true unfettered liberty is our freedom to choose. Our “God given” liberties pale in comparison to this one shining example of pure an unadulterated freedom.

Moderate

For every one moderate entity, there are at least two polar entities holding it in place.

Radio

Excellent NPR radio program.

http://www.thislife.org

Tmesis

tmesis \TMEE-sis\, noun:

   In  grammar  and  rhetoric,  the  separation of the parts of a compound  word,  now  generally  done for humorous effect; for   example, "what place soever" instead of "whatsoever place," or   "abso-bloody-lutely."

Occupation

My six year old indicated today that after long contemplation he has decided to change career paths from an FBI agent to Santa Claus. I instructed him to submit his resume to the UN office of philanthropy, and holiday cheer christmas division….

Blue Steel

Photography Provided by Devin S. Elmore. Thanks Devin.

Kitsch

After viewing a movie yesterday evening that didn’t have a “happy” ending, my wife stated, “I didn’t care for that movie”. I responded “it was probably because it didn’t have a pat, kitschy, ending” that provided closure for all involved. The conversation that ensued as a result of this exchange grew rather intense and didn’t close with a happy ending either.

Later, as I considered this exchange, it occurred to me that Danielle’s response is not uncommon, particularly in the main stream culture of America. For some reason, we have come to place a high value on successful causutums and have cast off the unsuccessful and difficult outcomes as mere detritus having no value or use. It is possible that this is a result of our being conditioned by much of the media that we are exposed to on a regular basis. I am sure there are other reasons as well but the discovery of those is for another discussion.

I would argue though, that while it is not wrong to expect all of our endeavours to turn out successfully, and that it is a basic requirement for their success, we should not overlook the import of adverse outcomes, and difficult circumstances. In fact we should look forward to them if at all possible. I can attest, that had it not been for the difficult circumstances in my own life, I would not be as valuable to my peers, my family and anyone else in my “marketplace” as I am. Most likely anyone who reads this could attest to the same thing, that the adverse times in their lives sharpened and honed them,  and even knocked off the excess useless material that was holding them down from their full potential.

To take a broader perspective, consider if you will, the free market system. The new technology, and innovative strategies that are produced by it are a result of there being an inequity or inefficiency that catalyzed these advances. In other words, circumstances became uncomfortable enough that it drove someone to seek out a solution to a problem. It is very plain by this example that the struggles of individuals or groups more times than not results in improvement.

 

Hideous

Quotable

"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination." -- Albert Einstein

Freak

Here is a great book which I enjoyed reading very much. While there is no real ideological argument, the data that is presented by Steven D. Levitt and the conclusions one undeniably draws from it are compelling.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/006073132X/harpercollinspub/102-9143464-1514517
    

Octet Comparator

What a great phrase to drop in conversation to improve ones perceived
technical savvy.

m

Me

 

Death

It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch.
Author Unknown

Neophite

This is my first post on my first blog ever!