-
Quote of the day
From Tyler Cowen’s conversation with Elisa New
COWEN: Why would anyone ever have wanted to be a Puritan?
NEW: That’s a great question. That’s a terrific question and one that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. Being a Puritan is a great way to live a psychologically very candid life, [laughs] if what you want is actually not to be repressed at all.
We think of the Puritans as very repressed, but instead, you want to be marinating in and giving a lot of attention to all of your own insecurities and sense of, “I goofed that up. I messed that one up. Oh, that didn’t work out very well.” If you want to cultivate your inner life, it’s really great to be a Puritan.
If you want to live a kind of high-octane life of extremes, you want to feel the exultation of a day like this in New England, where the green of the grass and the blue of the sky announce to you that God’s creation is the most eloquent of all creations. If that’s what you’re after, that kind of intensity, New England Puritanism is a really good religion for you. -
Amusing things said at bedtime
Marleigh: Daddy – how do you think you’re going to die?
Me: Uhhhhhhhh – of old age I hope
Marleigh: How old?
Me: About 112 – how do you think I’m going to die
Marleigh: You’ll probably be killed by a monster who hates us, but my love will bring you back (and makes hand gestures indicating casting of spells)
-
A rare photo I didn’t take
You May Also Like
The Tree
-
Like father like daughter
You May Also Like
The Tree
-
Evolution of software
- Day 1 – Great – Software Product X does [THING]
- Day 365 – Man – it sure is complicated to use Product X to do [THING]
- Day 730 – Man – that [THING] is slow
- Day 1095 – No one notices [THING] because that [THING] has been automated and is happening in the background somewhere.
I’m going to use this as a way of streamlining operations.
-
Comparisons not being made
While 2018 seems to be the year that Godwin’s law became synonymous with “normal political discourse” – the more apt comparison seems to be to East Germany, or Brezhnev’s Russia, i.e. expensive, low-functioning, wanting desperately to have a purpose but not finding one worth working for and substituting that with hollow displays of virtue. That and identification papers being a big deal.
-
Canadian profanity is the best
I discovered an interesting tool breakdown/tool machining channel, called “Arduino vs Everything (or Evil, I’m not sure)” and it is a wonderful education on tools, and good filler noise for when I’m doing bookkeeping and what not (if nothing else). The creator is a skilled Canadian vulgarian (i.e. someone who uses profanity with grace and style). I discovered that profanity, when combined with an accent and regional phrasings (with which I’m not familiar) transforms into either all profanity, or all regional phrases, depending on tone.
The channel is worth trying.
-
Quotes to ponder
I came across the phrase “Tyranny of the articulate” somewhere recently – something to consider as one ranks the online component of modern life.
And as I must quote Kevin Williamson at every opportunity –
As the Scots say: “The father buys, the son builds, the grandchild sells, and his son begs.” A nation that is not building is on its way to begging.
-
French’s Line – Historical Marker
You May Also Like
The Tree
-
Saving Money on Health Care
Blogging about this so I don’t forget it – I’ve used GoodRX to save $50 or so already. Healthcare Bluebook seems interesting as well.