I am a chopper of wood and carrier of water, a keeper of bees, digger of soil, and washer of dishes, but when people ask me "what do you do" I usually satisfy them with "I'm in information technology." If they really want to know, I'll tell them about the decade as a wilderness guide. Some jobs are vocations, some are avocations, but that one was an evocation. I also wrangle pixels and try to herd them into representations of coherent thoughts, which is a provocation. :-)
We were determined not to have a garden this year so we could use the extra time to catch up on other projects. Consistent with the best laid plans of mice, men, and gardeners, we had a late garden instead, but just a small one. We only planted squash and corn. And pumpkins. And tomatoes. … More Halcyon Days
Sometimes our discussions here don’t appear to be very complimentary of younger generations, and that is a misconception I wish to rectify. Every generation has a tendency to disparage its replacement, and hold it responsible for change that it finds undesirable. The older we get, the more we find it difficult to accept change. We … More The Remnant
We prefer to buy American made products. They are not always, or often, it seems, easy to find. When we do find them, they are usually more expensive, though not always of a superior quality. When we shop, our first priority is locally owned businesses, and other than a few restaurants they are as rare … More Das ist ein klarer Fall
They say the United States has a “mixed economy.” It combines elements of a command economy, where government or central authority regulates economic activity, and a market economy where prices respond to supply and demand. Economists with a more historical perspective describe the evolution of our economy from agrarian to industrial, to today’s economy based … More The Zip Tie Economy
We were talking to our friend and financial advisor the other day. It wasn’t a long conversation because there is not that much to discuss. Nevertheless, it’s good to have the best maps available for navigating the treacherous and unknown waters of this strange and less than wonderful economy. At the end of the conversation … More Here Be Dragons
“Sometimes the very young do not do as they’re told.” -Anteaus of the Nox When you reach an uncertain age, you begin to realize that your parents were right about many things. This will occur sooner or later, like it or not, depending on how well you have been paying attention to your own life. … More A Message For The Very Young
A good friend moved to the area recently and told me about his ordeal sorting the disjecta membra from decades living in the same house. He was astonished by the volume of “stuff” purged before the move, and the number of things that had to be sorted, transported and stored. I believe a construction dumpster … More Odds and Ends
“Watch where you put your feet.” Excellent advice for an area prone to the surprise slither of rattlesnakes and copperheads when you least expect them. It was advice often repeated by my father as we were growing up, and I knew where he heard it for the first time the day my laughing grandfather said … More A Wise Man Walks
We love animal stories. Whether we consider ourselves animal lovers or not, and even if we have never gazed into the soulful eyes of a loyal canine, cuddled with a cat or been honored by the love of a good horse, most of us have a soft spot when it comes to our furry friends. … More All Creatures
There are interesting parallels between the world of today and the Gilded Age of the Robber Barons. When I say, “interesting,” I mean ironic, sometimes amusing and often discouraging, as in the subtle and sardonic Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” During the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, wealth was concentrated … More Careful As We Grow
