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. :-)
Spring cleanup on the farm is a fine thing, full of energy and anticipation, but I prefer the fall, mellowed by reflection and slowed by caution for that undiscovered yellow jacket nest and the snake looking for a place to soak up the morning sun. Autumn cleanup is subject to the welcome interruption of having … More Falling Leaves, Gathering Memories
A useful definition of intelligence is the ability to adapt to and thrive in one’s environment. Multiple studies have shown that intelligence is declining worldwide. Multiple studies have also shown that humans are getting smarter. The question of intelligence is a a good example of the challenge in finding truth in the age of … More The Intelligence Test
Everyone has a right to an opinion, but nobody is entitled to one. Opinions are worthless unless formed by reason and informed by fact. A worthwhile opinion takes effort. This is one of the reasons why we rarely give advice. Advice is usually an unwelcome visitor, and even when invited, it is expected to be … More The Value of Advice
Pages turned with every step we took, telling stories mysterious and astonishing. All of it was information we could use. … More Rats Under The Floor
We have some practical advice for you this morning. It is the distilled wisdom of many hundreds of thousands of miles traveled on the highways commuting, towing and hauling. It comes at a time when the veneer of civilization that covers our civil society has grown thin in places, and the roadways are beset by … More Beware the Jack-in-the-Box and Other Road Hazards
Has anyone in the long history of humanity ever changed their mind because someone insulted them? … More Still On The Playground
If you live in the mountains long enough, you will eventually have a bear story to tell. Despite pressure from hunting and encroachment by human development, bears continue to survive, and some would say thrive in our mountains. Bears are built for survival. They are powerful and agile omnivores. They have better eyesight than humans, … More Bear Necessities
It’s hard to live in the country without a truck. So we don’t. Our truck is over 20 years old, just getting broken in. It’s not the best looking truck around. Life on the farm has a way of leaving it looking somewhat…weathered. But we love our old truck and we try to take care … More Good Samaritans
Educators and counselors talk about “teachable moments.” If we’re “living right,” as my grandfather used to say, we encounter these moments every day and often. Sometimes our best teachable moments are also ranked as our most embarrassing. When I am an old man telling and re-telling the stories of my youth and its glory days, I … More The Passing of the Flame
We’re going to talk about immigration today, but we’re going to step back from the drama without rushing automatically into those well trodden camps on the left and right sides of virtual reality, ready to attack, and searching for just the right meme to signal our virtue to our respective tribes. We are so distracted while … More Cold Equations
Outside The Box 