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. :-)
It’s that time of year again, eagerly anticipated by some and dreaded by others. The Fair is back in town. If you live in Hiawassee or Young Harris, or have to drive through them to get to work, you may be in the latter group. Our small towns are served by one highway with limited … More Throwing Shade
We can understand the basics of how the brain works by thinking of it as a kind of difference engine. The brain processes a continuous flow of data from the senses, as well as data from its own internal functions, and it interpolates. It assumes, averages, fills in the blanks. This is why optical illusions … More Garbage In, Garbage Out
Nature always seeks balance, if we get out of the way and allow it to happen. … More Snake Eyes
But the national mind is not healthy. We have a splitting headache, and we’re beginning to think we might be bipolar. … More Got No Soul
…thieves take more than material possessions. They take peace of mind and faith in humanity. … More To Catch a Thief
The number of Americans who have died in battle since the Revolutionary War is 657,946. When we look at that number printed on the page in black in white, it does not cry out. It does not tell the stories of the men and women who died. It does not speak of the bravery and the … More A Sailor’s Story
Faced with a choice between being ignorant or being depressed, the bliss of ignorance begins to look more attractive. Being informed is hard work, and since fact can also lead to cognitive dissonance, it doesn’t always make us feel good. Being entertained is much easier. Nevertheless, some of us still prefer knowledge. Peddlers of media … More Shocking
How do we measure success? Popular culture has an answer, and we are all too familiar with that. But there is a better answer, and no finer example can be found than the life lived by our friend, Joe Anderson, of Upper Hightower. Joe passed away last Friday at the young age of 84. Mothers cherish those … More A Successful Life
When my father was a child, there was a remote spring in the mountains alongside a forest road traveled by horse and wagon or on foot. Travelers would sometimes water their horses at the spring, or take a drink and rest awhile in the shade of the tall chestnut trees. The spring was tiled with … More Click “Like” for The Earth
We’ve taken a much needed break from writing about political things here. It’s better for our mental and digestive health that we do so. But today we couldn’t resist a brief return to the bread and circuses. We’ve been feeling a little better about politics lately. No, politics has not changed, but we have redefined … More Idealism is a Hothouse Flower
Outside The Box 