I moved into a previously abandoned house. Many windows were broken or missing; all copper pipes had been stolen, doors had no locks, and in some cases not attached to the house, etc. This is the story of my observations on the utility of each tenant of modern civilization.
*) Doors that work and have locks on them. It sure makes it harder for someone to sneak up on you that way, and less stuff disappears while I'm at work.
*) Electric power. Candles don't light very well; now I could turn on a light at will - awesome!
*) Electric blanket. It was 34 degrees F inside on the day I first spent the night; that's roughly like sleeping inside a freezer - it's a bone chilling radiant cold. It was big advance not to have to sleep in your cloths under every blanket I owned.
*) Indoor plumbing, sewage - although it was inconvenient to bring home a bucket of water from work every day; there is an awesome utility to being able to use the bathroom instead of going a few blocks down the road to the laundry mat.
*) Water hookup, phase 1. I got enough plumbing fixed to get one outdoor hose to work. No more hauling water home in the car; yeah!
*) Water hookup, phase 2. The toilet would now automatically refill.
*) Patched windows. Aluminum duct tape is an awesome way to patch a broken window; it doesn't break down in the sun, so it lasts for years, much to the chagrin of some of the neighbors. And, it's quite wonderful that the breeze isn't nearly as strong inside as outside anymore.
*) Bathroom sink. Being able to shave and brush your teeth inside instead of using the hose outside was a great upgrade.
*) Cabinets. The kitchen started out as a pile of rubble in the middle of what used to be the kitchen. I was able to put together some cabinets from the parts; there's a lot of utility to being able to store non-perishable food.
*) Kitchen sink. This was an unexpectedly big deal. Now I can wash a bowl, plate, or fork.
*) Refrigerator. (i.e. perishable food storage) - This was a big jump; I love milk and now I can buy it a whole gallon at a time.
*) Microwave. Wow, feels like the 19th century already.
*) Electric eye and cookware. Now I can cook beans, rice, etc. Huge advance.
*) Bath tub. Whoa, huge advance in civilization being able to eat and almost "live" inside all the time. The cold water was a "real men" type thing though.
*) Hot Water. OMG - it almost feels like I have a modern place to live.
*) Comfortable chair on the porch. It doesn't get much better than this.
*) Shower. I was wrong; it does get better. Last week a brother of mine found a shower kit on the clearance rack at Home Depot, bought it, and installed it. Awesome; it's a serious upgrade to go from bathing twice a week to showering every day. Some of my coworkers have already noticed!
This is the extent of the study so far and covers the three years past. Here are the current future plans, no idea of the impact yet:
*) Modern electrical circuit breakers. I am so tired of having to replace fuses when too many people turn stuff on.
*) Washer/Dryer. A friend gave me a set of them.
*) Stove. Serious upgrade to be able to make pizza at home.
*) Multiple rooms. I asked all the people I let stay at the house to move out; there aren't enough free rooms. (i.e. it would be nice to have a living room with living room furniture in it).
*) Gutters. This will stop the rotting of the windowsills and the flow of squirrels through the attic.
*) New Windows. This will dramatically stop the flow of air through the windows when they are closed, and the neighbors will be happy again.
*) Safer wiring. Who knew that they used cloth covered aluminum wires when the house was built...
*) Inside walls without cracks and large holes.
*) Paint.
*) Pictures on the walls.
Modern civilized living is only a few years away!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
History and Science
These two things are not the same. Paleontologists may call themselves scientists, but since they can't do an experiment to verify a theory of some species’ history (i.e. grow a population under controlled conditions, create fossils with that population, and compare the experimental result fossils with the originals, and then repeat the experiment several times to verify that yes, the theory is correct), I don't consider what they do "science".
Real scientists explore, think, theorize, and verify.
My younger brother is visiting for a few days, so I've enjoyed sitting on the porch at night watching the trees grow and discussing the history of the world. We discuss the good/bad/ugly of modern society from a cultural and historical perspective. One of the most interesting things to discuss is family history, as each member grows up and retains a different perspective and/or chooses what to remember and forget over time. Actually it's even more interesting than that - each of us interjects things into our memory over time that actually never happened.
My brother is like a walking encyclopedia and uses his ability to site thousands of references convincingly and from memory to debate/present his theories of all kinds of things. I find it fascinating to dissect these theories, trying to figure out where they came from and what influences have shaped them, and then at some level evaluate their merit - I use a far different evaluation metric than "is it true." I believe that knowledge is benign unless it provides some present and/or future benefit. Some knowledge (even truth) is actually harmful, and in my opinion should be relegated to irrelevant - i.e. on the list of things I won't even remember five years from now. That's a formula for happy living - a philosophical decision I choose to make/to blissfully ignore things that would otherwise dampen happiness and concentrate on the positive things that have the potential to be a blessing.
Here's a short example:
What is the truth: I'm going to be summarily fired in a year or two after twenty five years with the same company, scorned for being old, outdated, and unmanageable.
What I choose to believe: In a year or two I'm going to have the opportunity of a life time - the opportunity to move from helping thousands to helping tens of thousands of people.
What's the difference? In the case of what I believe, and have believed for several years, I've been studying harder than when I was in college. I've expanded my horizons in useful knowledge, abilities, and tools (both in creating better tools of my own and in learning how to use others).
What's the outcome? I'm happy, excited, and a little scared (like in college wondering what my career would be like); these bags need to be packed when the time comes - opportunity is like a bus and when it stops to pick you up, you can't get on unless you have the fare and are ready to travel.
Q.E.D.
Real scientists explore, think, theorize, and verify.
My younger brother is visiting for a few days, so I've enjoyed sitting on the porch at night watching the trees grow and discussing the history of the world. We discuss the good/bad/ugly of modern society from a cultural and historical perspective. One of the most interesting things to discuss is family history, as each member grows up and retains a different perspective and/or chooses what to remember and forget over time. Actually it's even more interesting than that - each of us interjects things into our memory over time that actually never happened.
My brother is like a walking encyclopedia and uses his ability to site thousands of references convincingly and from memory to debate/present his theories of all kinds of things. I find it fascinating to dissect these theories, trying to figure out where they came from and what influences have shaped them, and then at some level evaluate their merit - I use a far different evaluation metric than "is it true." I believe that knowledge is benign unless it provides some present and/or future benefit. Some knowledge (even truth) is actually harmful, and in my opinion should be relegated to irrelevant - i.e. on the list of things I won't even remember five years from now. That's a formula for happy living - a philosophical decision I choose to make/to blissfully ignore things that would otherwise dampen happiness and concentrate on the positive things that have the potential to be a blessing.
Here's a short example:
What is the truth: I'm going to be summarily fired in a year or two after twenty five years with the same company, scorned for being old, outdated, and unmanageable.
What I choose to believe: In a year or two I'm going to have the opportunity of a life time - the opportunity to move from helping thousands to helping tens of thousands of people.
What's the difference? In the case of what I believe, and have believed for several years, I've been studying harder than when I was in college. I've expanded my horizons in useful knowledge, abilities, and tools (both in creating better tools of my own and in learning how to use others).
What's the outcome? I'm happy, excited, and a little scared (like in college wondering what my career would be like); these bags need to be packed when the time comes - opportunity is like a bus and when it stops to pick you up, you can't get on unless you have the fare and are ready to travel.
Q.E.D.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Perception and Performance
This is an interesting facet of your life and mine. Perception is what a people think about your performance. Performance is what you actually accomplish in life. If you are evaluated by humans only, perception is everything. If you are evaluated by sensors or calculated metrics, performance is everything. Most of us are somewhere in between. Performance matters, but in the end what you take home is evaluated by a human who uses perception.
I have been troubled many times in my career by watching low performers take home big checks, and then move to another organization just before it would have been obvious they were selling a tonic that didn't work. Then, as if by script, someone with good performance steps in and saves the day; no reward is requested or given. It seemed so wrong each time, but ten years later, following everyone's career, there is actually no disparity; the under-performers eventually spent a long period of time looking for a job and the over-performers were (in time) rewarded for his or her efforts either with stability, freedom, or money.
So, you work second shift part time as a janitor in an organization; your job description reads something like "I keep the office space clean so the company can make money without regard to taking out the trash or cleaning the floor." So, employees are in the meeting room on an international conference call late in the night. It's time to vacuum the conference room. Is your job to clean the floor, interrupting the call, or is your job to quietly go in and ask the executives if they need anything; fresh coffee, or a run to the local restaurant to get something to eat; obviously, this is a circumstance that is out of the ordinary. It's an opportunity to show them you understand the difference between you position and mission. Your mission is to help the company be successful (as is everyone's). I hope you made the right decision and supported your coworkers, because it opened the door to the full time job as the receptionist when they need one, which opened the door to the next level when it is available.
Opportunities for greatness usually come in the 15 minutes you were early for work, or the hour you donated to the company while you were reading something to educate yourself after work.
I have been troubled many times in my career by watching low performers take home big checks, and then move to another organization just before it would have been obvious they were selling a tonic that didn't work. Then, as if by script, someone with good performance steps in and saves the day; no reward is requested or given. It seemed so wrong each time, but ten years later, following everyone's career, there is actually no disparity; the under-performers eventually spent a long period of time looking for a job and the over-performers were (in time) rewarded for his or her efforts either with stability, freedom, or money.
So, you work second shift part time as a janitor in an organization; your job description reads something like "I keep the office space clean so the company can make money without regard to taking out the trash or cleaning the floor." So, employees are in the meeting room on an international conference call late in the night. It's time to vacuum the conference room. Is your job to clean the floor, interrupting the call, or is your job to quietly go in and ask the executives if they need anything; fresh coffee, or a run to the local restaurant to get something to eat; obviously, this is a circumstance that is out of the ordinary. It's an opportunity to show them you understand the difference between you position and mission. Your mission is to help the company be successful (as is everyone's). I hope you made the right decision and supported your coworkers, because it opened the door to the full time job as the receptionist when they need one, which opened the door to the next level when it is available.
Opportunities for greatness usually come in the 15 minutes you were early for work, or the hour you donated to the company while you were reading something to educate yourself after work.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
First, second, third person
First person - Being in the moment; directly applying force/motion/attention to desired outcomes; directly reacting/responding to people/circumstances.
Second person - Being above the moment; in-directly applying strategies/actions/emotions with the side-effect of causing desired outcomes; being neutral to outside people/circumstances - modifying strategies when conditions change.
Third person - Being spiritual in nature; causing desired outcomes by unseen/unknown forces; effortlessly being unshakable and unstoppable at the same time.
In other words, 1) notice, 2) craftsman, 3) guru.
1) Happiness is uncertain and haphazard in the first person, because you depend on the environment for success or failure. The uncertain future is dangerous because even achieving desired outcomes may have side-effects/unintended consequences that are far worse.
2) Happiness is likely and life is an honest employer. You have to work to be aware of the changing environment and actively execute good strategy. The future is a positive place.
3) Happiness is present now and certain in the future. You haven't "worked" in years, but none-the-less accomplish far more than most imagine is possible. Your peers are completely puzzled.
Q.E.D.
Second person - Being above the moment; in-directly applying strategies/actions/emotions with the side-effect of causing desired outcomes; being neutral to outside people/circumstances - modifying strategies when conditions change.
Third person - Being spiritual in nature; causing desired outcomes by unseen/unknown forces; effortlessly being unshakable and unstoppable at the same time.
In other words, 1) notice, 2) craftsman, 3) guru.
1) Happiness is uncertain and haphazard in the first person, because you depend on the environment for success or failure. The uncertain future is dangerous because even achieving desired outcomes may have side-effects/unintended consequences that are far worse.
2) Happiness is likely and life is an honest employer. You have to work to be aware of the changing environment and actively execute good strategy. The future is a positive place.
3) Happiness is present now and certain in the future. You haven't "worked" in years, but none-the-less accomplish far more than most imagine is possible. Your peers are completely puzzled.
Q.E.D.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Hood life experience #29913
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Happy Valentines Day
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Commentary on the movie "Django"
"Django" is a movie cast in the southern US around 1858 - before the civil war. It's an interesting mix of brutality, humanity, stupidity, brilliance and kindness. In my view, the hero was the German - he made a lasting difference in the life story of the main character Django (played brilliantly by Jamie Fox). In the end, the bad guys got what they deserved and the good guys rode off in good spirits. The hallmark moment in the movie, in my opinion, was when the German refused to shake the hand of the brutal bad guy - and then killed him knowing this would mean a certain death. It was an act of "character"; doing what he felt was right in the face of a certain death because it was unconscionable to do otherwise. When enough of this type of person exists in a society, evil ways do not prevail. Good men stand against evil.
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