We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Sailing or boating at night is mysterious, dramatic, beautiful. At least one person on board needs to be alert though. While that applies during daytime, much more so at night. Need radar and eyes.
Progress is a funny word. There is no doubt that Homo sapiens is remarkable in the ability to change and control the planet to meet its own needs and wants, with a population boom as a result.
However shocking it may sound, Child of God is not only among McCarthy’s best novels, it is one of his most poetically concise and beautiful ones as well. I do not think it farfetched to imagine that McCarthy means to suggest the ability of art to conquer insanity and evil by raising them to a higher level, or power.
Light-weight sneaker-style footwear seems to be the thing these days. Makes sense to me.
Also, I do not want waterproof. It does not work.
Also, I am never hiking with a 40+ lb. backpack.
I do enjoy bouldering and that sort of rocky thing where the old-style heavy leather boots work well, grip like ticks, but I see kids around me bounding like Mountain Goats on boulders in sneakers from Target. Probably not necessary.
(Yes, Mrs. BD and I are preparing for a 9-day hiking trip - no steeps but plenty of rain probably. A hilly 9-12 miles/day, but nights in Scottish-style "luxury".)
My theory is that it is best to tip people, always.
Barber, delivery guy, food service person, lawn guys, garbage guys. And the Dunkin Donuts staff. It makes everybody feel good.
That applies to the US. It's different in Europe, where they often apply a service fee. Who knows who gets that money? In Europe, tip like a miser even if you feel otherwise.
You did not learn much about life and work in the movie made from Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm. Movies can indicate content, action, but cannnot explain it.
I am re-reading the book. Read it if you have not. It is not Moby Dick (no transcendent component and no poetry), but the comparison has to do with the amount of information (oceanography, meteorology, technology, sociological, and the fishing industry) that Junger packed into this story. Not to mention that he is a compelling writer. Snappy, compact prose.
The guy deserves however many millions he made from the book. Sad to say, Melville didn't make a penny from Moby Dick.
My problem is that, regardless of brand, adjustments, etc., the pain in my injured shoulder destroys any pleasure with a backpack, or even a lighter daypack.
I don't like to look like a dork, but even worse is being like the Aussie hikers (sorry for the stereotype): the women herd the kids and carry the backpack, and the men just carry a beer or three, and the cheese sandwiches.
Have you every poured some Maple Syrup on some fresh snow? That will pull out a tooth.
It seems that the invention of ice cream (or, maybe at first, sherbet) was somewhere in the Middle East. Then somebody added more luxurious ingredients (Bastani).
It is easy to forget that there is plenty of snow and ice in Lebanon and northern Iran. This stuff can be transported. In much more contemporary times, schooners from New England used to transport blocks of Cape Cod pond ice to India. There is still a business called Cape Pond Ice.
Took Mrs. Bulldog to see Billy Joel as part of his Madison Square Garden residency. He announced how many shows he'd done there, I think it was 182. Not bad. He called himself "the house band." I have a feeling he is.
I had an opportunity to see him when I was 15. 1977, just after The Stranger was released. Some family dynamics prevented me attending and after that, I guess I just never cared enough to go see him, or didn't have the money. Billy Joel, today, is a NYC/NY State cultural icon. He may well be the MSG "house band" and that showed during the concert. The crowd was engaged, active and enjoyed every minute. I found myself singing along to songs I didn't even realize I remembered, and most weren't even singles, just album tracks.
It was a great show and I'm glad I finally saw him, even if his voice isn't what it once was (he admitted to missing the higher notes).
I had a conversation recently with a new member of my team. She was explaining to me why her dog (I'd name the breed, but don't want to put anyone on the spot - suffice to say it's a little yippy dog) was very "anxious". My immediate thought was of two items. The first was the breed is of a nature that has a naturally anxious demeanor. I had several friends who owned these, and they are definitely "anxious" dogs. The second was that she was anxious and transferred her anxiety to the dog. It's probable both points are applicable.
However, as I discussed this conversation with Mrs. Bulldog, she stated "anxious times make anxious people" and we discussed how for the last 2 1/2 years we were basically bombarded with frightening scenarios of Covid and, more or less, given 'permission' to be anxious. As a result, she stated, many people who were naturally anxious got it ramped up a degree or ten, while others on the borderline of being anxious were probably pushed over the edge. "No doubt," was my response.
Is anything more dorky, especially for a guy?
Have you every poured some Maple Syrup on some fresh snow? That will pull out a tooth.