Maggie's Farm

Every decade or so I go back to the world of Jeeves. Maybe it's because the stories are fresh again. I find the dialog to be hilarious.

The World of Jeeves 

Via a post from our pal at Sippican Cottage:

I don't know what success is. I do know I have done pretty much what I wanted to do, so that's good. It feels good to be useful.

We tend to value personality traits more important than other things, but statistically IQ plays a big role in negotiating life. Biology is powerful 

I've often parked my cars under the shade of pine trees. I know that it is a dumb thing to do. A car wash is not effective.

How to get sap off of cars.  

I think of these wood beauties as lake boats, but they are more versatile than that. Speedy.

I guess it's self-evident that eyeglasses began as monocles, so that's an easy one.

However, at Costco you can literally get a pair (two) of prescription eyeglasses for the price of one anywhere else. That's assuming you are not too fashion-conscious. 

Is time a real thing, or a human illusion? Physicists wonder.

I just happen to be reading (among other things) an old Michael Crichton book Timeline.  It's sort-of about time travel. Exciting.

Besides that this guy's level of self-esteem irks me, I feel that he is living in another world. Guess I am a plain bourgeois, worthy of hanging.

Nobody's Fool, by Richard Russo

 From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls, this slyly funny, moving novel about a blue-collar town in upstate New York—and about Sully, one of its unluckiest citizens, who has been doing the wrong thing triumphantly for fifty years—is a classic American story.

I first learned about Skyhook while hanging out on the bridge of a ship in Santorini. I guess it's a deep caldera, too deep for anchoring.

In the joystick era of powerboats (not me), Skyhook will hold you in one spot, thanks to GPS:

Water mats are endless fun for kids. 

Take one out to the sea. Cool invention. Kids love to push eachother off.

I would never boat in fog on purpose. Commercial fisherman do it all the time - no choice. Furthermore, they know their waters by heart.

Got stuck in a fog bank this morning for an hour or so. Not fun. Where would recreational boaters be without GPS? I do have radar but not expert with it. I am a fair-weather boater. Not in the past, but now.

 Navigating In The Fog - When the heat of summer rolls in, humid air and cold water create a dense fog that blankets the coastline.

It's not a law, it's a rule of thumb. What is the Pareto Principle?

It's always good for a reminder: Marine VHF Radio: The Basics

We're told it's always a good idea to have a hand-held VHF too. If not a boater, it's interesting anyway.

Everybody has a dark side, or a "shadow self." Often, civilization and socialization buries it to varying degrees but do not underestimate its existence. 

As usual, Jordan Peterson has trouble shutting up but Robert Greene has been an interesting and successful author. I did read his book about power, but only looked at his Seduction book because I do not need to think about that these days.

And why do a few countries (like the US except the military) use a 12-hour cycle instead of 24?

Blame the Mesopotamians. 

Two terms I've found valuable via Scott Adams:

Talent stack

and most recently, "Recreational beliefs."

My Father's Day present. Unlike many guys, I am not a grill fanatic but it's ok. Not for fat ribeyes.

My last one rusted out and fell apart. Got a similar one, half propane and half charcoal/wood/smoker. Lowe's included free assembly, but I gotta give the guy $20 tip for that hassle. If nothing else, I always show gratitude for helpers. I've assembled big grills in the past, and it's a chore. Boat is in the water - no time.

Propane is quick, but I like charcoal+wood, especially for the TG turkey.

IQ expands options in life, but makes you no more honest, likeable, or happy.  Statistically, it matters to socioeconomic outcome. Luckily, most people worry more about contentment than socioeconomic status.

I needed 200 regular stamps.

You see neighbors - all waiting in a line. The location is ramshackle. It is pre-tech in every way but plenty of employees.

Going into the post office is like going back in time. Or back into Mr. Rogers. 

I waited a while while a few people got their packages stamped by a little kiosk, then I got 100 stamps from the machine. Took too long for me to get the other 100, plus there were impatient people behind me.

Greenland is the largest island on the planet. It's a country, sort-of. Part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Guess the population.

What its largest town? 

Was it green during viking times, or was that marketing?

Answers below the fold - 

Or some unused brain cells which are eager to be put to use?

Classics: Feynman's Basic Physics Lectures 

Recordings from 1961 are imperfect, but content is worth it. Enthusiastic teacher.

At the end of his interview (we posted a week ago) with Lex, Elon Musk says he read the entire encylopedia in youth. Doesn't say which one. Britannica? Possibly.

There is no substitute for curiosity. There are plenty of people with Elon Musk's brain power, but who never try to apply it. That's OK but it is inspiring to see.