An unforced error is a missed shot or lost point (as in tennis) that is entirely a result of the player's own blunder and not because of the opponent's skill or effort often happening because of impatience; inattention; or taking unnecessary risk. In other words, completely preventable. Life, I find, comes in peaks and troughs.... Continue Reading →
Yes, sometimes I feel overwhelmed. How could I not when I have to juggle kids while going 110% at work thanks to Covid-19? Who'd think a pandemic could complicate our lives this badly? It doesn't make it any easier that I also feel this invisible weight of fear for my own and my family's health... Continue Reading →
Reading When to Rob a Bank (by the authors of Freakonomics) and there was this little passage on plastic wrappers on fruit and food in general. In my mind, there was no doubt that that was a symptom of excess, and that it was undoubtedly a bad thing. But Levitt and Dubner (the authors) made... Continue Reading →
This past week has been difficult. I caught a stomach bug. It was awful. I thought I was strong. I was wrong. Throughout the week, I kept thinking: I would pay quite exorbitant amounts of money just to feel healthy again. But alas, money don't make the sick feel any better if they're not well... Continue Reading →
There was a metaphorical knock on the door that prompted me to look up from the busywork I was deeply involved in. Who was it? My first instinct was to turn him or her away. "Get lost," I wanted to say, but held back. I opened the door and saw the blurred face of what... Continue Reading →
Today was an awful day. It started with me waking up a little later than hoped. I'd planned to go in earlier, get a head start on the tons of work I'd left outstanding from the previous day. But by the time I managed to get to the station it was peak and the trains... Continue Reading →
"Just smile and wave boys," he said, as he walked out of the office door. We were going for lunch, and our poor colleague was stuck with the boss. It was a Madagascar reference. A cute, funny scene. But what it reminded me of was a poem by Stevie Smith; not quite as funny; not... Continue Reading →
Flowers grow on dirt; manure. On diamonds? Never. May I be like dirt. May those who encounter me grow and bloom.
I just received a mailer from Effective Altruism, via which I do a monthly donation to charity. The mailer asked me to rate from 1 to 10, with 1 being least likely and 10 being most, how likely I would be to recommend Effective Altruism to a friend. I gave it a 10. And since... Continue Reading →
Just the other day I stood waiting to cross the street. As the cars passed in front of me I started thinking about how odd it'd be if one of these cars were to veer a little to the left. Maybe a crying child; maybe a bad day at work; maybe the shadow of a... Continue Reading →
Donn, fragments 