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If I look around my house, there are many items that are really my parents (and maybe even my grandparents) stuff. It could be a tool (like the wooden tap hammer in my tool box),or a kitchen item (the apple pairing knife), a blanket, tie, the list goes on and on. Since Jenna has left for college various items have disappeared (forks, garden tools, etc.). It is a natural occurrence that functional stuff begins to disappear. Some of these treasures create instant memories of past projects and places lived.
I'm sure there were times when Dad would be helping me on a project here in Cincinnati only to discover his tool in my tool box available for use. "I seem to recognize that hammer, Garen". My response - "Oh Yeah, I must have borrowed it, isn't it great to have a familiar tool to work with here in Cincinnati :). Do you need it back? Great - I'll just keep it here for future projects."
The best part of parental stuff disappearing (as a parent) is having someone to blame when you can't find the item in the endless stuff that accumulates at home. "Where did I put that pair of pliers? Jenna must have borrowed them."
Whether borrowed (by your kids) or misplaced - the second best part is being able to replace Dad's stuff (that I "borrowed") with a new tool.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Need Film
A.M. proudly announced he had a photographic memory ..... he just was out of film :)
The actual term is Eidetic Memory - the ability to recall images, sounds or objects in memory with great precision, and is not acquired through mnemonics. Interestingly there is no one able to conclusively (and scientifically) prove they have this capability (e.g. no one has film).
So that "claimed" photographic memory is a combination mnemonics and non-eidectic memory enhancing techniques (e.g. context, pattern, reconstruction etc.).
Maybe instead of film - it is rapid ability to sketch. Even that sounds sketchy. :)
The actual term is Eidetic Memory - the ability to recall images, sounds or objects in memory with great precision, and is not acquired through mnemonics. Interestingly there is no one able to conclusively (and scientifically) prove they have this capability (e.g. no one has film).
So that "claimed" photographic memory is a combination mnemonics and non-eidectic memory enhancing techniques (e.g. context, pattern, reconstruction etc.).
Maybe instead of film - it is rapid ability to sketch. Even that sounds sketchy. :)
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| http://umlaufsculpture.org/?attachment_id=2755 UMLAF Sculpture & Garden - Austin Tx |
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Entitled to Freedom
"You can't be free when you are being supported". I wrote this down on a slip of paper but neglected to identify the source (maybe from the movie Grey Gardens). Subsidizing anything shackles its ability to grow independently - earned effort.
In the book "The Millionaire Next Door", Stanley and Danko invented the term UAW (Under Accumulator of Wealth) and found that UAW's tend to have children who require an influx of their parents' money in order to afford the lifestyle that they expect for themselves. The book has a whole chapter titled "Economic Outpatient Care". It provides example after example where UAW gifts/subsidies are mismanaged, interpreted as earned/owned, and weaken the recipient - creating even more dependency.
When we are physically weak, the body knows in order to heal, that exercise and rehab is necessary. With that healing process comes pain and effort. The body expects us to "earn" back the good health.
Compassion encourages the giving person to help and provide aid where there is a need. Usually, the intent is to provide a "jump start" for the individual to "get back on their feet". The challenge is defining whether the gift satisfies a need or subsidizes a want. So the issue of extending the unemployment insurance that is now being debated will naturally be argued between what is compassion and what is dependency. There is no easy answer other than to eliminate the perception that a subsidy will always be available.
These discussions extend into all entitlements (the word itself is an anathema to the individuals freedom). Do you know what the best entitlement program invented is? A job.
In the book "The Millionaire Next Door", Stanley and Danko invented the term UAW (Under Accumulator of Wealth) and found that UAW's tend to have children who require an influx of their parents' money in order to afford the lifestyle that they expect for themselves. The book has a whole chapter titled "Economic Outpatient Care". It provides example after example where UAW gifts/subsidies are mismanaged, interpreted as earned/owned, and weaken the recipient - creating even more dependency.
When we are physically weak, the body knows in order to heal, that exercise and rehab is necessary. With that healing process comes pain and effort. The body expects us to "earn" back the good health.
Compassion encourages the giving person to help and provide aid where there is a need. Usually, the intent is to provide a "jump start" for the individual to "get back on their feet". The challenge is defining whether the gift satisfies a need or subsidizes a want. So the issue of extending the unemployment insurance that is now being debated will naturally be argued between what is compassion and what is dependency. There is no easy answer other than to eliminate the perception that a subsidy will always be available.
These discussions extend into all entitlements (the word itself is an anathema to the individuals freedom). Do you know what the best entitlement program invented is? A job.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Protect-a-tory
I just invented a new word. I needed to rhyme with Regulatory to make my point. As I was reading J.P.'s outline about the "American Dream", his narrative about Economic Freedom pointed out the impact of regulation (over regulation) on restricting our economic freedom. Criticizing regulations is a common diatribe of most politicians. Too often budgets are rationalized by saying a certain legislation is simplifying regulations and reducing the cost to businesses. Instead of simplifying it - another layer of complexity complicates the matter.
The root cause of the problem is not regulation - it is over protection. Government attempting to protect the individual from some hidden "evil" or even from accidents, terrorists, natural disasters and yes even mismanagement of health and wealth. It is the classic parental attempt to prevent their children from making mistakes. Or worse, when a mistake does occur parents try to eliminate or avoid any negative consequences. Creating a "Protect-a-tory" environment.
This is clearly seen in the over reaction to airport security. With great taxpayer cost, passenger inconvenience, and commercial price increase, the government creates the illusion that passenger safety has increase; Maybe safety increased incrementally a small amount - but at what cost.
The trouble with regulations (like business controls) is that they too often are reactions to an unfortunate occurrence (maybe even random). The regulation is put into place to prevent the negative occurrence from happening again. The benefit of the regulation is never evaluated and it never goes away even if the process returns to normal (with lower probabilities of negative occurrences in the future). Unfortunately there is an exponential inefficiency as layer after layer of regulations are implemented. This is evident when you see the U.S.A. tax code and it's many attempts at social engineering.
How to dismantle a "Protect-a-tory" environment is the key to stopping the drain on economic freedom. Start with limited government.
P.S. Coming soon - special healthcare mandates of rubber sole shoes to prevent slipping on ice for any temperatures below 32 degrees
The root cause of the problem is not regulation - it is over protection. Government attempting to protect the individual from some hidden "evil" or even from accidents, terrorists, natural disasters and yes even mismanagement of health and wealth. It is the classic parental attempt to prevent their children from making mistakes. Or worse, when a mistake does occur parents try to eliminate or avoid any negative consequences. Creating a "Protect-a-tory" environment.
This is clearly seen in the over reaction to airport security. With great taxpayer cost, passenger inconvenience, and commercial price increase, the government creates the illusion that passenger safety has increase; Maybe safety increased incrementally a small amount - but at what cost.
The trouble with regulations (like business controls) is that they too often are reactions to an unfortunate occurrence (maybe even random). The regulation is put into place to prevent the negative occurrence from happening again. The benefit of the regulation is never evaluated and it never goes away even if the process returns to normal (with lower probabilities of negative occurrences in the future). Unfortunately there is an exponential inefficiency as layer after layer of regulations are implemented. This is evident when you see the U.S.A. tax code and it's many attempts at social engineering.
How to dismantle a "Protect-a-tory" environment is the key to stopping the drain on economic freedom. Start with limited government.
P.S. Coming soon - special healthcare mandates of rubber sole shoes to prevent slipping on ice for any temperatures below 32 degrees
Monday, January 6, 2014
Double Bungle
I was totally off (or all wet) on my weather forecast. The Bengals playoff game was in the 40's with rain during the final quarter. There was no déjà vu of the Freezer Bowl. The big chill came last night and continues to get colder tonight - with wind chills expected -30 degrees below zero..
The Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs after many turnovers (or should I say "bungles"). The more interesting game and almost a reenactment of the Ice Bowl was in Green Bay with 8 degree weather. San Francisco won that game so California stomped the Midwest teams.
The Superbowl this year will be in New York so instead of a blackout (like last year) the could easily be a whiteout. I like it that way - there is just something nostalgic and traditional about football games played with all the natural elements (except for us wimps watching in the comfort of our homes).
The Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs after many turnovers (or should I say "bungles"). The more interesting game and almost a reenactment of the Ice Bowl was in Green Bay with 8 degree weather. San Francisco won that game so California stomped the Midwest teams.
The Superbowl this year will be in New York so instead of a blackout (like last year) the could easily be a whiteout. I like it that way - there is just something nostalgic and traditional about football games played with all the natural elements (except for us wimps watching in the comfort of our homes).
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Freezer Bowl Deja Vu
I like the winter season even with the bitter cold temperatures outside. The warm feeling of being inside with the sun shining through the windows. This new year has started out with a bang as temperatures last night dropped to 15 degrees. Even the afternoon sun could barely combat the frigid air slightly raising the temperature to 25 degrees.
Another Winter Advisory with more snow should arrive Sunday at 5am with expected temperatures at -2 below. This sets up a deja vu moment as the Cincinnati Bengals host the San Diego Chargers in another Freezer Bowl (January 10, 1982). I was watching the game in my warm house in Hyde Park on that memorable day. It was a good day to be inside watching the game on television. Maybe the record of -37 degrees (wind chill) will be broken - but it's doubtful.
I have no problem watching the second Freezer Bowl inside in my warm home in Indian Hill - now in high definition. It's no wonder that it required Kroger and P&G to buy the unsold tickets to prevent the blackout.
As for today ---- I am happy to look outside at my natural snow scene portrait through the family room window sipping on a cappuccino by the fireplace listening to classical music.
Another Winter Advisory with more snow should arrive Sunday at 5am with expected temperatures at -2 below. This sets up a deja vu moment as the Cincinnati Bengals host the San Diego Chargers in another Freezer Bowl (January 10, 1982). I was watching the game in my warm house in Hyde Park on that memorable day. It was a good day to be inside watching the game on television. Maybe the record of -37 degrees (wind chill) will be broken - but it's doubtful.
I have no problem watching the second Freezer Bowl inside in my warm home in Indian Hill - now in high definition. It's no wonder that it required Kroger and P&G to buy the unsold tickets to prevent the blackout.
As for today ---- I am happy to look outside at my natural snow scene portrait through the family room window sipping on a cappuccino by the fireplace listening to classical music.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
2nd Christmas
The family exchanged our Christmas presents today. Since we were in Paris on December 25th, we decided to celebrate "second Christmas" today.
I always remember Mom saying that Christmas could be celebrated any day we all got together. Every newly wed couple must address how to divide up spending time with two families during the holidays. For out of town distance, this usually means rotating every other year. Having both sets of Parents out of town makes the logistics even harder.
Once Jenna was of the "age of Christmas hyperdrive", we decided that Christmas Eve/Morning would always remain at our house and all travel would be done before and/or afterwards. We were lucky for years that my extended family would always visit Cincinnati between Christmas and New Years Day.
So there has been a long tradition of 2nd Christmas in our family. How fun it is to laugh and play a 2nd Christmas day!
I always remember Mom saying that Christmas could be celebrated any day we all got together. Every newly wed couple must address how to divide up spending time with two families during the holidays. For out of town distance, this usually means rotating every other year. Having both sets of Parents out of town makes the logistics even harder.
Once Jenna was of the "age of Christmas hyperdrive", we decided that Christmas Eve/Morning would always remain at our house and all travel would be done before and/or afterwards. We were lucky for years that my extended family would always visit Cincinnati between Christmas and New Years Day.
So there has been a long tradition of 2nd Christmas in our family. How fun it is to laugh and play a 2nd Christmas day!
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