Quote of the Day

What characterizes medieval in contrast to modern society is its lack of individual freedom. Everybody in the earlier period was chained to his role in the social order. A man had little chance to move socially from one class to another, he was hardly able to move even geographically from one town or one country to another. With few exceptions he had to stay where he was born. He was often not even free to dress as he pleased or to eat what he liked. The artisan had to sell at a certain price and the peasant at a certain place, the market of the town. A guild member was forbidden to divulge any technical secrets of production to anybody who was not a member of the guild and was compelled to let his fellow guild members share in any advantageous buying of raw material. Personal, economic, and social life was dominated by rules and obligations from which practically no sphere of activity was excepted. 

- Erich From, Escape From Freedom

Excellence Example

A brief example of Edward G. Robinson's talent from "Double Indemnity."

Unwise

Letting others determine your mood. Always keeping score. Comparing yourself to others. Rushing to do that which should be postponed. Filling your days with busyness. Forgetting old friends. Sacrificing the present on an altar of the past. Speed-reading life's poetry. Failing to breathe deeply. Looking over the shoulder of one who is facing you. Taking tomorrow for granted. Omitting a word of encouragement. Mocking moderation.

Retro Radio

Featured on CoolTools. I own two of these and they are great.

The Pass

Took dog for walk during the Super Bowl. No one else was on the street except for one guy who was watching the Super Bowl on his smartphone as he walked.

Got back in time to watch the last part of the game. Generations from now, people will be groaning over the decision to pass.

Great game but the ending, whether it was a win or loss for Seattle, would have been better if they just fought it out on the ground.

Time-Related Responses

"Got a minute?" 
I've got five but no more than five.

"You have ten minutes to agree or else the offer is withdraw." 
Then I can answer more quickly. The answer is no.

"We believe the project can be completed in a week." 
I'll put the estimated time of completion as within three weeks.

Quote of the Day

If anyone says to you: "everyone knows that," "it's obvious that," or "it's indisputably true that," you can be certain that the person has taken for granted what he or she is about to assert. 

- Michael Armstrong

Sales Genius

Scenario: Doorbell rang during Super Bowl. My wife answered the door. I sat and wondered, "Who sells stuff door-to-door during the Super Bowl?"

Answer: A kid selling Girl Scout cookies.

Questions: Who is most likely to answer the door during the Super Bowl? Is the husband or the wife more likely to buy more than a couple of boxes of Girl Scout cookies?

Conclusion: The kid is brilliant.

Fog

Fog in Phoenix. Very dense in our neighborhood. Love it. May read some Sherlock Holmes stories. Is there a football game today?

[Update: The sky has cleared. It is Chamber of Commerce weather.]

Find Something Beautiful Today