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Simon Says

Lo Barato Cuesta.

“Cheap Costs You.” “Lo barato cuesta.” Mexican Folk Wisdom Bargain hunting is endemic. And then we complain that the local store with excellent service and lots of variety is vanishing. That is the long term cost of being cheap. But there is also an immediate cost. To sell it cheaper somebody has to make it cheaper or service it cheaper or reduce the number of options. And whatever it is if you buy it because it was cheaper you are much more likely to be… Read More »Lo Barato Cuesta.

More Serendipity

“Be on the lookout for serendipitous moments.”  Obligations, commitments, fears and inertia all combine to make us miss the serendipity that surrounds us. Backyard Scuba is a method to surreptitiously discover serendipity. This display of liquor bottles is a joy to behold. It can be seen at The White Chocolate Grill in Scottsdale AZ.

Moon Theory

The setting moon seen from the “Senior Summit” of Piestewa Peak. But this is not just the setting moon. This one is the “Wolf Moon.” When we saw this moon were speculating about why we are paying more attention to the lunar cycle in recent years. How did the idea of giving specific names to moons become much more popular recently. I have an idea why it might be. In cities for the last hundred years or so burning fossil fuels have made smog and… Read More »Moon Theory

Endurance Hiking

“I like to hike long distances. I want to feel the high that comes from exertion and to see strange things that are not near the road.” Photo is from our day of hiking in the Dolomites in Northern Italy in 2023.

Lev Malone

Lev Malone evolves.. Becomes “Leve M alone” becomes “Leave Me Alone.” Think of it as code: Lev Malone means “Leave me Alone.” The flowers are unknown. The photo was taken on a recent hike along the Arizona Canal near 24th St.

DEI vs MEA

Diversity, Equity and InclusionvsMerit, Experience and Attitude. If you needed to choose a doctor and you had data, would your criteria be more DEI or more MEA? How about when you were choosing a lawyer, a restaurant manager or a football coach? I rest my case. It is not popular to say but in our personal decision making we are mostly MEA. In the long run only natural monopolies can hire based on DEI and survive in the marketplace.

Radiolaria, Carpocanium Irregulare

Last April we were on a Glass Trip to Pittsburgh. During the trip we bought a lampwork glass piece that evoked an early, now extinct, jellyfish. Last week while I was organizing our taxes I found a credit card charge for Radiolaria, Carpocanium Irregulare. It took me a few steps to figure out what it was and that it was a legitimate charge. I hadn’t been ripped off by a Latin speaking internet scammer. I need to get more regular at reviewing my credit card… Read More »Radiolaria, Carpocanium Irregulare

Shame on Arizona

On June 2, 1924 American Indians were granted full citizenship by an act of the US Congress.It wasn’t until 1948 that Arizona allowed Indians to vote. From The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer An embarrassed “no comment” is all I can muster. For 24 years Arizona delayed and obfuscated. Shame. The question we need to ask is: What are we doing today that a hundred years from now will appear so awful? The photo is of some petroglyphs on Shaw Butte in north… Read More »Shame on Arizona

Worth Reading

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer If you care about fairness and justice this is a disturbing book. It is also a book about hope. The Native Americans were totally defeated by 1900 their number were down to about 300,000 people. Now 120 years later there are over 3 million Native Americans and they have lots of success stories. The book includes a very good short history of the Native American experience. It is eye opening. That story about deliberately spreading smallpox did… Read More »Worth Reading

Congress Moves

“Like all other large bodies, where there is a variety of different interests to reconcile, their deliberations are slow.“ George Washington, 1783 During the winter of 1783 Congress was dithering and the Continental Army was starving. A seditious letter was circulated at Newburgh and Washington made a speech, which included the line above, to quell the potential rebellion. He succeeded and that summer Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. Our government has always been slow and it has often been wrong but eventually it does the right… Read More »Congress Moves