What time is sunset?

Adventures

This one goes out to all the people out there who ever said to me “How’s the weather up there?”

Tonight, by stopwatch, we determined that the Sun sets three seconds earlier for Cori than for me.

…the Sun sets three seconds earlier for Cori than for me.

Furthermore, we were able to run the experiment twice because we watched the sun set behind an island, and then ran south fifty yards to watch it set again, this time behind the horizon. I took this picture before the Sun set.

The Patrick Doctrine

Axioms, Observations

Some folks have been calling my nicknames doctrine “The Patrick Doctrine,” so I herewith I repost it with a slight expansion on the points.

1. You can’t make up your own nickname.
Folks do this enough that Seinfeld spent an episode on it. In agreement with Seinfeld, we say that if one nicknames himself, he should be mercilesslly renicknamed.

2. You have to dislike it at first.
Considering point 3, you won’t like an embarrassing nickname, till you learn to laugh with those who laugh at you.

3. It has to somehow be descriptive of your person or an incident from your past.
The best kind is a nickname that commemorates an embarrassing incident.

4. Diminutives are not nicknames.
Shmitty is not a nickname for Smith; Jack is not a nickname for John; etc.

5. Jesus was the most famous nicknamer.
Consider “Peter,” “The Sons of Thunder,” “Paul,” “Abraham,” “Israel,” and Revelation 2:17.

How Do You Plan Your Day?

Adventures

I recently realized I need a better way to organize and plan my tasks for the day. Then, I realized I had a better way for that in the past. So started writing them down on paper with prioritized and ordered. There is power in taking the time to write them down, prioritize them, and then order them, and then mark them as completed, forwarded, deleted, delegated, in process.

After doing this in my regular notebook for a year or two, I felt like I was lacking discipline in this, and lacking organization too. So, I purchased a refill pack for my ye olde Franklin Planner TM.

I enjoy this method of planning. It helps me organize all of the thoughts I have for the day, and it helps me complete tasks!

222,222

Adventures

At 222,222 miles, the old girl is just getting broken in!

Last year, when I bought this 2006 Land Cruiser, I wasn’t sure how I would like her, after several trouble free years with the sure-footed 2011 Xterra. Well, the LC is growing on me. I think I shall let her stick around.

Be clear and direct

Observations

Lately, in e-mail and chat I am seeing a confusing pattern of writing. Folks are putting their questions in the form of a statement, with a question mark at the end. This habit makes our meaning unclear and puts a burden on the receiving party to decipher the message. Here is a perfect example:

I’m sure he knows this is urgent since you and Buddy already connected?

– Anonymous

Is this a question or a statement? Is the writer asking for a response? It’s difficult to say. Do your readers a favor and communicate clearly. Use a period or an exclamation point when you are making a statement, and put your questions in the form of a question.

Do not disturb mode: blech

Observations

Here’s one of those ironies of technology that makes you stop and think, “Why am I just accepting what Apple delivers?” When you set up your do not disturb mode on iPhone, it now disturbs you every time it activates or deactivates. So, rather than having a small chance of being disturbed by a text or notification, I have a 100% chance of being disturbed by “Do not disturb” mode.