Carhenge
Posted by Simon
Carhenge puts all of my henging to shame. I’m looking forward to visiting this summer when I’ll just happen to be in Nebraska.
They also sell postcards. What a good idea.
Maxim of the Week for May 28, 2006
Posted by Simon
Even if your first job is sweeping floors, think like an owner.
Rich Karlgaard, Publisher
Forbes Magazine
Ranger Doug’s Rules
Posted by Simon
When we hiked the loop trail to the High Sierra Camps in Yosemite a few years ago our guide was “Ranger Doug.” He is full of fun, wisdom and awe and was a terrific guide. We wrote these rules based on the advise he gave us during the week we spent with him:
Rip Rap is not a type of Pop Music.
Guiardia is not a chocolate factory in San Francisco.
Assume the signs are wrong.
Mosquitoes are not an endangered species
Never miss an opportunity to take off your pack and boots.
If you don’t like the weather wait 20 minutes.
The cure for boredom is adventure.
Mountain Lions, Rattlesnakes and Bears. Oh my!
Hydration is the cure. What is the problem?
Being in the high country is like living in a postcard.
Once in your life walk barefoot in a meadow.
Walking barefoot in a meadow
Men of Stone Progress
Posted by Simon
We now have all of the first five stones, identified retrieved, designed, cut and drilled. Stone number one, The Gneiss One, is installed in a custom pool in Simon’s yard. Stones four and five are now in Simon’s driveway.
Moving #4 using the MDX drag method.
Not recommended.
Stones two and three will be recovered from the fabricator on Friday 5/26/2006. We are working on designing and building a prefabricated basin.
Writing Postcards
Posted by Simon
I write about two hundred postcards a month many of them to people I have never met. The question is why do I bother? The following is a cosmic big picture reason. But the main reason is that I enjoy it. It gives me pleasure to try and condense a moment into a 3″ by 4″ space. I know that some of the cards give the recipients pleasure but the reason I write them is entirely selfish. I laugh at my own jokes.
Some cards are of beautiful scenes
Life lessons to be learned from sending postcards:
1. The 80/20 law. 80% of the value of the card comes from sending it. The message, the picture and where it is from are incidental to the value. In the words of Woody Allen “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.”
2. Just because you will get very little feedback you shouldn’t stop. Postcards don’t have return addresses and an acknowledgement should not be expected. The benefit should be from the sending. However the people who receive cards from you will be a network of good friends far into the future.
3. Everybody loves personal attention. Hand addressed mail is getting as rare as customer service in retail stores and doctors who make house calls. Sending postcards give the recipient a unique experience which they will appreciate.
5. Fun is an acceptable goal in its own right. Don’t be too serious or preachy. Be quirky, current, clever or informational.
6. Change is…. In the next two generations mail will stop being delivered to homes every day. The cards that are sent today will be the collectables of the future.
Sadly this one is already a collectable.