http://www.iamcurious.net/index.htmlHot News!enen2026-05-09T09:19:33-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Sun, 24 Jul 2022 11:30:06 -0400Ramblings2026-05-09T09:19:33-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/26cf88b2da8a19ed1ebef5c6d7279fb8-46.html#unique-entry-id-46http://www.iamcurious.net/files/26cf88b2da8a19ed1ebef5c6d7279fb8-46.html#unique-entry-id-46

“Oath is a game about history. It’s about what gets forgotten, who gets left behind, and how power moves from one part of society to another. In each game, players will steer the fate of the land, affecting all the games to come. Like history, a campaign of Oath has no end.”



Oath - An Intro]]>Ramblings2026-05-09T09:08:21-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/58e92145d013dc2f80ca373429c1f6f0-43.html#unique-entry-id-43http://www.iamcurious.net/files/58e92145d013dc2f80ca373429c1f6f0-43.html#unique-entry-id-43Heat]]>Ramblings2024-06-15T15:41:00-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c2ac3bf9585180d0f5da52aa6071bec7-40.html#unique-entry-id-40http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c2ac3bf9585180d0f5da52aa6071bec7-40.html#unique-entry-id-40Nemo’s War - A Maiden Voyage


I peered through the porthole as we were about to embark, leaving out tiny island in the midst of the Indian Ocean. The sea was angry that day my friends, and my fear was that the dice would be angrier…

We were to Explore the world’s oceans, and I was a sailor aboard the Nautilus, captained by Nemo, a mercurial, strong willed genius. We quickly traversed through the oceans, using our Hydrodrive, searching for treasures, wonders and sights unseen. All the while the ocean above was filling with ships from the imperial powers that be.

Nemo showed his mettle by defeating a Great White Shark, while acquiring treasures left long ago on the ocean floors. He also showed his fickleness by depositing the good Professor Arronnax in the middle of the ocean in favor of another for Science Officer.

We sped through the Atlantic, into the Arctic, making discoveries as we went. We were uneasily aware of the ships above us. We had an encounter with the SS City of Boston which we handled quickly and many on the surface will wonder where the ship finally came to rest. We sped to the Pacific to avoid further calamities.

Our peace was short lived as the oceans kept filling with ships. We soon had another encounter with the tea carrying clipper ship Tasting. Charles Grey, the Earl Grey, would be without his tea that year. We quickly exited the Pacific Oceans via Cape Horn, but were almost boiled alive due to ocean vents We had a short encounter with the French Ship, Napoleon III, which went badly causing damage to the hull an loss of some crew. We came across a United States of America flagged whaling ship, named the Pequod, which we promptly sunk. I can still recall the image of a pegged legged man, screaming and waving a harpoon as the ship sank beneath the waves.

The new Science Office proved their worth by creating Steam Torpedos, which would greatly increase our ability to attack, while preventing damage to ourselves. And while they worked for a time, the toll of fighting was weighing heavily on Nemo. His goal was to explore, and while we were initially successful, the ocean was filling with increasing hostile ships, and we were on the defensive. Our notoriety continued to grow, in an ever descending spiral. The dice were cast when we sank the British Clipper, the Cutty Sark. We salvaged it’s cargo and the imbibing began. The incident brought talks of war from the British Imperialists.

We fled to the South, planning to wait out the turmoil, discovering the pole along the way. We attempted repairs and rest, but to no avail. We sailed north in hopes of finding sunnier climes, when it happened, our ship engulfed by what appeared to be enormous tentacles….It was….The Kracken….Jeez you would have thought Moby Dick would have ate this oversized calamari appetizer for us in thanks for sending old Ahab to Davy Jones’ Locker. However, this was not the case. It almost pushed Nemo and Crew to the breaking point. And in many ways it did. We survived, but were broken beyond repair. Leaving the Nautilus an empty shell, we disbanded, broken, defeated and all but forgotten. Only the oldest of salts have a faint recollection of the Nautilus and her mad captain Nemo.


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In a nutshell, I really enjoyed this game. If you are are looking for a solo adventure and this theme appeals to you, then it is worth checking out. A few other comments.

• Other games I have are Root, Pax Pamir 2E, and John Company 2E. While these games have solo modes (Root with Robotics), they really aren’t made for solo. They come to life with others at the table. I had given up on the concept of solo board games and then someone made the comment of trying a game that was designed for the solo experience, not something that was tacked on. Nemo’s War is a great example of this, as it was designed for solo play.

• There are dice. I say this now, because apparently, dice are a “thing” now. Decades ago I started playing chess as a kid (no dice) and then moved into D&D (lots of dice, and different kinds of dice) and then Avalon Hill games (many had dice). Dice were everywhere. Games faded away for a few decades, but I recently got back into the hobby and have discovered dice are a thing. One of my favorite computer functions, RND() seems to have become a dividing point amongst gamers. To each their own. I think chance is part of life. Now, you can take steps to minimize bad outcomes, and maximize good ones. The steps don’t always work, but they can/should help prevent catastrophic failure. Nemo’s War works this way. You have plenty of options of dealing with the dice.

• The game itself is beautiful and is fun to leave out on the table. I am a fan of Ian O’Toole’s art and his board design was extremely helpful in playing the game. I have a sense the next time I break this out, I’ll only need to refer to the rule book minimally as most of what you need to know is on the board. I also really appreciated all the flavor on the cards, the unique design of each ship and those small bits (like there is a ghost ship). Note, I have the Ultimate Edition of the game.

• I played a second game, and ended up losing due the seas being filled with warships, so a DNF. Still, i thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to trying a new strategy next time.

• I keep a small log book with the game, and make notes as I play. Both games felt like an adventure and over multiple plays, it will be fun to look back at past journeys, along with keeping track of scores.

• The game has three levels and eight motives, goals for Nemo to achieve, so there seems like there is plenty of variety. Each of the motives seem like they require a different strategy. There are also cooperative options and a multiplayer option. I have not tried them. I bought this primarily as a solo game, and it excels at that.

• Leaving port (my first play) was a slight challenge. There are two rule books. They both seem to have a reference type of approach. I recommend the Heavy Cardboard play through videos. They are very well done, and once you see game played, things start to click. My second game was much easier than my first.

• This will be an “event” game for me. Total play time seems to fall in the three hour time frame. This will be perfect on that cold winter night, wanting to unplug from technology and escape into an adventure. Pour a dram of scotch (Cutty Sark perhaps?) and go explore the oceans, incite some uprisings, and sink some ships!

]]>Ramblings2023-06-22T12:43:25-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/ac4b5f7198e78ad140b3394baf1005f4-39.html#unique-entry-id-39http://www.iamcurious.net/files/ac4b5f7198e78ad140b3394baf1005f4-39.html#unique-entry-id-39




Source: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/summary-stats#temporal-comparison-stats]]>Ramblings2022-08-13T16:17:15-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/08a6a4616035c44697ef7a8c5170e1f7-37.html#unique-entry-id-37http://www.iamcurious.net/files/08a6a4616035c44697ef7a8c5170e1f7-37.html#unique-entry-id-37The number of tornadoes experienced by US is trending up over time.




Source: www.ncei.noaa.gov]]>Ramblings2022-07-25T19:00:26-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/af903215b8c9bc7f63a74d616d4da520-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.iamcurious.net/files/af903215b8c9bc7f63a74d616d4da520-6.html#unique-entry-id-6To an old man, writing and peeing are very similar. You always have the urge to do both, but it only comes out in drips and drabs….]]>Ramblings2022-07-24T11:42:01-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/1061a1bd95dfc6ae02416a0339b8890b-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.iamcurious.net/files/1061a1bd95dfc6ae02416a0339b8890b-0.html#unique-entry-id-0

Apologies for the lost content. Hoping to have it all available again soon.


]]>Ramblings2022-05-19T14:31:50-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/17147f87edb4abb973a3db36f6276b54-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.iamcurious.net/files/17147f87edb4abb973a3db36f6276b54-1.html#unique-entry-id-1

]]>Ramblings2022-01-09T15:28:31-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/88cd650d66cea70cf1f63306a7f86f67-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.iamcurious.net/files/88cd650d66cea70cf1f63306a7f86f67-2.html#unique-entry-id-2Return Of the Kindle


It has been awhile since I have written, and I have written those opening words way too many times before. So a New Year’s Resolution is to start writing again and put it on this blog. Typically I’ve started off new year entries with some goals and resolutions, or a reading list. This entry will be a little of both; the aforementioned resolution and something related to a reading list, though I don’t necessarily have a list of books at the moment.

There have been times in my life where I was a voracious reader…typically followed by periods of nary of word. In recent times, I fool myself into thinking I am reading by looking at my phone, or if I am feeling really motivated, looking at the computer screen. Let’s be honest, clickbait articles are to reading like potato chips are to a healthy diet. Even an interesting article I find on the web, while considered long form, really isn’t deep a dive into a topic, or a story. Think of it as a heathy snack as opposed to a meal, or ideally a month of eating right.

It isn’t that I don’t have enough books. My better half will tell you that I most certainly do. I think I currently have four books piled up on my night stand, all in various states of being partially finished. And my bookshelf has a host of more books waiting to be cracked, at least beyond the Introduction. We would be overrun by books at this point if my wife hadn’t suggested putting a cap that I can’t own more books than can fit on my reasonably sized bookshelf. She knew full well that I would push the limit with my nightstand, desk…and a few under the bed. There are probably a few stuffed someplace that I have forgotten about.

So why haven’t I completed them? Great question. I am still interested in the topics, so that really isn’t an issue. Time? Lack thereof? That certainly is part of the issue, but not the whole issue. Taking a step back, I looked at the books I actually did read, consistently. I came up with two, specifically (thankfully there were more, but these two popped out for a specific reason): “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday and “A Calendar of Wisdom” by Leo Tolstoy. Both these books fall into the “daily devotional” category. There is a page for each day with a quote or thought and some discussion thereof. I recommend them both. I have read both, completely, and in the case of the “Daily Stoic,” numerous times. Why is that? They are certainly interesting, but there seems to be more. First, I typically keep them at my desk and read them first thing in the morning, one page. So these are readily available. I don’t have to get them, they are right there. Also, and this is just as important, and maybe more, I have a time slotted as when to read them.

OK, this is enlightening. Convenience is key. Those books are right there. The problem now is, if all my books were “right there” I would be assigned to the back bedroom of the house where my bookshelf is and potentially crushed under their weight. So the time is a factor. In the morning, I try to exercise, so really not much time to read other than the one page in the aforementioned books. At night, where I conveniently have several books on my nightstand? My wife will tell you that I am asleep before my head hits the pillow. So where is the time? Check my phone. The iPhone actually tracks what apps you spend time on. It sends you a weekly activity report. Ah, bingo. Of course there are the click bait articles that show up on Safari and the News app, etc, but I also discovered that I am a Settlers of Catan addict. This should not be a surprise, because I was a Civilization addict back when that came out in the ‘90s (just one more turn….) While Settlers is not as time consuming as Civilization (and what is?) I did see it was taking about 45 minutes of my day, typically at night after dinner, when I am curled up on the couch and my wife is watching a show that I might not have interest in. It is nice to veg out on the couch next to my wife, and there are some shows we love to watch together (The Voice, American Idol, etc.) But there are probably about a few hours a week where I am on the phone but
I could use reading an actual book. So bring a book out by the couch. Ah, now the second piece. That can work, but I went through a period of time where I have hardback books. The big ones. They look great on a bookshelf, but not necessarily easier to read when curled up on a couch, next to my wife, in a dimly lit room and being crushed by a cat. I have book lights, and they help, but sometimes not the most ideal depending on the actual book.

Ok, moving in the right direction, but could be better. Make it easy to succeed, right? When looking for Christmas ornaments and lights, I found a box with (surprise) a few more books and my 10+ year old Kindle. I had used the Kindle when I would ride the train to work, but haven’t used it in years, as I wanted to go back to the bookstore and real books. While I am still a proponent of the real thing, the Kindle was convenient. Also, the new Kindles have back lit displays, so you can read them in any light and hold them in one hand, easily. To make things even easier, I had some unused Amazon gift cards lying around, in addition to the fact that Amazon was running a trade in incentive, where you could return your old Kindle and get credit for a new one. So I purchased a new Kindle. Happy to report, I have completed one book, “Thinking: A Memoir” by Richard Nisbitt and started another, “The Control Of Nature.”

So, I think I’ve made a step in the right direction. Heck, it even got me to write about it.

]]>Ramblings2021-03-13T18:58:14-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/8a01c6f45ffa9fb38dac40e5e422fa2d-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.iamcurious.net/files/8a01c6f45ffa9fb38dac40e5e422fa2d-3.html#unique-entry-id-3
Another thing from childhood that I really miss in adulthood……]]>Ramblings2021-01-01T18:58:58-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/6c0da388ad0956a4dd25e4fef91cb8c4-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.iamcurious.net/files/6c0da388ad0956a4dd25e4fef91cb8c4-4.html#unique-entry-id-4A Reflection On 2020

A lot can be said about 2020. The virus, the election, the civil unrest, the fact that we still have far to go for that perfect union our founders envisioned back in 1776, but one thing that was reinforced for me, the importance of community and shared experiences. New Year's Eve was a muted celebration with a few neighbors, socially distanced, ending well before the ball dropped. We were all fortunate to have kept our livelihoods and are still in reasonably good health. We all bemoaned the fact of missing the celebrations such as St Patrick's Day parades, music festivals, family gatherings and travel to see loved ones. While none of us would be considered wealthy, we are all well off enough to enjoy a few of the nicer things in life. We all have "enough", even toilet paper. It was those experiences with family and friends that we missed. Those rituals, large and small, and that perhaps took for granted. Looking forward to their return, and hopefully that they can help cure, or at least ameliorate some of the other ills plaguing our society.

To A Healthier & Happier 2021
]]>Ramblings2020-11-21T18:59:46-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/6c98ef84cc6be0fedd0863bba30f14cd-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.iamcurious.net/files/6c98ef84cc6be0fedd0863bba30f14cd-5.html#unique-entry-id-5I wrote this over 3 years ago. Finally got around to putting it on the site….

“Really, so what color is this?” asked the salesperson after telling them that I was colorblind. I had long ago expected this to be the default question after making that statement and would answer with a smile and mention a shade of grey. I had also long ago stopped wishing to see colors because there are times when it seems more trouble that its worth. People agonizing over various colors of paint chips, most of which looked pretty much the same to me. Fuscia vs Salmon or some such debate, taking untold time and brain processing power, which seemed like it could be better spent. Dogs are colorblind, and they seem to be some of the happiest animals on the planet. Maybe there is a correlation?

Over time though I realized there were other benefits. True, I could not see color, I could see other things. I could see the proportion and texture of the tie the sales person was holding up. While the patterns would be obvious to anyone, I noticed the the tie narrowed quickly from the widest point, to its narrowest. That the point at the fat part of the tie was ever so slightly off center. That the square pattern with small circles seem to be cut off more on the left side of the tie than the right. The small point of the tie at the narrow end , had a thread peeking out of the, sure to unravel over time. I could see the weave of the base fabric going down as you went left to right, something I doubt anyone would notice. The stitching of the label looked hastily done, obviously finished at the end of the day, or perhaps early in the morning when someone was not fully awake. Yes the tie was created at a suboptimal time, when the person was under great stress. One row of the weave looked raised relative to the others, showing a momentary lapse, perhaps they were called, or reprimanded by a supervisor for being late, or doing shoddy work.

I could see the back of the tie, behind the big point was not completely sewn, showing the person could not finish, obviously having to leave in a hurry. Care for a sick relative? A rendezvous with a lover? A clandestine union meeting, to fight against the oppression of Third World workers? Yes, it was that kind of tie, made by the hand of an oppressed worker. Doing just enough to get paid their below sustenance wages, while secretly plotting with their fellow tie makers a revolution.

It was a tie that that would “catch” on something, causing a snag. Further increasing the look of cheapness, leading to superiors looking at you as inferior. It was the tie that you mistakenly grab in the early AM, in a rush to a meeting. The meeting you spend hours making sure you could tell the blue line from the red in the tens of charts you had prepared. The charts that would guide billions of dollars into one entity or another, changing lives, ruining some perhaps. Capital would be misallocated, causing a deep recession. People would lose their jobs, then their homes. Riots will break out in the streets and governments will collapse. Water, food and medical supplies will be short in supply, further exacerbating and already turbulent situation. The lack of clean water and medical supplies will allow disease to spread, followed by famine and desolation.

Yeah, I may not be able to see color, but I can see that society could unravel, much like that tie….]]>Ramblings2019-11-06T19:01:11-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d5fa2366d8e005331d988494c22423c8-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d5fa2366d8e005331d988494c22423c8-7.html#unique-entry-id-7My wife and I just finished moving to our new home, taking only the items we wanted to keep. The old home was left with an assortment of flotsam and jetsam. Basically “junk” we had accumulated from our previous lives, and from the brief amount of time we had spent together. Old furniture, unfinished projects we were no longer interested in, family “heirlooms” that we carried out of obligation. In addition to this, there were half-filled paint cans, extra motor oil from a previously owned car and other assorted household chemicals that you simply could not throw in the trash. And then there were financial records from pre-internet times (no, they were not written on scrolls).

Given the time setting up the new house, raising and shuttling kids, and work, cleaning out the old house was a daunting task, which led me to explore the rapidly growing industry of junk removal. It appears to have grown exponentially, which based upon the proliferation of stuff, should be surprising. We hired JunkLuggers (an appreciative shout out to Glen Seeberger and his team) to do the clean out. There are other services, but Glenn offered a combination of competitive price and that extra level of service that put his team ahead. They securely shredded the documents, found places that accepted donations for almost 20 items, and responsibly handled all the hazardous waste. Whatever was left they divided into recyclable, or just junk. All that was left were a couple of stray paper clips and one cat toy (they always had something somewhere).

What something’s true value is, and conversely, true costs, has always been of interest to me. It got me thinking that on the cost side, while many people factor in the initial acquisition cost (the price you pay when you buy something), they forget other costs. Yes, the costs of buying on interest is well documented (but given credit card debt levels, maybe not well controlled), and the cost of maintenance is usually understood (especially when something breaks). However the cost of disposal is rarely considered. Especially if you are going to dispose of it properly (to minimize the impact of the environment and cost to lug away). That became very apparent to us during this move. The amount of stuff we accumulated, that we didn’t actually need, cost of significant amount to finally dispose of. That money could have been used for a family trip, needed improvements in the new house or just keeping in the rainy day fund. So now, when I buy something, I have an additional cost to consider, the cost to dispose of.]]>Ramblings2018-05-19T19:01:58-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/869926d57290662d68644d09ea2f4603-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.iamcurious.net/files/869926d57290662d68644d09ea2f4603-8.html#unique-entry-id-8Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to pass off a still reliable Honda Civic to two nephews that were just turning driving age. I also wanted to pass along some wisdom that I learned through decades of driving. So I wrote a few things down. Below is an updated version of what I made them read, and sign that they've read, before I handed over keys to the car.


Rules Of The Road

1. 1. Don’t Drink And Drive

This means don’t drive impaired, whether from alcohol, medications, drugs, severe emotional distress or from just being too tired. It is just not worth it. Sleep it off. Or better yet, when you are driving, make sure you are not in any of the aforementioned conditions. When someone else is driving, make sure they aren’t either.

2. 2. Always Wear Your Seatbelt

This is just too simple to ignore. When you get on a roller coaster, they have some pretty advanced seat belt systems. Roller coasters typically reach speeds you drive everyday in an automobile. Grant it, you probably aren’t changing directions as quickly or going upside down, but it you are in an accident, you will be. A seatbelt will save your life. Make sure your passengers wear them. Even the ones in the rear seat.

3. 3. Pay Attention

With the advent of iPhones, iPads and I have an attractive person sitting next to me, it seems like it is easier to focus more on those things than actually driving. You need to focus on the road and the things around you. If you pay attention, you can avoid accidents. You can avoid looking up from that quick text message and seeing that the person in front you you has come to a stop you you are about to rear end them. Pay attention. Be aware of the cars around you. Look for people driving erratically because they are lost, drunk or LOLing. Watch for deer, dogs and potholes that could eat Cleveland.

4. 4. It’s Not A Video Game

You only have one life. There is no restart button. You do not have multiple cars. Even if you did, it still costs to get them fixed. And the people you wreck only have one life. And they will not be happy if you total their car. One story from when I was young (I really was). I had just gotten my first car. It was an arrest me red Honda Civic with a stick. It handled like a go cart. I was going to visit some friends and I rev’d up the engine and aggressively merged onto the highway and cut someone off to get into the left lane. I remember cutting him off. I zipped through the Schuylkill expressway with reckless abandon. I got off my exit and went up the ramp and stopped at the light at the end, feeling cool, hip, dope, foshizzeled or whatever you call it these days. The person who I cut off pulled up to me a few seconds later. He was about my age now. He looked over at me, then shook his head. The light changed. He drove off. He didn’t yell, flip the bird or anything like that. He just shook his head. It hit me then, that basically I had taken a lot of unnecessary risks to get to where I was going, for just a couple of seconds. To sit at a traffic light. Not worth the trade off.

It can be fun to race, go fast, etc, but save it for a go kart track or video game.

5. 5. Take Care Of Your Vehicle

Discovering your vehicle has an issue while you are out on the road is not ideal. Check fluid levels and tire pressure on a regular basis. Check for leaks. Get underneath the car periodically to see if anything is wrong, or about to go wrong. Really check it before you go on a long trip. Also, be prepared if you get stranded, like some water, a cliff bar and a blanket.

6. 6. When Lost, Pull Over In A Safe Location

If you are driving somewhere unfamiliar, try to look at a map beforehand to get a lay of the land. Do not be trying to figure out where to go when you should be focusing on driving. Pull over someplace. If you miss an exit, do not try to reverse down the emergency lane. Grant it, there may be times where it could be necessary, just realize there is an awful lot of risk to that and make sure the few minutes you think you might be saving is worth the tradeoff. In most cases, it isn’t.

7. 7. When A Ball Rolls Into A Street, A Child Will Be Right Behind It

Or a dog. This always happens. Always be on the look out for kids and animals. They don’t seem to know that cars are coming and they will step out in front of you. Drive extra cautiously in neighborhoods. They seem safe, but are actually driving risks.

8. 8. Use Your Turn Signals & Hazard Lights.

Some people actually pay attention to them and will slow up if they see you are making a turn in front of them. It can help you from being rear ended. Also, if you are driving abnormally slow due to some reason (road or weather conditions), put on the hazards. A person some up on you at a high speed might not pick up on you if you are driving slow and rear end you. This is especially true in foggy conditions.

9. 9. Left Turns

Left turns deserve particular mention as they are where a lot of accidents occur. In fact, UPS programs their shipping routes to minimize left turns. The reason is because you are turning to cross over oncoming traffic. So take routes that minimize left turns, especially dangerous ones. Also, if you are making a left, keep your wheels straight until you actually make the left, that way if you are rear ended, you will not be pushed into oncoming traffic.

10. 10. Motorcycles

Motorcycles are inherently unstable. Give them more leeway than you would a car. I know several motorcycle riders and they all say they get nervous when a car comes too close to them. They lose the focus on the road and focus on the car. They could miss any hazard (gravel, pothole, etc) and easily get in an accident. Give them some extra leeway.

11. 11. Trucks

Trucks take more time to brake and accelerate. They have blind spots. They typically can be traveling areas they are not familiar with. They are much bigger than you. Give them some leeway as well. They will appreciate it.

12. 12. Parking Lots

Parking lots suck. I park far away and walk. I do it for three reasons: First, you are less likely to have your car get dinged when no one else is parking around it. Second, it is easier to get out of your parking space when no one is around. Third, we all need to walk more.

13. Headlights & Speed
(Courtesy of Mark Eckert) - Don’t outrace your headlights. In rural areas, you will only be able to see so far in the dark via your headlights, even with high beams. Don’t go faster than your ability to make a controlled stop before the end of your headlights, even if you know the road. Deer, or other things, have a tendency to pop up unexpectedly at night.

14. Positioning Of Side View Mirrors
(Courtesy of of Click & Clack, aka Tom & Ray Magliozzi) - People typically position their side view mirrors so they can see that rear corner of their car. I did this for years (ok, decades), but after a couple of near misses due to me missing something in my blind spot, I had to find a better way. And I did, via Click & Clack (check out their radio show/podcasts). Basically you should try to position your three mirrors (the two side view and one rear view) as one continues mirror, where if a car behind you leaves one mirror, it enters the other. What this means is that your side view mirrors are typically positioned further/wider out, where you no longer see the back corner of your car. You will however see more of you blindspot, and probably eliminate it. You won’t miss seeing the back of your car. Trust me, it will still be there.

]]>Ramblings2018-02-04T19:03:14-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/7365853f08f467ffaa2048f48d9875d7-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.iamcurious.net/files/7365853f08f467ffaa2048f48d9875d7-9.html#unique-entry-id-9I became aware of the Philadelphia Eagles when my father came home excited about their new coach. He was a young, innovative coach from the West Coast. His name was Dick Vermeil. It was 1976. I was 8.

I remembered my first trip to the Vet (Veteran’s Stadium), with my father admonishing me to not wander off, that it could be a wild place. He said this as we were waiting to gain entrance and I was watching men take a running start to scale the fences on the first level of the stadium to gain access on the 2nd level, avoiding the ticket takers.

Each Eagles game with my father was significant. Not only for the game itself, but there was usually a talk afterward as we waited in traffic after the game. My “Birds and Bees” talk was after a game. Followed by a “Code Of Conduct/Treat Women With Respect” talk after a later game. More men should do that.

I can remember the disappointment in losing to the underdog Raiders in Super Bowl XV, with Roynell Young having an interception taken from him by Bob Chandler for a Raider’s touchdown.
I remember moving from the Northeast to Roxborough and making new friends, that shared my love for the Eagles. My pick up soccer games on the streets of Northeast Philly were soon replaced by touch, and sometimes tackle, football on the streets and fields of Roxborough and Drexel. Games with friends Rob, John, Rich, Joe, Dan, Carl, Pete and Dave. Many of these games were moved to Sunday mornings, some in organized flag football leagues, some just a bunch of guys showing up with the timeless ritual of two captains, choosing sides. Many of these games were followed by getting hoagies and pizzas to watch the 1:00 Eagles game.

I ran remember the years of the Swamp Fox, because that is pretty much where we were, in the Swamp of the NFC East. I remember the blunderbuss of Buddy Ball, with the bravado fading, realizing that a Kotite lead offense, was never going to get us anywhere, and then the darkest hours of a Kotite led team with owner Braman, who was more concerned with the bottom line, vs. winning.
I remember Lurie buying the team, saying he wanted to be the Gold Standard of the league. I couldn’t understand while people mocked him. He didn’t say we were the gold standard, but that he wanted the Eagles to be that! After watching the 49ers, and the rest of the NFC East win so many Super Bowls, yes, that is what I wanted as well.

I remember the promise of the Reid and McNabb Years, only to fall short due to a longer than normal half time in XXXIX, enabling the Patriots, with the help of some video tape, to figure out our game plans.
I remember the false hope of Chip Kelly and then the relative ambivalence of Pederson as the new coach. The worst coaching hire in 30 years according to one pundit.

But here we are, after being picked not to make the playoffs. Picked to fold after all the injures, especially to Wentz. After being picked as underdogs in both home playoff games. After our back up quarterback was criticized as not being tough enough. I wonder if Buzz knows that Foles played the majority of his senior year with a torn rotator cuff in his throwing arm, driving his team to the Texas State Championship game. Foles’ team lost their best player during the season to a heart attack, and St. Nick didn’t want to let his teammates down, so he quietly soldiered on. Sounds Eagles tough to me.

We play the Patriots again. With all their rings and controversy as favored team status. Yes we mock Brady with the deflated balls, but he is playing with those balls wearing rings on his fingers.

It’s time we took the trophy. This is the team to do it. I’ve seen a lot of Eagles teams and this is my favorite. They are great players on the field and good men off of it. They have no quit. This is our time. Time to end the Patriot’s dynasty and start ours!!

WE WIN THIS GAME!!!!

GO EAGLES!!!!!!]]>Ramblings2018-01-09T19:04:13-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/5d3735746952aba97ec629012a4cce28-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.iamcurious.net/files/5d3735746952aba97ec629012a4cce28-10.html#unique-entry-id-10

A fitness coach/author that I respect wrote in his forum that someone wanted to fight him because he said “It depends…” so much. I thought about that for a while. “It depends…” could be someone who was ducking the question, either because they were unable to answer it or just didn’t want to take the time to do so.

Or, and I feel it applies to this author, it means something else entirely. It means they may have a wealth of experience and knowledge to know that while there are well established principles in various fields of endeavors, that there are always exceptions and nuances. It also could mean that more information is required from the questioner, in order to get the right answer, and the “It depends…” is a precursor to those questions. It may even go further, in that the questioner might need to ask a different question entirely to get what the information they actually want, and a discussion needs to happen to determine what that is.

Yes, there are general guidelines and simple rules that one can follow in order to lead a better life or solve a problem. However, things are typically much more complex than they initially appear. In the case of a “better life”, that had very individual meaning, so time must be taken to discuss what is actually meant.

It all…depends…]]>Ramblings2017-04-26T19:05:22-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/bbb5ca97093fa56ac09d658658f89a0e-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.iamcurious.net/files/bbb5ca97093fa56ac09d658658f89a0e-11.html#unique-entry-id-11My significant other and I had a discussion on clichés. She hates them and typically calls me out when using them, the most recent being “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. While I get that they can sound trite and boring, I think many clichés have an element of truth to them. So perhaps when someone calls you out on the cliché, maybe its because they are upset that you pointed out an unpleasant truth?

So, when someone gives you shit, make fertilizer (or a blog post).

:-)]]>Ramblings2017-04-16T19:06:08-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d95fe7ea77e8741f16f82451c731146e-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d95fe7ea77e8741f16f82451c731146e-12.html#unique-entry-id-12“Choose the right level of complexity for the particular problem, at the time that you have the resources to do it.” - Shian-Jiann “S. J.” Lin, NOAA (Climate and Weather Modeler)

I love this quote. S.J. Lin is a leading climate and weather modeler at NOAA. The quote was in the context of Lin’s earlier experience of trying to model tornados in the early 90’s when computer technology hadn’t advanced enough to model events at that small a scale. HIs attempt ended up in failure, but like any failure, there are learning experiences if you can do the post mortem.

My simple interpretation of his quote is simply that you have a problem that you want to solve. You also have constraints. Note, I am referring to real constraints, not obstacles, there is a difference, though at the time it may be difficult to tell the difference. Your solution must take into account these constraints. In Lin’s case, the computing power needed to create an accurate tornado model, where basically he was trying to model the tornado at almost molecular level, just didn’t exist at the time he was trying to do it (early 90’s)

Where I find this interesting is in the financial and economic models. If we were going to try and break these down into their finite parts, similar to a physical model at the molecular, then those models would go to individuals, or perhaps households. I think this presents several obstacles, some of which might turn out to be insurmountable constraints. One, I am not sure we have a full understanding of household finances. Yes, we have surveys and the shift to debit/credit card transactions are making it easier to model that, but it is still not fully developed. Addressing privacy concerns will also be a very challenge, but not insurmountable. The one area that might be an obstacle is consumer behavior. Current models are based on rational behavior, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case.]]>Ramblings2017-04-04T19:06:50-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/9d98a594e71546f60116a69c208b1811-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.iamcurious.net/files/9d98a594e71546f60116a69c208b1811-13.html#unique-entry-id-13I was attending a dinner function where someone asked what were the thoughts about the international relations between India and Pakistan? For those unfamiliar the two countries are very antagonistic towards each other and have a history of skirmishes that make the Cold War look tame. To complicate matters, both countries have significant nuclear arsenals. Relations between the two countries are very hot, and while a nuclear exchange is unlikely, it is not impossible. In addition, Pakistan has several unstable regions within their country that are essentially ruled by religiously fundamentalist driven warlords.

Both countries are extremely populous, each more so than the US. It is estimated that hundred of millions could die due to a nuclear exchange. This is not even counting the long term effects of nuclear fallout and its complications. For example, could trade winds carry the nuclear fallout to China or Japan? In addition, could so many nuclear devices go off in a relatively concentrated area have an impact on the earth’s orbit. Before you shrug that concern off, it should be noted that the US didn’t test one, that is one, nuclear bomb because of the fear that it could significantly alter the Earth’s orbit.

And we didn’t even bring up North Korea.

Why I bring this up, is that many people in my industry try to predict the economy, I don’t see any accounting of what to do if the aforementioned concern actually happens.]]>Ramblings2017-03-20T19:07:24-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/b6988d139aef743f0a3cd203aae18668-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.iamcurious.net/files/b6988d139aef743f0a3cd203aae18668-14.html#unique-entry-id-14One of the assumptions of modern finance was the all investors behave rationally. This assumption has been sorely tested and there are significant doubts that this is the case. But, what if….everyone is rational, but it is based upon their own personal value set. Within their own values, they are behaving rationally. Once you understand the values, you can understand their behavior. This would account for why people can at times act so “irrationally”. Their value sets are telling them to. We just don’t understand the value sets. The recent Presidential election is an example of this.

It might even be something deeper than value sets, something along the way of mental wiring, along the lines of behavioral finance. The New York Times just ran a story today saying that perhaps Sociologists were more important in studying the economy than Economists. I think there is something to that.]]>Ramblings2017-03-06T19:08:00-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/801edca2996ecb1fc09c34f209b5c143-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.iamcurious.net/files/801edca2996ecb1fc09c34f209b5c143-15.html#unique-entry-id-15When looking at a particular business or political situation, to really understand what is going on, you have to follow the money flows. Money can be a measure of value. If someone’s money flows to a certain product or initiative, that means they place value on it. If someone, or something wants to hide their money flows, it means they do not want to disclose their values. Some of those reasons might be considered valid, some might not.

That is why I find it so interesting that the Trump administration passed a law repealing the requirement for oil and mining companies to disclose when they pay money to foreign governments. Politics aside, as a shareholder, and owner of the firm, I would want to know where the money of the firm is going. Especially if it is going to countries with questionable value systems or high levels of corruption. The correlation of countries rich in natural resources desirable to oil and mining companies to their level of corruption or questionable values seems pretty high. So a company that values the resources in those certain countries, might not want to disclose their dealings with them to the public, or owners for fear of public outcry.

If you want to look the situation through a political lens, with that lens being mine and all the biases inherent in it, then it seems like there is an inordinate amount of contact between Trump’s cabinet and advisors with Russian politicians. This contact was going on prior to the election and has continued along. Trump’s Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has had a long relationship with the Russia, especially the people in power. Rex also happens to be the former CEO of Exxon, and that is where he built those contacts. With the new law, Exxon can now pay money to foreign governments and not disclose it to the public, regualtors or even their own shareholders.

What all this means, know one really knows. It certainly looks….Interesting though. Interesting in the way the Clinton Foundation to significant donations from some questionable countries and people. I guess draining the swamp was just to put a new swamp in…]]>Ramblings2017-02-23T19:08:50-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/73f42c09f1e154a46a9d0720fcb03e16-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.iamcurious.net/files/73f42c09f1e154a46a9d0720fcb03e16-16.html#unique-entry-id-16
I initially thought self driving cars would never really catch on. I thought they would be possible, but just not that popular. It was such a right of passage when you could finally got your driver’s license and could go anywhere you wanted. However, I’m beginning to think that I am wrong on that. I watch people, especially younger ones, walk around with their eyes locked on their phones, and many times with earbuds burrowing into their ears. They are so engrossed that it is not uncommon for someone to walk right into you.

I look at the popularity of Uber and Lyft, initially thinking that it was a cost savings relative to owning a car. Now I think part of the popularity is that people don’t have to be bothered by driving and can spend more time looking at their phone.

I now think that whatever will enable people to spend more time connected to their phone, will succeed. I can see people taking longer trips, where Uber and Lyft don’ make sense, using self driving cars to get to their destinations. In some ways, I think this is good in that it allows people to be more productive. But I wonder if it just means more wasted phone time? ]]>Ramblings2017-01-05T19:10:00-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/e6bce5ca7422558cffd34171b1d846f6-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.iamcurious.net/files/e6bce5ca7422558cffd34171b1d846f6-17.html#unique-entry-id-17Books…the Real vs. E?

So in the previous post, I showed a picture of some books I purchased. Real ones, not the “E” version. I do have a Kindle, which I enjoy greatly, but for some reason, real books still hold an appeal. Of course when I got the books home I realized I had to have a place to put them. They typical cost more, in absolute dollars and I am pretty sure their is a greater environmental impact. But there is something about real books. The cover design, the feel of the paper, the art that is captured, something a Kindle can’t duplicate. The heft can be dual edged sword, since many times I want to carry the book with me on my commute, so a large book is inconvenient. Though sometimes it is nice to have a … tome, so to speak.

So, what are the decision points where I would buy a real book? I’ve narrowed it down to these:

1. The book (the real one) has to have some artistic value relative to its “E” version. It could be the cover design, that I would want to display, or the photos/illustrations/art contained therein. Definitely something that sets it apart from the “E” version.
2. Most likely it will be something I want to keep. Not all cases though. If I find a book cheaper than the “E” option, I would get that and if I didn’t want to keep it, I would give it away. The book could be a signed edition from an author.
3. It is something I would refer to often. This is close to my first point, but is different. The difference is best explained by an example. Say a cookbook versus a singed copy of one of my favorite novels.
4. I like to support independent bookstores. I am finding that they are offering a more varied selection. Things that I would not normally have found. They also seem to be more active in the writing community, holding events for authors and workshops. I have not argument with Amazon and its Kindle, but sometimes its nice to go through a real bookshop surrounded by people, customers and staff, that have a similar love to books as you. There is value to community.

I am sure there are other reasons, but I can’t think of anymore at the moment. I have some books to read. Which means reviews to write!]]>Ramblings2016-12-19T19:11:10-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/06024624393aaf8435e42faa29e490ab-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.iamcurious.net/files/06024624393aaf8435e42faa29e490ab-18.html#unique-entry-id-18So when does a “world order” become less stable, until it is eventually a disorder? When there are two major super powers that essentially engage in a stalemate, the chances of disorder seem ever present, but unlikely. Such as the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The two powers dominated the global arena, along with each sides allies.

When that world order becomes fragmented between multiple players, each with their own niche agenda, then does the risk of chaos increase? And the growing power of fragmented groups that are not necessarily aligned with a state. At least now one on existing maps.

We keep shifting towards the latter, as the US alliances run the risk of splintering further with a Trump Presidency. Growing of China and a still strong, and antagonistic Russia. It should be noted that those two countries are not in an alliance.

India’s growing importance is a positive, but there is the always present threat of a war with Pakistan. Nationalistic calls in Europe, with the Brexit vote, and the dim echoes of the most nationalist of all European countries, Germany.

North Korea, a rogue country intent on building, and possibly using, a nuclear weapon. A radical movement, ISIS, that isn’t tied to a specific nation, but through propaganda can cause misery across the globe.

Not to mention the many splintered alliances and groups. The world just got a whole lot more interesting…]]>Ramblings2016-11-16T19:12:02-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/0d10e3fd80ac6f31e9cfb2efa5dc51ec-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.iamcurious.net/files/0d10e3fd80ac6f31e9cfb2efa5dc51ec-19.html#unique-entry-id-19I heard a great quote from Matty Healy, lead singer of the band The 1975. It went something like this:

Brilliant Eno thing “Inspiration doesn’t come looking for you”
You can’t jut sit there and expect something to happen. It’s after an hour and a half playing with the same sound when you move the [needle] a tiny bit, then you some happens and you say, that’s interesting.

I have to get the full quote. It was on NPR, All Songs Considered.

But that is so true. Inspiration usually comes after hours, days and months of drudge work. Progress is rarely linear after the initial stages. It is in fits & starts, with a lot of what seems like wasted effort. But it really isn’t waste. Yes, you can call it that after success has been achieved, but that is only in hindsight. That work is really building a foundation of general knowledge and tracking a lead to a conclusion, even if it is a dead end. Without that work, it is unlikely that success would have been achieved. ]]>Ramblings2016-11-08T19:12:45-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/181fa38a8be64e2daa4b200fd78ad4da-20.html#unique-entry-id-20http://www.iamcurious.net/files/181fa38a8be64e2daa4b200fd78ad4da-20.html#unique-entry-id-20Can we have a “No” vote? Our process is that we cast a vote for the person we want. Can we also have a “No” vote that goes along with that. I know many people who are anti-Trump, but are not fond of Hillary and won’t to vote for an alternative candidate. I would consider myself in that category. We are under no illusions that an alternative candidate would win, but we want our voice heard on our dissatisfaction of the current political powers that be, basically the DNC and GOP. But we do not want Trump as President, because we feel he could be very dangerous. So it feels like we have a gun to our head, vote Hillary, or you could end up with Trump. Again, the lessor of the two evils. The only problem with that, is if you keep choosing the lessor of the two evils, you still end up in a bad place, just maybe not as quickly.

So, what if we had a “No” vote. I vote for the alternative, and cast a “No” for Trump. In the case of 3 major vote getters, it could occur that none would have a majority (>50%). Then we rule out the person who had more that 50% of the no vote. That way we can prevent a person that the majority of the country does not want in office (in this election I think that would be Trump)

I am sure there are things I am missing with this idea, but it looking for a better voting process might be worthwhile.]]>Ramblings2016-10-12T19:13:30-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/77d47e1f6a51e35a4779d999b525bcc5-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://www.iamcurious.net/files/77d47e1f6a51e35a4779d999b525bcc5-21.html#unique-entry-id-21The further away you are from the actual situation, the less you really know about it.

When working with databases, I had the realization that the more transitions and translations that your data went through, the less accurate it was likely to be.

I’ve found similar occurrences in other areas as well. It is the “whisper down the lane” phenomena. The more people between the messenger and the recipient, the more likely it is to get scrambled or lost.

Friedrich Hayek thought centrally planning would always fail because by the time the knowledge finally got to the planners, it was too diluted/dispersed to make an accurate assessment of the situation.

I’ve seen it again in engineering, when I was trying to amplify a signal that was coming from one device so it could be used by another. During the transition, the surrounding electrical noise would also get amplified and the original signal would get altered unintentionally.

Layers of course can be good. Multiple lines of defense are always recommended. Sometimes a mediator can actually help the discussion between two sides. The best way to deal with the cold is dressing in layers. But if you really want to understand something, you need to peel back the layers and get to the core.]]>Ramblings2016-09-29T19:18:43-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/715ea513ca036cd881bc0f2f0ea4c0e2-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://www.iamcurious.net/files/715ea513ca036cd881bc0f2f0ea4c0e2-22.html#unique-entry-id-22
We live in a world with more choices and possibilities than we have ever had before. Which is why I was shocked when I had a boss tell me that it is more important to decide what NOT to do, that what actually to do. I’ve seen variations of this concept brought up time and time again. As I have gotten older I can see the importance.

We have the capability to do more, but the amount of time we have hasn’t changed. Yes, we can be more efficient, but as productivity numbers have shown, there is a cap on our ultimate level of productivity. In fact, we can get pulled down so many rabbit holes, our productivity may actually decrease.

One approach (attributed to Charlie Munger) that works for me is to make a list of your top 20 to 25 goals. Order it by priority with 1 being the most important. Yes, they are all important, but prioritize it. Then cross out all but the top 3-5. NO MORE THAN 5. Lock the rest away. Don’t look at all of them again till you knock one of your goals off. This allows you to focus on a handful of things, which you might actually accomplish as opposed to trying to get them all done. This ties in nicely with the concept of Hyperthreading that I have mentioned previously.

In fact, when you knock a goal off, it might be best just to strart from scratch and rewrite your list. After you can check. It might be surprising what you subconsciously decided NOT to do.]]>Ramblings2016-08-31T19:19:42-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d24c8de9664e8feff85a086cf7cc3310-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d24c8de9664e8feff85a086cf7cc3310-23.html#unique-entry-id-23Global Warming/Climate Change is a hotly debated topic, especially the cause of it. One side does not believe humans are involved, whereas the other thinks we are the culprit. This post is not about which side is right, that is a topic for a long form article. This topic is about a realization of the what we know about the argument. The realization came about when I asked one question:

How much Carbon Dioxide is in the atmosphere?

Ask this to a group of people who are engaged in the argument. If they are lay people, meaning not atmospheric scientists, I am thinking less than 50% would know the answer. I wouldn’t be surprised if no one knew the answer.

Yet is is such a basic fact. And the substance may, or may not, be the cause of global warming / climate change. A heated argument, where people know so little about all the facts.

The answer is below…….(in small print, so copy it, past it some place, then change the font size)


Less than 1%]]>Ramblings2016-08-01T19:21:44-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c7833fda8b442b178dad495616c8c91f-24.html#unique-entry-id-24http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c7833fda8b442b178dad495616c8c91f-24.html#unique-entry-id-24“Greed is good” by Gordon Gecko in Wall Street.

I think that statement set off more financial shenanigans then anything else. Gecko’s character was supposed to be a villain, yet somehow he became, if not quite a hero, someone who commanded respect? He was ruthless in the world of finance. He was charismatic. He was rich and powerful. He was self made.

I don’t think Gecko created the plethora of financial misdeeds that came about in the 1900’s and 2000’s, but he did seem to validate some of the baser instincts in the financial field. He empowered some more of the unsavory characters. The academic version of the “Greed is good” motto was the “The sole goal of a corporation is to increase shareholder wealth”. Some CEOs took that one step further in saying the goal should be to increase their wealth, and with the corporate structure acting as a personal shield, they acted with impunity.

Again, I go back to the Robert Owens experiment, employing owned companies and co-ops. Everyone’s interests on the same page, or at least much more closely aligned together and with a longer term view. ]]>Ramblings2016-07-26T19:22:49-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/16225b7d3ffcee8b736454cb8b005368-25.html#unique-entry-id-25http://www.iamcurious.net/files/16225b7d3ffcee8b736454cb8b005368-25.html#unique-entry-id-25While waiting for a train home, having a pint at Bridgewater Pub in 30th Street Station, I ran into George Will, the Pulitzer winning journalist and political commentator. He was sitting at the bar with a martini, alternating between the game on TV (Detroit vs. somebody, Houston?) and the Cubs on his phone. He was wearing a white dress shirt and dark suit pants with a faint stripe, the tie and jacket removed and draped over his roller luggage. A few things struck me….

We had a brief exchange about the miracle of the smart phone and the ability to broadcast his baseball team where ever he was. “A wonderful time to be alive” he said.

I asked him his thoughts on the conventions. The GOP he said was a disaster. While the DNC was just starting, he didn’t seem to have much hope for it. I expressed my frustration as well, saying these were two awful candidates and I am tire of picking between the lessor of two evils.

I made a comment that now it seems like the time for a 3rd party. He didn’t disagree. He also said “no vote” is a vote as well.

It reminded me of the time in high school, when a student ran unopposed for a position in student council. The student was very popular and respected, but as a joke, people thought it would be funny to enter “no vote”. It was sort of a mock protest, about not having a choice. Perhaps that’s the right call here….no vote. Or something like the British system has, a no confidence vote.

Because currently, I have no confidence in our political process.]]>Ramblings2016-06-11T19:24:03-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/5c475a46884f064da9b536fe04de067d-26.html#unique-entry-id-26http://www.iamcurious.net/files/5c475a46884f064da9b536fe04de067d-26.html#unique-entry-id-26“Don't count the days, make the days count” by Muhammed Ali.

I like this quote. I guess as I get older, I have a greater appreciation of time and the value of it.]]>Ramblings2016-06-09T19:24:49-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d63bf99d2eabfdaad96a185af528aa39-27.html#unique-entry-id-27http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d63bf99d2eabfdaad96a185af528aa39-27.html#unique-entry-id-27A new term is making its way around the blog-a-sphere..”deep work” My interpretation of it is a long block of uninterrupted time where you are concentrating/working on one specific task. Basically this allows you to focus. and perhaps get into the flow, so to speak. In today’s society, deep work might be considered 15 minutes, or this blog. Of course I jest, but after sitting through work today with phone calls, questions from others, email and the damn instant messaging system, 15 minutes is about as deep as I can get before the next interruption. I wonder if I could even concentrate for an hour sans interruptions.

As an aside, the instant messaging system at work is called “Lync”. I keep thinking of Lynx, the wild feline predator. In Lync’s case, it has rabies and has attached itself to your brain.

Also, I had an awesome thought today. At least I thought it was. I can’t remember it now. Perhaps I lost it in the deep end.]]>Ramblings2016-05-19T19:27:13-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/cf65b1bb240e6a1ebb99fec0f6bb4cbb-29.html#unique-entry-id-29http://www.iamcurious.net/files/cf65b1bb240e6a1ebb99fec0f6bb4cbb-29.html#unique-entry-id-29One way to view debt is the that it brings consumption forward in time. Basically, debt allows you to buy something now, that you don’t have the ability to pay for at the present.

So, it we have reached peak debt, that means no more consumption can be brought forward. How much of the past economic growth was driven by bringing consumption forward (witness rising debt levels) versus how much was being driven by productivity growth, and perhaps population growth.

With productivity growth at zero, and population growth at steady state, or worst case, perhaps a slight decline, what does all of the above portend for future economic growth?]]>Ramblings2016-05-18T19:26:43-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d785dfb78e54106d91116b41ada95ee1-28.html#unique-entry-id-28http://www.iamcurious.net/files/d785dfb78e54106d91116b41ada95ee1-28.html#unique-entry-id-28The Potential of a Great Reset

In finance, when they reset, what they mean is that the payment, or income stream depending on if you are the lender or borrower, changes based upon some pre-agreed upon conditions. A common condition is when the interest rate resets after a specified time period and predetermined reference (or in industry parlance, and index rate such as 6 month LIBOR).

Well, interest rates have been at 0%, or pretty close to it, for a long period of time. Expectations are they are going to go up. What happens to all those interest payments and household budgets? Even if rates are fixed, they are only fixed as long as the term. So when it comes time to get a new car, either through loan or lease, your rate to borrow for transportation will go up.

If income growth covers the cost of rising interest rates, then this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if it does not, and we certainly have had very little income growth over the past decade, then it will be a financial drag on household budgets. While total debt to household income ratio has come down from the peak in 2008, it is still near historical highs. Meaning there is a lot of debt our there. And some of it is going to be resetting. And your raise might not cover it.]]>Ramblings2016-04-26T19:28:07-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/3efb7314164b3ca0f7af23cdf5c76bd6-30.html#unique-entry-id-30http://www.iamcurious.net/files/3efb7314164b3ca0f7af23cdf5c76bd6-30.html#unique-entry-id-30Primary Day…..and I actually get to vote as a I registered for a party. That drives me bonkers that I had to do that, but my state does not have an open primary. If anything good comes out of this election cycle (and it is questionable with regards to candidates), is that it has really exposed flaws in our current election process. The process needs significant updates. A compressed election cycle. Open primaries Elimination of this delegate process, especially these potentially nefarious super/unbounded delegates. Eventually I’ll do a long from to talk about some potential solutions.]]>Ramblings2016-04-16T19:28:40-04:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c6e8ee84616ddcc4161c4d32a5516d7d-31.html#unique-entry-id-31http://www.iamcurious.net/files/c6e8ee84616ddcc4161c4d32a5516d7d-31.html#unique-entry-id-31When I get off the morning train to go to my office, I have to go down a long flight of stairs with other departing passengers. We go down, 2 abreast. At the bottom is a double door. One of the doors, the one on the left, has a bar horizontally across the midsection. The kind of bar that you push to open. The other door, the one on the right, is completely smooth and unmarked. No bar to push to open. No signage to say use the other door, or even this door.

As the people go down the steps, there is a slight bottleneck at the bottom as people go thru the door with the bar, the one on the left. A person on the left goes through, then a person from the right, and so on. It has been this way for as long as I’ve been taking the train, about 1 year.

One day I was on the right side, but instead of waiting to go through the left door, I reach out to touch the right. It moved. I pushed harder and it opened, and I went through that. There was a momentary pause, then people started going through the right, following me.

The next day (keep in mind that this is a popular commuter route, where you have the same riders every day), I headed down the steps on the right side. No one was going through the right door, until I went through it.

On days I went on the left side, no one would go through the right door.

I wonder how often we do this in life? Keep going through one door, while not trying the other. The right door had no warning. No invitation either. It was just closed.

Maybe it is time to try opening some more doors.]]>Ramblings2016-03-09T19:29:25-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/fca1a6786ed59ec526dfe280c0bcaa7d-32.html#unique-entry-id-32http://www.iamcurious.net/files/fca1a6786ed59ec526dfe280c0bcaa7d-32.html#unique-entry-id-32Ramblings2016-03-08T19:30:51-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/936bfd4c49fe99b2dcfb0b05b466417b-33.html#unique-entry-id-33http://www.iamcurious.net/files/936bfd4c49fe99b2dcfb0b05b466417b-33.html#unique-entry-id-33
The election process needs to change. This current political cycle is a perfect example of that. We had one state’s delegates decided by coin flips (which the winning candidate won all 6, hmmmm…). We have “super” delegates saying they don’t care what the popular vote in their state says, they are voting for the other candidate. We have another state that won’t release their popular vote count.

Is this any way to run an election? I would think there has to be a better way. More on this later…..]]>Ramblings2016-03-03T19:31:58-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/635cb47564ef1dc2fb521546cde3ba74-34.html#unique-entry-id-34http://www.iamcurious.net/files/635cb47564ef1dc2fb521546cde3ba74-34.html#unique-entry-id-34
One, there is an overwhelming number of choices out there, and the current line of thinking is that more choices can lead to more confusion and hence, in decision.

Two, It is a rapidly changing job market. This generation has seen some of the greatest economic upheaval since the Great Depression. I think they are aware of this and it perhaps causes anxiety in pinning down a specific direction, and understandably so.

My advice to them is this: It is ok not knowing what you want to do, but focus on basics to give you the most options. Learn to write and speak well. Understand math, even if you don't like it. Especially statistics, because they can give you very powerful insights into things and it can prevent people from misleading you with them. Learn to practice critical and logical thinking. Read about history and how it relates to the way the world is today. Learn to work with people, even if you don't like or agree with them.

Those skills will be required in any career or life choice.
]]>Ramblings2016-02-29T19:32:48-05:00http://www.iamcurious.net/files/8c134ad8b3e181dcec4ed60faac7a68a-35.html#unique-entry-id-35http://www.iamcurious.net/files/8c134ad8b3e181dcec4ed60faac7a68a-35.html#unique-entry-id-35
I follow several fitness bloggers and my favorite is Dan John. He often refers to a quote, "If it is important, do it every day" (attributed to Dan Gable, US Gold Medal Olympian).

I figure these are all telling me to publish more often. That being said, it does take time to do something truly meaningful. So my new approach, a daily journal so to speak, ramblings really. Then another section for more long form writings, that require research and analysis.]]>