Quote of the Week

"One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty councils."
- Woodrow Wilson



Friday, August 24, 2018

Trying to Buy Experience and Skill

A few days ago, a friend posted on Facebook a picture of overcooked eggs still in the frying pan, asking for help. In an instant I saw the problem, trying to cook eggs with too much heat. Then reading the comments already on the post I saw the bigger problem. People recommending a whole host of different pans that my friend needed to buy. That's the American way, trying to buy experience and skill.

All my friend needed to do to cook better eggs, is to cook at a lower setting and have the patience to practice. But the majority of the advice was to buy something to fix the problem. That seems to be the standard solution for more than just cooking eggs.

No good at golf? You need better clubs.
Can't catch fish? A new rod and reel is the answer.
Not getting enough exercise? You need a $300 smart watch that counts your steps and shows a GPS generated map of where you walked.

One could write dozens of examples of ways to improve any hobby, work or household task by simply buying a new gadget or tool. We are all looking for the quick fix that the latest technology or innovation can bring us.

But most of the time what we really need is some practice or training.


Wednesday, August 22, 2018

On The Path it is

So I've changed the name of the blog to "On The Path." I think it's pretty fitting for where I am and where I'm going to go with this blog.

Lately I've been taking a much closer look at where I am and where I'm going. I've been focusing on getting more out of my days and life in general. I found that I have a lot of goals that have not been getting the traction they needed to get done. I was in a rut. Now I'm getting out of that rut and back on the path to reaching my goals.

I've started using a bullet journal. I started de-cluttered my house. I started tightening my budget. I've started on the path. On the path to a better me.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Figures Don't Lie, But Lairs Can Figure


Saw this sign in front of a local gas station that made me stop and take a second look. It's a sign for pre-bundled firewood.

What caught my eye was the line "80% LESS SMOKE." That sounds good, don't it? 80% less smoke blowing in your face at your next campfire. 80% better for the environment, 80% less stink in your clothes, 80% less moving your camp chair to get out of the way of the smoke.

Who wouldn't like 80% less smoke? Sounds like a great deal, better buy a bundle or two! We better buy some, right?

Well, maybe. Maybe not. One needs to stop and ask a question. 80% of what?

The answer that pops into people's head is "80% less smoke, of course" but we need to ask compared to what?


  • 80% less smoke than the same amount of wood of the same species from their competition?
  • 80% less smoke than their product from last year?
  • 80% less smoke than the same amount of wood of a different species?
  • 80% less smoke than burning a truckload of old tires?


With out a clear definition of WHAT, percentages are a pretty useless and often misleading thing to use in advertisements, or memes, or any other statement of fact.

Like the old saying goes, "figures don't lie, but lairs can figure."

Monday, August 13, 2018

New Name, Same Blog But Different! Kind of....

To be completely honest, I kind of forgot I had a blog. Like many, I started off with big plans and lots of ideas, then got distracted with life and wondered off. Also like many, I had a spurt or two when I found my interest again and swore "this time it will be different" then, once again, got distracted.

As you can see. I found my interest again. Let's see if it sticks.

First thing is I'm changing the name from "Too Young To Be a Curmudgeon." While I still love that name and find it fitting; let's face it, it's not a good name for the long term. On on the edge of 44 now. I'm not really too young for it anymore.

Secondly, I am in the process of starting a weekly vlog on YouTube that will also be posted here, along with more blog posts to this site, and I want to have everything branded the same.

So stay tuned, there is going to be much more to come. New name, sample blog but different! Kind of....