Almost a musing: 12/19/2022
Opportunities, perils, Africa, Poor Richard's Almanack, arrogance, showers
Happy Monday!
Quick read
The opportunities and perils of life according to Charlotte Bronte
I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.
Visual
Enjoying the AZ sunsets in case you couldn’t tell
Fact
There are parts of Africa in all four hemispheres
This day in history
290 years ago today, on December 19th, 1732, Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack. The book, filled with proverbs preaching industry and prudence, was published continuously for 25 years and became one of the most popular publications in colonial America, selling an average of 10,000 copies a year.
Tune
Quote
"When people call you intelligent it is almost always because they agree with you. Otherwise, they would call you arrogant.” // Nassim Taleb
Something to ponder
"It is hard to do a really good job on anything you don't think about in the shower." // Paul Graham
Honorable mention
Personal update
A few months ago I promised my readers (my mom and my girlfriend) that I would publish an essay on that ensuing Friday.
As you’ve probably come to recognize, I don’t work particularly well on set publishing schedules. My preferred shipping cadence is (as Tim Urban says) every sometimes.
But “hey, what the heck,” I thought, “perfect is the enemy of good.”
I hit send that Friday morning, not wanting to disappoint my readers (my mom and my girlfriend). I re-read the published essay later that same afternoon and realized that unfortunately, it was neither perfect nor good. Erg!
That day I vowed to myself to take that essay (about driving cars) to the body shop and to stop making bad puns. After several months of introspection, procrastination, and Trader Joe’s Overnight Oats consumption, I managed to make true on one of those vows. I won’t say which one.
Last night I published a buffed-up, repainted version of that essay. I won’t claim that this one is perfect (or good) either, but it feels closer, and in my book, that’s a win (especially in this economy).
I hope you like it. And I hope that if you think it stinks you tell me (unlike in August).
That’s all for now.
Until next time,