Spout

This site is full of ideas. Some of them might make you cringe. They may not align with your worldview, perspectives, or experiences. That’s a great thing.

I like Mike Moustakas ‘n all, but…

Mike Moustakas is a good baseball player, and very important to the Brewers right now. But if that guy doesn’t start chewing with his mouth closed, I don’t think I can watch the team anymore. Every time they show him on camera, he’s always chewing with his mouth open. Always. Can the guy close his mouth for even two seconds? If I were on the team with him, I’d snap on him: “Moustakas! For the love of all that is holy, could you please chew with your *ucking mouth closed!”

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The lonely business of weight loss

The fascination with weight loss and dieting is well-documented. There are a million plans and methods, and tons of groups and clubs that one can join to help. An entire industry of diets and plans exists for everyone to try. What works for some doesn’t always work for others. It’s all well-covered territory. But what you seldom hear about is the loneliness required to successfully lose weight. I’ve been actively, and intentionally, shedding pounds for awhile now. (30, so far.) My method has been a daily dose of exercise to keep the metabolism running while eating less than before….

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Common sense vs mindless rule-following: a follow up

Yesterday, I wrote about a guy who rode his bike up to a stop light at 6am on a Sunday, and waited more than five minutes, with no cars present, before he hit the walk light and crossed when the light turned green. I grew up in the Midwest. We were taught to look both ways. We didn’t have flags. We didn’t have lighted pedestrian walkways. The idea of standing and waiting for the light to change when no cars are in sight wasn’t even an idea. My people would walk through an intersection or across the street when…

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When following rules beats common sense

Last Sunday, as I was out running, a biker cruised by me, rode down the hill, and stopped at the red light at the intersection. (The intersection is a busy, main thoroughfare crossed with a local neighborhood road going the other. Visibility is about 200 yards, each way, on the main road.) As soon as he got there, I accurately predicted the rest of this story. He sat there at the light, waiting for the light to turn green. He sat there, and he sat there. Minutes went by. It was just after 6am, so the light needs to…

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Remembering 9/11

One reason we remember 9/11 is because it’s the most significant, and closest thing we have to an act of war in most of our lifetimes. There’s no purpose to arguing whether or not Pearl Harbor was more important or significant than 9/11. One got us into a world war, and the other let us know we were years behind in a war being fought against us. I think the significance of 9/11 is that never, before then, have we, the United States, truly understood the lengths at which some people on the other side of the world will…

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“Teen activists” should be a nonstarter

I just saw a story that lead with the phrase “teen activists.” There shouldn’t be teen activists. The vast majority (if not all) teens haven’t had enough life experience and are only beginning to get a high level understanding of the issues, events, nuances, and rationale of what’s going on in the world around them. There is propaganda in the world, being pushed by professionals, supporting nearly every world view there is from which to choose. When you’re a teen, getting your first glimpse at the world beyond your own community borders, the chances are the first taste you’ll…

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Guess what? We’re all busy

If you’re in a workplace, especially one in which things move fast and people are overwhelmed, please don’t spend any time telling people “I’m too busy,” or using it as an excuse to not do something. Everyone is busy. It’s kind of like saying, “I can’t right now, I’m breathing.” Yes, we’re all breathing. Stating the obvious doesn’t really advance the conversation. My anecdata suggests that the people who speak those words are the people to whom they don’t apply…

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AOC doesn’t trust her friends – should you trust yours?

On September 4th, Alexandrea Ocasio-Cortez wrote this series of tweets. Much has been written about Ocasio-Cortez being a fool. I don’t know her, so I’m not in a position to say. But it’s evidence like this that supports the notion. It’s not about whether or not she’s right or wrong. I’m more interested in what she’s really saying. If you’re a friend of hers, what she’s really saying is that she doesn’t trust you. In fact, she can’t trust you. No matter what her experience has been with you so far. Taken a step further, you obviously can’t trust…

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Losing control by trying to be in control – the driving edition

Have you ever tried to pass someone and had them speed up so you can’t? These people are sinister (and Socialist) because what they’re really seeking is control over you. (And others, presumably) Not content to simply drive the way they prefer, they’re also trying to make sure everyone else drives the way they want them to. And isn’t this really the source of most of our problems – not just on the road, but everywhere. If people would just do things the way they like, and get out of the way of others doing the same, all would…

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Today’s to-do list

Call, email, or text someone you haven’t thought of or contacted in at least six months. Chances are, there’s probably a long list of people to choose from. Just check in with them, tell them what you’re up to, and find out what they’ve been doing. Keeping in touch with people, despite all of the tools that have made this easier, is actually harder. Ironically, it’s harder because we’re passing the time using those same tools for short-term amusement. Then, one day, we look up and it’s six months later. Use the tools the way they were intended, and…

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