Not 3 kinds - 4.

I have heard it said that there are 3 kinds of people, in general rank order from lowest to highest: those that talk about people, those that talk about things, and those that talk about ideas.
I would add a fourth, at the bottom of the list: People who talk about themselves. There is a positive epidemic of that in the lower classes. What is amazing is that they will also listen to others talking about themselves!
I guess that gives them something else to talk about.

5 shots - bad hunting.

I live now in an area where there are a fair number of hunters (deer mostly). And of course, it's that time of year.
Saturday morning, about 6:40, just as the sun was coming up - BANG_BANG_BANG
___BANG____BANG.
Geez. Either a very poor shot, or a shot that should NOT have been tried. My guess is probably both. Some of the nitwits here should NOT have licence to hunt.

An ASpie gift...goof.

A few moons ago, I gave my spouse a gift. Hmpf.

It was her birthday, and my son and I, after some deliberation (and my suggestion), decided to give her a garbage can. Nice one too - white, step-on style, very neat! And she said she needed one in the kitchen.

Ooops. NOT a birthday present!

Well, how was I supposed to know that?

Aspie solution - having fun.

OK, maybe I'm overthinking this, but I suspect the answer to "having fun" is the suspension of compulsion to perfection.
(Yes, I know that is a plagiarism of sorts. But after all, I'm not the only genius on the planet.)
I don't know if I can do this, but perhaps it's like meditating - you do it by not doing it (a Zen thingy). And it probably will take practice, just like meditation.

A slow-pitch.

Another Aspie experience, I guess.
I went (on invitation, I might add) to a slow-pitch softball game near home. Just the other day. There were actually two teams playing. OK, actually the teams were, well, composed of an assortment of "challenged" individuals. Thew numbers of players varied from one inning to another, and the locations played also were fairly random (only played three innings). The umpire(s) were quite liberal in their calls - to suit the ability level of play and players.
The players had a lot of fun. I know I'm not always sure personally what constitutes "fun", but they certainly seemed to know.
And I think it was "fun" to watch! The enjoyment was positively infectious. Probably because it was so genuine. No faking, no pretense. Swing and miss - good try. Swing and hit - run, run. Throw the ball - oops, safe. Everybody had a great time!
I began to feel I was missing something! I had a terrific urge to go and buy a softball glove and bat (everyone had their own bats!), and offer to join one of the teams. Actually I have been asked several times by one of the players.
Am I missing something here? Do I need to play with "challenged" individuals to feel genuine enjoyment? Strange. Slightly disturbing.
But I won't, because I know I will have trouble fitting in. They will accept me without question - I will be the one with the challenges!
Sigh.

There oughta be a law!

Or at least a specific regulation in health care regulkations that denies hearing assistance to those who choose to destroy what they are given at birth.
I live right along a major thoroughfare, with lots of traffic. And at all times of the day and night:
BADABOOM! BADABOOM!
It's most definitely not music, and at the sound-pressure-levels being broadcast (yes, that's what they are doing - it's a public statement that's being made!) I am certain that long-term damage is being done to hearing to auditory capabilities. Fine.
But don't come to our health-care system in 20 years and expect any sympathy. Or financial help. I have two friends (professional musicians both) who have hearing loss from performing who can explain it to them. In person. Very loudly, I presume.

Seven Emotions? or Four?

I often find correlations interesting, esoecially when they occur in totally unrelated situaions/places.
And this one, lately, intrigues me:
The Seven emotions for a Samurai to overcome are:
Hate, Adoration, Joy, Anxiety, Anger, Grief, Fear.
And I knew a therapist a few years ago who said there are only Four:
Mad, Sad, Glad, Scared.

Interesting correlation, what?

Feynman quote.

I always found his little tidbit food for thought:
"You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish."
I'm not sure who and how that exactly applies - does it include parents expectations of children, for instance? Perhaps it is a concept best limited to those who are self-actualized?

A "Stephen Pinker" Obsevation

One of the small notes about research in one of Stephen Pinker's books concerns the correct use of English grammar by lower socio-economic/educational groups.
Essentially, the correct use of grammar (full sentences, correct syntax, etc.) is much more prevalent in lower-education groups.
Anecdotally - TRUE.
I find it fascinating that indivduals in this town who cannot spell, or string a logcal sequence of thoughts together, can speak in plain, simple, CORRECT ENGLISH. And do so regularly!
I suspect it has to do with the assumption of intelligence and analytic ability on the part of the speakers. When we deal with somweone intelligent, we can assume that the listener can "fill in the blanks" correctly. Hence the use of fragments, half-sentences, and incomplete thoughts. But with the simple, everything must be fleshed out, else there may be considerable misunderstandings.
Fascinating. (With apologies to Mr. Spock.)

Church-Goers?

Just a quick observation: It's interesting here how many people view church as entertainment in this town. It is obviously a social club. I'm not really sure how that sits with the power-that-bes, but it certainly does not conform to my concept of faith.
Yes faith can be warming, gratifying, all that. But entertainment?
Sorry folks; I think rather the less of you for that.

Hortons here are who?

Excuse the indulgence in the title (not a bad pun eh?).
It occurs to me that the Tim Hortons donut shops here (a smallish town) are set up for seating in a more congenial fashion than most. The design lends itself to sitting in groups and gabbing (did I just use that word?), which residents here do quite a bit.
This habit seems to be centred in the not-so-well-off group, who have3 less money for entertainment, and thus end up at Timmy's with a drink and donut and a talk.
Perhaps there is a business window here in smaller towns? The locations I have seen evidently have a great deal of traffic; probably more than larger cities.

Geese

It seems the Canada geese are returning (yay) earlier than last year. Large formations (?) of them have been heading roughly north for several days now. Of course, one example does not make a trend. Nice to see anyway, even if they are noisy (and dirty, too).
OTOH, there have been far more coyotes locally than before. I was even asked to come over and "take out" a few for customers who have had problems. It would seem that coyotes are not averse to eating family pets, especially smaller ones.
I don't knpow the regulations for sure, but it would give me some practice with my 243 at decent ranges (>300 yds). So we'll see. Need to upgrade the scope maybe?

Half and Half

Half the people in this town need a diet.
The other half need a shave.

Well, here's a new one -I must admit the oddest/most curious/most questionable/funniest Xmas gift I got (at least this year).