2006.02.03
It was over 62°F (16°C) here today and there was heavy rain this morning. It rained a lot last month as well. Where is the snow? The most shocking think of all was that there were mosquitoes in January.
It's only the second post and already my blog has degenerated to discussions about the weather. Changing the topic, have you ever searched for yourself on Google? There are a lot of Greg Bensons out there. I don't appear on Google until about page 4. It is more interesting to search for "gnbenson" since not many people are using that. It's interesting to see the first hit isn't my webpage, but my profile on the fast growing Slashdot challenger Digg.com.
Looking down the list of other hits you can see some other posts I have made on random forums, and some other profiles here and there. I was surprised to see my moniker appear on someone else's web page of quotes. "It's not religion in itself that is dangerous, it is faith. To believe anything with no evidence is very dangerous, because belief leads to actions." To be on a page of quotes along with Ben Franklin and other luminaries is quite an honor. This blog owner, "Riskable", must be a smart cookie to recognize my wise words. What he doesn't know is that I am just paraphrasing Sam Harris whose book I read recently. I wouldn't say I was regurgitating anything, but Harris's book did help me crystallize thoughts I have had for a very long time. The quote originally appeared in a Digg flame war that was quickly buried.
Another quote that I like, and for awhile thought I invented, is: "It's bad luck to be superstitious." Perhaps I did invent it independently, but a quick Google search reveals this quote is attributed to someone named Andrew W. Mathis. One use of this quote appears in a 1985 Usenet post, which is long before I thought I came up with it. Who is this guy Mathis? There seems to be no information about him online except for this quote.
I will try to end each post with an interesting link: An airplane taxies in one direction on a moving conveyor belt going the opposite direction. Can the plane take off?
--Old blog comments:
February 4th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Riskable Says:
Wise words can come from anyone. It is the duty of
the receiver to take heed and pass it on. The originator
of the wisdom isn't as important as the wisdom itself.
That is the lesson of the unbeliever.
Your words denote a talent for simplification. Please continue to write, even if it is only of the weather.
"Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen, even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind." -Leonardo Da Vinci
-Riskable
http://riskable.com
February 6th, 2006 at 12:15 am
GNBenson Says:
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your encouraging words.
I enjoyed your blog as well and I will visit it again. I
especially liked your recent post:
http://riskable.com/2006/01/31/my-take-on-bushs-sotu/
Well said!