Last night was the shortest night of the year. Tonight will be just a bit longer. Tomorrow's sunrise will be ever so slightly later. Of course, you'd be hard-pressed to note the difference even with a very flat horizon that reveals the exact moment of sunrise. Exact moments are difficult to catch even when you… Continue reading The Daily: 21 June 2025
Category: Polemics & Rants
The Daily: 20 June 2025
Summer Solstice Today is the solstice; today, the sun stands still. Well, actually, it's been standing still for a few days now, and it will continue to do so for a few more days. In my part of the world, from 16 June to 24 June, day length is 15 hours, 30 minutes, and a… Continue reading The Daily: 20 June 2025
The Daily: 11 May 2025
In my garden planner, I have ambitiously scribbled "plant summer squash, cukes, melons, and spinach". For the second year in a row... Not surprisingly, once again, I will not be following my schedule. It is not freezing, and it is raining — both good for germination — but it's not warm enough for cucurbit seeds… Continue reading The Daily: 11 May 2025
The Daily: 9 May 2025
The other day I was tripped up at work because we increased what we count as the cost of administering a loan. This is an internal cost, only partly offset by closing fees. It has no effect on anything but our own measure of profitability. I had noticed that the amortization period had dropped, but… Continue reading The Daily: 9 May 2025
The Daily: 8 May 2025
Today is the feast day of Julian of Norwich. We do not know her true name. The name we celebrate comes from the church of St Julian in Norwich where she was an anchoress for most of her life. Mother Julian was a visionary and a counselor in the late 14th century. These were days… Continue reading The Daily: 8 May 2025
The Daily: 5 May 2025
I have been dealing with ramped up rheumatoid arthritis and allergies for a couple weeks now. Mostly related to weather — perpetual drizzle and highs in the low 50s(°F) — coupled with maple bloom season. You would think the rain would wash the pollen out of the air, but maybe there isn't enough falling moisture,… Continue reading The Daily: 5 May 2025
The Daily: 2 May 2025
Because of the emphasis luni-solar calendars place on the eve of the day, today, May 2nd, is sometimes named May Day. More properly it is named Bealtaine — the later holiday for organized (ie paid) labor, May Day, is fixed to the first of the month in keeping with labor time rules. But Bealtaine is… Continue reading The Daily: 2 May 2025
The Daily: 15 April 2025
Tax Day April 15th is Tax Day for the United States. In most years taxes are due on this date, though exceptions are made for weekends and recently COVID seems to have added on extra days. I don't know anyone who puts it off until today because the penalties for missing the due date are… Continue reading The Daily: 15 April 2025
The Daily: 8 April 2025
The bank that employs me is filled with bored women. Banking is not exactly a challenging job, not a lot of intellectual or creative stimulation. In fact, it’s best to not think and certainly not improvise. So most people have hobbies that verge on second jobs. There are a few gardeners, several cooks, a couple… Continue reading The Daily: 8 April 2025
The Daily: 26 March 2025
Another Brief Riposte... Can we please end the prattling on about the terrors of AI? AI is not terrifying. It is not important. It is hardly a thing in the lives of the vast majority of humans, never mind all the others. Yet people of a certain class will insist on going on and on… Continue reading The Daily: 26 March 2025
