Pull Tight

Met a gentleman a few days ago with the hobby (passion) of tractor pulling competition.  He summarized his devotion to this endeavor with "It is amazing what you will do for a $6 trophy".  He was referring mostly to the money spent, but could just as easily been alluding to the time spent. Just think about the extent to which we go and things we do for the approval or adoration of others.  A good part of our lives our spent in pursuit of that "$6 dollar trophy".

The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around. Thomas A. Edison A fascinating easy to read book about how our subconscious brains work.  If you accept what is presented here, we have much less free will than we like to think (and much evidence is presented as proof).  Covering everything from criminal behavior to mate selection, some very surprising data.

The rattlesnake in the photo above may not be named Waldo, but it is almost as difficult to find.  Last week we were in St Petersburg, FL and I spotted this snake while biking on the Pinellas Trail. It was about 2 feet long. It is a Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbouri ; they are very common in Florida.  Caught this one with my camera phone after riding about 3 hours and was too exhausted for a closer shot.  If you didn't find it, look near the top of the front wheel shadow near the fork of the bike.

Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes. Henry David Thoreau This morning, walking my dogs, we crossed a busy street.  I was dressed in old jeans, frayed t-shirt, ill fitting sweatshirt and a very faded ball cap.  As the dogs and I were part way through the intersection, a car stopped in the middle of the intersection.  The driver looked at me for a minute as if making some sort of decision and then yelled out "Which way to Walmart?"  Wonder if it time to update my wardrobe?