Nothing lasts

The fall his here. People have dressed up in their Gore-Tex jackets, fleece and gloves. The fall isn't too bad, at least on a day like this. I was home alone, and the weather was nice, at least before noon. It was sunny, at least before  noon, some wind, and relatively warm in the streets that are shielded from the wind. And it was Premier League on TV, the first game starting at 13:30.

I went to the town center in the morning. I went to the Apple Store, because I had to buy a new headset for my iPhone. I hate talking on the phone, but I use it a lot to listen to audio books and podcasts. My old headset was broken, so I had to get a new one.

There's nothing that lasts anymore, at least not consumer good and electronics. But there are other things that last too long. Marriage, for instance. When the kids are grown up, the parenting job is done, we should just say thank you for the time that passed. It's time to move on. Now we let each other free, and just continue as friends for the rest of our lives. That's the way it should be.

On the way back home I stopped by a coffee shop, and bought the coffee of the day. All the tables were taken, but in the end, I got a small one by the door. It was a little bit chill, a cold gust coming from the door every time someone went in or out. It's OK. That's life. What scares me the most is the cold gust when someone leaves.

There were some families with noisy kids. I think I have lost the patience with this kind of behavior. Maybe I've gotten too old, or maybe I was just very lucky with my boys. They were never fussy nor noisy.  Heritage or environment? Probably both.

Walking back home, I found myself in the middle of a pride parade. I didn't know about it. There were a lot of people. I didn't know there are so many gays and lesbians around. Or maybe they were gays with friends. I don't know. I have nothing against gays, not at all, but they never impressed me. Anyway, I read in the news some time ago that  in 2018 lesbians was the most viewed category on PornHub. This year, maybe there will be a new winner.

But who cares >:)

(Picture taken this morning, when the sun was shining, before the rain came in)

Summer

I'm walking back home on a light summer night. It's cold.It's light. It's summer in the north. It's the summer of the north at it's best. It's been a long day, with meetings at work. then a geology filed trip to watch some black smokers, turned upside down, Like my life feels like right now.

Then a five-course dinner in an excellent restaurant, with good colleagues and friends. I only missed my soulmate, who wasn't there. I wonder what shes's doing right now, if she's wet and thinking of something exciting and fun things to do.

We philosophized a little bit about how lucky we are, Among the 8-9 billion people in the world, we happened to be born and to live in this rich and wealthy country. Life isn't too bad, even is the gearbox broke down on our bus on the way back to town. I could have been worse,

On the way back home, a little bit drunk, I stopped by a pub, to write these silly words. I know I'm a privileged guy, and I appreciate it very much. I just hope my soulmate is doing fine too.

(Picture taken around midnight today, on the way back home)

An evening with the nerds

I was out with some friends and colleagues tonight. We went to hear a presentation about the 16 official world champions of chess, from the first champ Willem Steinitz, to the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen. Two weird guys who have written a book about these 16 champs presented the story. It was an evening with nerds. The kind of stuff I like. Very enjoyable.

It was a great presentation, the kind of stuff I enjoy, besides science, of course. The lecture room was filled with these people who watch the chess world championship broadcast, for hours and hours. Very cool.

And then we went out to drink some beers, and discuss chess, and science and mathematics and physics. All the good stuff that life has to offer, except skiing, which wasn’t much of a topic tonight.

And we discussed climate change in the way climate change should be discussed. The science, not just the political crap that we hear all the time, from people who don't understand how the Navier-Stokes equations works. Discussing climate change is a lot more interesting when you talk to people who are scientists and mathematicians, and who know more than just to repeat that stupid argument that all scientists agree. Consensus is not an argument in science. Remember what good old Feynman said:

Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.

The first beer was not so good. It had some grape juice mixed in. The second one was better, a clean pure IPA. And the I went home, and I felt this urgent need to write something.

(Picture taken tonight)

VIP zone

I'm at the Alpine Racing World Championship, working as one of the 1400 volunteers. Today was the Super-G race. I worked outdoor in the VIP zone at the race arena. That's where the important people from FIS (the international skiing federation) and the national skiing associations sit, together with their invited guests. Austrian Ski Team, Swiss Ski Team, US Ski Team, Alpine Canada, Audi, Carlsberg ...

The spoiled and well-fed brats get their three-course lunches for free. Ten steps away is the VIP stand with prime view to the finish area. We checked their VIP accreditations, and guided them to their warm and exclusive restaurant.

And we chased ordinary people away.

We told the poor guys to go to the other side of the arena, and line up to buy hot-dogs and burgers. Be happy that we let you watch the race at all. You know, we have to obey Pareto's Law (economics), also known as the Matthew Principle (Matt. 25:29):

"For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the ones who do not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

That's life. That's how our world works. Like it or not. It's class society.

It was a nice and cold day. From my work area, I had a perfect view to the race.  Very good >:)

(Picture taken today at the race.)