There are lessons for each of us in every year. Some are monumental, some useful and a few just make you want to slap yourself on the forehead. Here's what I learned this year, at least that I can remember. I’ll probably have to learn a few of them again next year:
1. If you have a puppy in the house, don’t walk barefoot in the dark.
2. Cherish all things living. They are here for a limited time only.
3. The Boston Red Sox will almost always raise your hopes before dashing them. This could be worse. My friend, Ernie (the attorney) Svenson lives in the land of the New Orleans Saints, who offer their fans no hope at all.
4. The assumption that boneheads (expletive substituted) dominate any single social class, like rich or poor is in error. Boneheads are evenly distributed among all social, economic, demographic, geographic and psychographic groupings. There are two exceptions: among representatives of the religious right and behind the wheels of SUVs, where the number of boneheads is extraordinary.
5. BioScience has begun to eliminate cancer, aging and other diseases that kill people. Society needs to think through how this will change everything. The two most compelling questions I heard in 2003 were both asked at the Pop!Tech Conference in October: (1) If we are going to live forever, will children become unnecessary, and (2) Who would want to live in a world without children?
6. Unless Africa’s direction reverses, Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” will prove a sad prophecy.
7. Driving backwards to lower odometer readings before turning in a leased car, is not worth the time and pollutes the air.
8. Never ask, “How can it possibly get worse than this?” You just might find out.
9. It is probably unwise to have the car you want to buy checked out by the mechanic you will later pay to repair it.
10. Capital punishment does not deter murder, but gun control does. People who don't believe an execution is cruel and unusual punishment should be required to watch one.
11. If an interviewer asks if you have any bad habits, never say you get violent when you forget your medication.
12. Celebrate any year you can look back at. There’s victory in completing it.
Happy New Year. Live long, prosper and have fun.
hope you're wrong about 4 more years of Dubya.
don't need anymore from this drunken fool.
Posted by: Norm | Jan 10, 2004 at 06:11 PM