Ten Things that Occurred to Me #25

1. I can’t even think of a really bad reason to pay money to Facebook for a blue checkmark (which is actually a white checkmark but never mind…), much less a good one.

2. When I was a kid, I had a cool clock radio with the numbers that flipped down mechanically. And I wondered the other day -- where is that clock radio at this very moment, 50 years later?  I guess it must be buried in a landfill somewhere. It just seemed a bit strange that it very likely still exists somewhere.

3. I have a terrific amount of respect for the star athlete that renegotiates his or her contract so that the team can sign other players that will help the team win.

4. There is so much value in realizing you are wrong about something.  It lets you know that you’ll survive being wrong. It lets you know that you could be wrong about other things.  I’ve started actually seeking disconfirming things about stuff I have strong views on.

5. Do the Germans have a word for that thing that happens when you realize the answer to a question immediately after posting it online?  That happens to me all the time.

6. The Internet can be so awful, but if you put in a little effort, it can be a wonderful place. This is a little thing that I do to feel great, be nice and encouraging to someone, and make the world just a touch better.  I hope this isn’t bragging.  It just makes me feel really good, and I recommend it.

7. It is beyond my ability to comprehend how a TV pundit can be exposed as a blatant, complete liar and still have a job.  It is also a mystery to me why anyone would pay attention to such a person.

8. Can someone please explain to me why fried chicken is so freaking good?

9. I find it hard to believe that there is any shittier commercial software anywhere in the world than Adobe Acrobat.

10. Here is a strange thought: Because no money changes hands, all the work done by people adding and enhancing information on Wikipedia technically doesn't add anything to the economy. Wikipedia might be the most valuable thing on the planet. Maybe we should change the way we measure.