You're a Distraction, LLoyd.

- I thought this past week about generational recreation as it relates to learning.

I've been reading River of Doubt, the story of the Roosevelt-Rondon Expedition down Brazil's Rio da Duvida in 1913.

I like to think that I'm fairly curious and routinely gather knowledge worthy of retention. In that vein, I recently took the first step in a 2 year goal of reading The Iliad. The poem is crazy complex and, admittedly, without the summaries, I'd be completely lost.

Anyway, a section of River of Doubt mentions some of the items members of the exploring party took with them for personal use. Kermit Roosevelt took along a hardback copy of The Iliad. I thought to myself, See, reading it shouldn't be too complex.

Then, I read that he read it in its original Greek. That kinda put me in my place and confirmed how little I know.

To be sure, I don't think humans are increasingly dumber with the passing of each generation; just more ignorant.

We simply have more distractions. TV, worthless Internet banter such as this, and a veritable deluge of other mind-rotting non-information.

Still, I enjoy watching the Yankees.

- Melissa and I acknowledged the two year anniversary of moving into our home over the weekend. It's weird how everything is the same but everything is totally different. Such is the paradox that is my life.

Likewise, I learned about the social aspect of yard work two years ago. Each Saturday or Sunday during the temperate seasons, one can hear mowers, weed eaters, and edgers in use from early morning to late evening. I, however, prefer the isolation of my iPod as I work in the yard.

Two years ago, the neighbor across the street told me that the first year of yard work is easy. The grass is still verdantly fertile from the sod and weeds have not been introduced yet. The second year is the year to battle weeds. The third is the year where the lawn fully develops and settles in for the long term. Other than a few head nods, we haven't spoken since so I'm not sure what happens in the third year and beyond.

- In a meeting the other day, I got to use a line I've been waiting seven years to use. I'm not kidding.

"The second pill cost 'em four cents; the first pill cost 'em $400 million."

I was trying to make the point that repetition should be more efficient. Thanks, West Wing.

Like I said, a veritable deluge of other mind-rotting non-information; and I'm often its spigot.