Resolution

In past years, I’ve made a January 1 resolution to finish all the books I’m reading before aquiring any new books. Ha ha! Did I mention “har-de-har-har?” See also, “You’ve got to be kidding me”, AKA New Year’s Resolution valid at least until January 3rd or 4th or, at the outside, 5th.

This time I’m taking a different approach. I’m re-reading some of the books I enjoyed last year, along with one or two new ones.

Gary Taubes’ book on Insulin is new in 2024. I’m making my way through it and re-thinking eating.

Sam Willis’s book on the American Revolution is a terrific audio book. I checked it out of the library and ended up getting a print copy to be able to refer back to it, and also to look at the maps.

Elizabeth Kolbert’s book on man-made environmental ‘oopsies’ is particularly trenchant in that she also discusses ways we might rescue ourselves from our man-made climate change by means of … man-made environmental (one hopes) NON-oopsies. A terrific travel book, too.

The other books, by Simon Winchester (about the history of precision machining), Amy Wilentz (about California around the time Arnold became governator), and Allen Downey (about one statistical paradox after another), are all just pure pleasure. I’ll try to talk about how great they are later in the year, as I read and re-read them.

All best for 2024!

New books for the year

The Struggle for Sea Power (2016) Sam Willis (Kirkus review)
Rethinking diabetes (2024) Gary Taubes (Kirkus review)
Under a White Sky (2018) Elizabeth Kolbert (Kirkus Review)
The Case for Keto (2020) Gary Taubes (Kirkus review)
The Perfectionists (2018) Simon Winchester (Kirkus review)
I Feel Earthquakes More often Than They Happen (2006) Amy Wilentz (Kirkus review)
Probably Overthinking It (2023) Allen Downey(Kirkus review)

long sequence of events to hang pictures in plaster

--- title: "Resolution Fail? Noooo!" author: "George Girton" date: "2024-01-16" categories: [ Books, Kaizen ] image: "SeaPowerBooksm.png" execute: cache: true code-fold: show draft: false --- # Resolution In past years, I've made a January 1 resolution to finish all the books I'm reading before aquiring any new books. Ha ha! Did I mention "har-de-har-har?" See also, "You've got to be kidding me", AKA New Year's Resolution valid at least until January 3rd or 4th or, at the outside, 5th. This time I'm taking a different approach. I'm re-reading some of the books I enjoyed last year, along with one or two new ones. Gary Taubes' book on Insulin is new in 2024. I'm making my way through it and re-thinking eating. Sam Willis's book on the American Revolution is a terrific audio book. I checked it out of the library and ended up getting a print copy to be able to refer back to it, and also to look at the maps. Elizabeth Kolbert's book on man-made environmental 'oopsies' is particularly trenchant in that she also discusses ways we might rescue ourselves from our man-made climate change by means of ... man-made environmental (one hopes) NON-oopsies. A terrific travel book, too. The other books, by Simon Winchester (about the history of precision machining), Amy Wilentz (about California around the time Arnold became governator), and Allen Downey (about one statistical paradox after another), are all just pure pleasure. I'll try to talk about how great they are later in the year, as I read and re-read them. All best for 2024! # New books for the year - The Struggle for Sea Power (2016) Sam Willis [(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sam-willis/the-struggle-for-sea-power/) ![Struggle for Sea Power](SeaPowerBooksm.png) - Rethinking diabetes (2024) Gary Taubes [(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gary-taubes/rethinking-diabetes/) ![fairly clear design of a book cover](IMG_3695sm.png) - Under a White Sky (2018) Elizabeth Kolbert [(Kirkus Review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-kolbert/under-a-white-sky/) ![(Under A White Sky under a blue sky)](UnderAWhiteSky.png) - The Case for Keto (2020) Gary Taubes [(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gary-taubes/the-case-for-keto/) ![keto!](CaseKetosm.png) - The Perfectionists (2018) Simon Winchester [(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/simon-winchester/the-perfectionists-winchester/) ![The perfectionists](perfectionistssm.png) - I Feel Earthquakes More often Than They Happen (2006) Amy Wilentz [(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/amy-wilentz/i-feel-earthquakes-more-often-than-they-happen/) ![(provisional cover showing arnold)](FeelEarthquakes.png) - Probably Overthinking It (2023) Allen Downey[(Kirkus review)](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/allen-b-downey/probably-overthinking-it/) ![Probably!](probablyOverthinkingIt.png) ::: {.callout-note collapse="true" title="long sequence of events to hang pictures in plaster"} #### long sequence of events related to hanging pictures on the wall of my office, etc. - totally re-arrange office furniture - find laser level, perfect for hanging photos - locate teeny-tiny Linn Electronics screwdriver to open laser level battery case - case is empty - recharge batteries - put the batteries in the laser ruler (it turns out to be a ruler not a level), and nothing happens - order new laser ruler (much less expensive than 'laser level') - The new laser ruler has 1. ruler 2. laser 3. multiple levels for different dimensions - Meanwhile, hammer hook into plaster to hang picture, after careful measurement - nail does not go all the way in, bending - order extension cords, prior cords having been donated to political campaign - plug drill in, and drill "pre-nailing" hole for nail. - drill bit does not go all the way in - order special three-nail and two-nail plaster hangers for 100- and 50-pound pictures - order the new laser ruler - order the book (pictured above) - everything arrives - read the 1st chapter of the book - open the battery compartment of the laser ruler to put in batteries - three teeny batteries are already fookin' in there - close it back up - ACTIVATE THE LASER and MEASURE THE PLACES TO PUT THE NEW HOOKS - Put them - Hang the big hydrological map of the waterways of the continental United States - decide not to hang all photos - hammer in more plaster hooks, hang more paintings - wheel the chess table around - finally hammer in the two hooks and hang the roaring lion drawing - use the magnetic clips to hang big practice art piece by my daughter - more table wheeling - At last, start putting books away correctly - still have not found 4TB backup drive :::