Breakfast of Champions

I open the Times and I see that Krugman and Brooks both have columns that promise to be interesting, and I immediately feel the strong urge to have cookies and a coke for breakfast, to be enjoyed while reading them and going about my news rounds. I shouldn't. I had a sweet breakfast yesterday. But the thought of cereal isn't doing it for me. I wanted this snack last night and denied myself. So, it looks like I'm going to give in now.

Breakfast of Champions

I open the Times and I see that Krugman and Brooks both have columns that promise to be interesting, and I immediately feel the strong urge to have cookies and a coke for breakfast, to be enjoyed while reading them and going about my news rounds. I shouldn't. I had a sweet breakfast yesterday. But the thought of cereal isn't doing it for me. I wanted this snack last night and denied myself. So, it looks like I'm going to give in now.

Genius

Some people live in romantic ages. They tend to believe that genius is the product of a divine spark. They believe that there have been, throughout the ages, certain paragons of greatness — Dante, Mozart, Einstein — whose talents far exceeded normal comprehension, who had an other-worldly access to transcendent truth, and who are best approached with reverential awe.

...

The latest research suggests a more prosaic, democratic, even puritanical view of the world. The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft.

-- David Brooks for The New York Times

I wonder if it's too late to start now!

Genius

Some people live in romantic ages. They tend to believe that genius is the product of a divine spark. They believe that there have been, throughout the ages, certain paragons of greatness — Dante, Mozart, Einstein — whose talents far exceeded normal comprehension, who had an other-worldly access to transcendent truth, and who are best approached with reverential awe.

...

The latest research suggests a more prosaic, democratic, even puritanical view of the world. The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft.

-- David Brooks for The New York Times

I wonder if it's too late to start now!

The Cats

I found a way to keep the Siamese from squealing all the time when I hold him, and that's to hold both kittens at the same time. They apparently feel secure when in contact with each other. And I got to hold them a little longer this morning. However, I'm afraid that this may not help to 'break them in', since they may not be focusing at all on the fact that a friendly human is holding them.

The Cats

I found a way to keep the Siamese from squealing all the time when I hold him, and that's to hold both kittens at the same time. They apparently feel secure when in contact with each other. And I got to hold them a little longer this morning. However, I'm afraid that this may not help to 'break them in', since they may not be focusing at all on the fact that a friendly human is holding them.