Tràigh Mheilein

Simply perfect

Source picture: Facebook group 'Scottish Beaches' on October 27th, 2018. Tràigh Mheilein beach on Island Harris.

Memory Lane

I walked the 'International Four Days Marches Nijmegen' six times. In 1991, 1997, 2013 (at age 49), 2014, 2015 and 2016. The first three times 4 * 50 km. The last three times 4 * 40 km. Why? Because I wanted to proof to the "world" I was able to and because I wanted to have the 'Cross for the Four Day Marches #6' - mark that every number of this cross is different.

Walking four days 40 or 50 kilometer is a tough exercise! Where one needs good legs and a mind in balance. Walking distances like that is above all a fight in your own head. Fighting against sleep, laziness and pain.

The book 'De Vriendelijkste Marathon ter Wereld' (in Dutch) is a collection of 37 'Four Days Marches Nijmegen' stories. Most of the stories are from participants who walked this march themselves. I loved to read the stories but was a bit disappointed in the collection. Too much nagging and emphasis on the walking achievement. As if it is a superhuman achievement. It's not! Every year 90% (mostly more) of the participants are able to reach the finish. Be prepared! Walk! Nothing more. Nothing less. 

Read this book? Yes, it's a memory lane for those who walked and for those who would like to walk the 'International Four Days Marches Nijmegen'. 

P.S. Source picture: here.
P.P.S. I am very proud on my #6. I wrote about it before in 'Proud' (July 2016).
P.P.P.S. Statistics of dropout percentage 1909-2017 can be found: here

Wild Rosemary

What a beauty. How lovely her songs. (She changed her cloths halfway during her concert, on October 8th 2018, in Utrecht.)

I love her 'Alecrim': here

"Alecrim,
Alecrim doirado
Que nasce no monte
Sem ser semeado"

History of Dealing with Externalities

Are we teaching our kids the correct images at school? (Mark, that an idea is an image too. Mark, that the university is a school too.) Teach them about the history of more/ less market? Teach them about the history of more/ less government? Teach them about the history of more/ less political right or left? Teach them about the history of more/ less democrats or republicans? Teach them about the history of more/ less populism?

According to me we should learn our kids above all more about externalities:

• classification of externalities
• its definitions
• overcome their constraints 
• historical context of

In our time and age the discussion shouldn't be about too much Capitalism, too many Republicans, a "self-made businessman" in the White House or Make USA Great Again! We should discuss about the cost and benefit that was (un)consciously not aimed at.

(Mark, that Marx's surplus value is an externality. Mark, that tax avoidance is an externality.)

We should learn our kids to zoom out. We should learn our kids inclusive-thinking and inclusive-acting.

P.S. I wrote about this before in 1-2010 in 'IFAQ. Letter to @BillGates : Are we asking the right questions?'