Sometimes the greatest learning we can ever achieve comes from the process involved rather than the conclusions drawn. In fact I am surprised how often I actually disagree with the ‘answer’ provided by someone else, but still have learned so much from the thought process and logic path presented either by the author or utilized by myself. Even when I find no value in the presentation or the conclusion, there are times when I still find it very useful seeing in stark relief wrongheaded thinking being rationalized and presented as right. Sometimes the best lessons are learned from really screwing things up or from witnessing someone else doing it wrong right in front of our eyes. Continue reading Two Steps Forward and One Step Back→
Just when you think a subject has been analyzed to death someone comes along and breaks new ground. And not just in the conclusions they draw, but in the thought process and logic they apply. Sometimes it can be so new and innovative we might be tempted to shake our heads and say “This can’t be right” when in fact it might just be.
Morpheus is one of those rare individuals who is never satisfied with prepackaged conclusions, especially when they utilize stale information (often carefully disguised ‘beliefs’) and conforms to a polarized consensus. Where most might be happy absorbing such a pretty little package Morpheus immediately starts asking uncomfortable questions and challenges the basic premises. Essentially he is the poster child for those who truly think outside of the box.
In this three part series Morpheus tackles an extremely controversial subject with humility, diligence and most importantly an open mind. Rather than remain within the mainstream or alternative views Morpheus has attempted to gather information and points of view from many different and diverse disciplines and practitioners. Personally I think he has done a great job.
It seems a bit backwards that we Cogs have spent this cold, snowy week immersed in learning about the pros and cons of solar energy. Too windy to cut wood and too wet and slippery to be outside except for chores, Cog began tackling the tricky issue of using a solar powered system as a backup power supply for our well. The devil is in the details he carefully explained. “Amps times volts equals watts.”
Gently teasing me about my status as a former urban princess, meaning one who expects to have things work at the flip of a switch and to pay someone to fix it when it breaks, Cog pointed out I came into this homesteading experience with little to no technical understanding of household systems. Electrical, plumbing and structural concepts were for the specialists, not homeowners who don’t even know that ‘amps times volts equals watts’. Continue reading Amps Times Volts Equals Watts→
