DISCOMFORT LEVEL FOR NOISE, WATER, AND ELON MUSK

I set my discomfort level running a marathon in new insoles. It was my only marathon.

Training rules say don’t run in new shoes, not insoles.

By five miles my feet were on fire. I ran past it.

I squeezed sponge water down my neck at an eight mile water station.

It drained down my back and felt so good. It must have been unrinsed sponge.

By nine miles I felt a chemical burn on my butt. I ran past it.

Finishing the race was the goal (3:32), the discomfort was part of the day.

How much discomfort is too much?

At the moment, I’m stretched out at home on day two of hip replace recovery thinking about discomfort. Doing well, thank you.

Some discomfort we accept because we know the world doesn’t wait on us hand and foot (unless you’re stretched out at home with an all-star wife.)

Noise Discomfort

We accept noise from airplanes overhead because people need to get places faster. Looking at you Alaska Airlines.

“Alaska Airlines continues to experience flight cancellations today, April 4.
As of 9 a.m. Pacific this morning, we have canceled 40 flights, impacting nearly 6,000 of our guests. Additional cancellations are possible.

We continue to appreciate the patience of our guests. We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration we have caused because so many travel plans have been disrupted. We keep working hard to get everyone to their destinations as quickly as we can. Check your flight status here.”

Accepting noise overhead is one thing, getting stranded two days by pilot shortage is another. Figure it out.

2

Who doesn’t like the romantic rumble of a far away train?

Hank Williams’ midnight train is whining low with Elvis.

The Carter Family listening to Boxcar Willie.

Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland o’er the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear those lonesome hoboes call
Traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball

Or Johnny Cash’s Orange Blossom Special at San Quentin?

And maybe a “Honey, would you bring me a cup of tea” from the hip room.

Discomfort has its levels, and apparently it’s scaled between 1 – 10.

Where would you put your noise discomfort? I’m a 3 to 3 1/2, and I play an electric guitar.

Water Discomfort Level

How many depend on bottled water. Not filtered water or tap water, but depend on bottled water.

My discomfort level edged up when I read what it takes to make the bottles.

A plastic bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate has the resin identification code 1. Also known as PET, PETE or polyester, it is often used for carbonated beverages, water and food products because it is strong and light. Like most plastics, PET is made from petroleum hydrocarbons.

Being less petroleum dependent is more than a Tesla.

Petroleum products make asphalt roads that tires made of road petroleum products roll on, driven by petroleum product powered engines.

Elon Musk Discomfort Level

In rich guy buying things news, there’s this:

Musk’s offer of $54.20 per share is 38% more than the value of Twitter stock the day before his investment was publicly announced and 18.2% higher than Wednesday’s closing price. Twitter stock was up les than 1% early Thursday afternoon, suggesting investors may be skeptical of Musk’s bid.

Skeptical of a bid that sounds like a revenge plot to show who the big dog is? Elon, we know. You’re the big dog, Elon.

On April 4, Musk disclosed he’d been buying up Twitter shares and had become its largest investor. (Earlier this week, a Twitter shareholder filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Musk, alleging his late disclosure of his stake cost investors money and saved Musk around $143 million.)

Since you’re at the top, and Elon you’re at the top and still building, why not give the rest of us a break and not be a jackass.

Do we need another rich guy proving they can buy stuff? Proving it to who?

The Tesla CEO is both a prolific user of Twitter and a vocal critic, so his investment immediately sparked questions about his intentions. In the weeks before his stake became public, he had publicly questioned Twitter’s commitment to free speech and mused about creating his own rival social network.

What is your discomfort level with Elon Musk running his shady work while shooting for the stars? I’m a five.

I hope he is who we think he is, or can be.