Have you played the Two Things game?
According to Glenn Whitman, it's based on the assumption that for every subject, there are only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of those two things, or just not important.
Some of my favorite ones...
The Two Things about Software Engineering
1. There is no such thing as bug-free software.
2. Adding manpower to a late project makes it later.
-Tim Lee
The Two Things about Web programming (as it is mostly done in the real world)
1) Control-C
2) Control-V
-tikibar
The Two Things about Biology
1. Evolution is the process through which genetic structures that are better equipped to reproduce viable copies will tend to proliferate.
2. Except for the Platypus.
-TheLetterM
The Two Things about Medicine
1. Do no harm.
2. To do any good, you must risk doing harm.
-Dennis
The Two Things about Civil Engineering
1. Dirt + Water = Mud.
2. You can’t push a rope.
-Todd Grotenhuis
So next time you meet someone who has a different occupation from you, or who knows something about a subject you are unfamiliar with... ask them about The Two Things.
This meme caught my eye when I stumbled across it on the Interwebs today, because right at the end of my recent trip to Cabarete to spend 5 days trying to improve my Laser sailing, someone explained to me The Two Things about Laser Sailing. But before I reveal this secret, I would like to hear in the comments what you think are The Two Things about Sailing (or about whatever other watery perversion you favor.)
Go for it.
1.The wind is always blowing hard directly from your destination
ReplyDelete2.Except when there is no wind
Nice one Roger. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think that will be the last word because The Two Things about the Two Things are...
1. People love to play the Two Things game
2. But they rarely agree about what the Two Things are.
1. Beer
ReplyDelete2. Rum
LOL. Also true!
ReplyDelete1. There's either too much wind or not enough
ReplyDelete2. If there are two boats sailing in roughly the same direction, they're racing.
From SailingEurope on Twitter...
ReplyDelete1. You will bump your head eventually 2. Your cell phone will fall into the water eventually
1. If it can break, it will.
ReplyDelete2. You won't die saying: "I wish I had not gone sailing as much."
Nice ones Kent. Thanks very much.
ReplyDeleteFrom my younger, dinghy racing days:
ReplyDelete1. Keep the pointy side up (mast & sail that is) unless it is sail camp, no wind, and hot as blazes.
2. Tiller towards trouble
Though I am beginning to like Sunfish Lounger's ideas more.
Two things about attaining happiness in life:
ReplyDelete1. Marry the best spouse, find the best job, live in the best house, drive the best car, drink the best wine.
2. If you learn to sail, you can forget about #1.
Two things about attaining happiness in sailing:
ReplyDelete1. Keep the pointy side up and the shiny side down.
2. If you sail a Laser, you can forget about #1.
Oh well. I suppose I should count myself lucky that we got to the 11th comment before someone started using this challenge to take cheap shots at Laser sailors.
ReplyDeleteWe also assume that one can do precisely two things with a sailboat: one can either furl the sail, in which case the wind does not propel the sailboat at all, or one can unfurl the sail, in order to exploit the force of the wind.
ReplyDeletehttp://terrytao.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/sailing-into-the-wind-or-faster-than-the-wind/
1. Never paddle alone.
ReplyDelete2. I take the fifth.
2.5 if the fifth is rum, that's even better.
ReplyDeletecf., Sunfish Lounger, point 2
The Two Things about Laser Sailing:
ReplyDelete1. Hike harder!
2. Enjoy swimming.
In windsurfing it's:
ReplyDeleteYou need to sheet in.
You need more downhaul.
1. there is always better wind on the other side of the course.
ReplyDelete2. You should have remained on the other side of the course.
The Two Things about Sailboat Racing
ReplyDelete1. Win the start
2. Extend your lead.
Two things about racing:
ReplyDelete1) go fast
2) finish
The two things about the start in sailboat racing...
ReplyDelete1. Every boat should strive to have their bow 6 inches ahead of the boats either side of them.
2. Nobody should be over the line
Earwigoagin has come up with his own The Two Things about Sailing at http://earwigoagin.blogspot.com/2012/02/tillermans-latest-challenge.html.
ReplyDeleteBriefly...
1. You will get wet
2. You will go slow
1. I never come off of my boat without having bled once...
ReplyDelete2. And if I do, there are plenty of opportunities on the dock.
Just remembered the first two things I was taught:
ReplyDelete1. When it's windy, you sail.
2. Gear breaks.
1. Duck!
ReplyDelete2. Ouch!
There are two things in life. The first one is sailing. The other one is all about creating life.
ReplyDeleteThe two things about cruising on a sailboat:
ReplyDelete1. It's all about the journey, not the destination.
2. If the destination is the South Pacific, ignore #1.
This is great. 27 comments so far. (And, unusually, less than half are from me.)
ReplyDeleteKeep them coming!
Bravo Sail Far Live Free!
ReplyDeleteThe Two Things about Sailboat Racing...
ReplyDelete1. You can never beat that guy.
2. Even if that guy isn't racing today you can never beat that other guy.
1. You can't sail directly into the wind.
ReplyDelete2. Stay on the high side in a high wind.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. The wind and water usually only tolerate our presence
ReplyDelete2. But every once in a while they let us play with them – which is why we keep coming back.
1. The wind and water always win.
2. Because they know it is only a game.
The Two Things about kiteboarding:
ReplyDelete1. Keep the kite out of the water.
2. Don't keep the board in the water.