One of the most difficult features of direct experience is that it is unfiltered by any theories or expectations. It's hard to observe without imposing a theory to explain what we're seeing, but the trouble with theories, as Einstein said, is that they explain not only what is observed, but what can be observed. We start to build expectations based on our theories.

Sneaking up on it sometimes helps: I've found I can be very productive for an hour before dinner, because there obviously isn't enough time to really do anything, so I can tell myself I'm just screwing around.

Often I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am.

Expectation works in mysterious ways---and totally unconsciously.

The rules of grammar exist in large part to permit readers and writers to operate from a shared set of expectations.

False fears are a plague, a modern plague!

In science, the old men are usually wrong. But in politics, the old men are wise, counsel caution, and in the end are often right.