Star Trek is fiction, but since Leonard Nimoy died yesterday, I can’t help commenting on two big mistakes in the show—its racism and misunderstanding of emotion. It seems like one of the main themes of the show is supposed to be that humans have learned to live together harmoniously, overcoming racial, nationalistic, class, and other differences. Wikipedia says the show had one of the first multi-racial casts. Sounds nice, and[…] Keep reading →

Food is like religion for many. I don’t mean they worship it. I mean they believe things about it with no evidence and debate endlessly, claiming truth about unsubstantiated claims that they believe substantiated. In principle you can measure and experiment with it, but the number of variables is so great that experiments alter and reverse conclusions soon after. Someone told me something compelling on the issue. He said decades[…] Keep reading →

We all have similar emotional systems, so why do we behave so differently? I illustrated below how people who have identical drives and emotional systems with only different beliefs can end up behaving differently yet feeling internally the same. I plan to represent it more graphically and pretty, but this is where I am so far. It shows that internally, we all think and react similarly. Only a slight difference[…] Keep reading →

[This post is part of a series on Cold Showers. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view that series, where you’ll get more value than reading just this post.] I got this email from a reader this morning: This caught my eye this morning. Watched the video. I’m accepting the 30 day challenge which will conveniently end the day before my 46th[…] Keep reading →

[This post is part of a series on Cold Showers. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view that series, where you’ll get more value than reading just this post.] I don’t remember posting about cold showers in a while. I’m still taking them, now every fourth day, which I call a sidcha, even though not daily. I consider it regular enough. Today’s[…] Keep reading →

We’ve all been on both sides of the pattern below, usually with someone we like. Neither side likes it. Usually, neither side knows how to get out of it. From your perspective: You think you understand them when you don’t You do what you think they would like, thinking you’ll help them They don’t show appreciation You feel like they don’t appreciate you You consider them ungrateful and think they[…] Keep reading →

Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicist, looking at the consequences of one’s actions instead of imposing values on others, here is a take on today’s post,”Can I Ask My Neighbors to Quiet Their Baby?“ A couple downstairs has started letting their baby cry it out. Having no kids myself, I don’t know if this is a valid parenting strategy. What I do[…] Keep reading →

I don’t claim to be a great cook. I don’t like unnecessary gadgets. I avoid promoting businesses for no reason. But, man, do I like my Hitachi Chime-o-matic rice cooker / vegetable steamer / miracle appliance. I call it a miracle appliance for fun because I can’t figure out how it knows when to turn off, but it does, every time. I like the kitschy name Chime-o-matic. Mostly I love[…] Keep reading →

The more I write and talk about passion, the more passion I find in my life. When I was afraid to talk about it, I didn’t have as much of it. Keeping it inside keeps others from seeing your passion and sharing theirs with you. I’m still growing. That’s why I’m looking forward to speaking at Stand Up For Passion March 3, and why I recommend attending. Because the more[…] Keep reading →