sustainable systems & storytelling
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre What if we could wrestle down life’s big questions using the scientific method? What if we could systematically improve human thoughts, actions, and environments... Continue Reading →
It's 2059, And The Rich Kids are Still Winning, a short story in which award-winning science fiction author Ted Chiang introduces us to the Gene Equity Project, a program that provides genetic enhancement of intelligence for people of color. Despite an IQ around 130, low-income recipients of the cognitive-enhancement protocol fared no better than their... Continue Reading →
Hello dear friend! How are you? How has you week been? My partner's ten-year-old nephew got banned from PlayStation for "erotic or pornographic images," but he claims he just wrote penis a lot... I don't buy it and am dying of curiosity. I've been experience anaphylaxis all week, though I can't pinpoint the cause. My... Continue Reading →
Well, a few months ago, I received notice that my local library was opening back up and would be offering curbside pickup. Score! I began excitedly placing requests in the online system, none of which were ever fulfilled. I finally tapped into the old folks' skill of picking up the damn phone. Despite a full... Continue Reading →
I recently read a few lines on creativity that really struck a chord with me. I believe in a creative metabolism working in a way where I have ingestion periods. Then, I have gestation periods. Then, I have output periods. I feel like these three things are really, really important, and they work hand-in-hand, but... Continue Reading →
For the last several years, I have been experiencing a strange and frequent hiccup-like sensation, wherein I involuntarily gasp and release a loud, squeaky squawk. Imagine the sounds of a hiccup reversed and them amplified. It sounds absolutely ridiculous. It's nearly impossible to convince those around me that I'm not faking the most embarrassing sound... Continue Reading →
Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your participation in my recent poll. You've stirred my creative juices and given me some good ideas to run with. You are the best, and I appreciate you being here. So, without further ado, here are the top choices that YOU asked for, along with my thoughts on... Continue Reading →
Hello friend! How are you? How has you week been? I re-potted my houseplants and that's really about it, if I'm being honest. Phoenix is dipping into too hot to leave the house temperatures and, once more, I can't stop daydreaming about leaving this hellscape. 2020 was the hottest summer, with a record high number... Continue Reading →
Every month, I report the progress of my yearly goals in order to monitor progress (or the lack thereof) and hold myself accountable. March came and went in a flash, didn't it? If I didn't take notes throughout the month, I wouldn't be able to tell you what transpired. Whew! With three months down, here... Continue Reading →
So often I see bloggers advise new writers to choose a niche topic and stick with it. It's really great advice, and it's really not for everyone. When I first set up this blog, I spent far too long deliberating a name that best encapsulates all of my interests and possible detours. I didn't want... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, I met with my financial advisor to file my taxes for 2020. As is the case every year, he looked over my numbers and stated, "You're well on your way to early retirement!" It sure doesn't feel that way. On track by changing metrics I currently have around 2.5x my annual income... Continue Reading →
Hello dear friend! How are you? How has you week been? My boyfriend has been playing the piano quite a lot this week, and it makes my heart swoon every time I hear a melody from across the house (lately, it has been Scarborough Fair and a tune from the game Final Fantasy). The other... Continue Reading →
Five years ago, I stumbled across a news article. A teenage boy in some distant rural town had been bullied relentlessly for years and couldn't take it anymore. One day, he took his dad's rifle off to a far corner of their property and took his own life. I didn't know that young man and... Continue Reading →
Every evening, when I go for a walk, I pass by at least two Tesla vehicles, and a third if a particular someone is attending tennis lessons. When I'm not paying close enough attention, I'll be caught off guard by a flash of light. The car has taken a photo of me for walking just... Continue Reading →
Hello dear friend! How are you? How has you week been? For those in the US who are eligible for the stimulus, do you have any exciting plans for the funds? The reckless printing of more debt concerns me, so I will likely put it towards a tangible commodity like silver. So boring and adult.... Continue Reading →
I recently read an interesting article that proposed a simple thought experiment. It poses, "How much money would you have to be paid, right here and now, to retire today and never receive another dollar of income (from any source) for the rest of your life? The catch this time is that whoever among the... Continue Reading →
