sustainable systems & storytelling
I recently listened to an episode of The Art of Manliness podcast in which the host interviewed Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to be Rich. I first picked up this book nearly a decade ago, as an almost-broke college student trying to figure out how to cut a few more corners. My... Continue Reading →
After over two decades of perfect health, I've spent the last five years navigating a devastatingly broken system. From outlandish insurance premiums and confusing deductible requirements, to lackluster care and unfair loopholes, I am not happy. I've been frustrated but patient as I make strides towards a clear diagnosis and a resolution of symptoms. In... Continue Reading →
I picked up Little Fires Everywhere after it came highly recommended and the work of fiction did not disappoint. Celeste Ng’s second novel snaps the portrait of community, its families and their friends, highlighting the thorny issues that drive them apart and draw them together. The character-driven story delves into a variety of themes, in... Continue Reading →
What would you do if you were asked to give up all of your hopes and dreams to support your significant other in achieving theirs? Would resentment build up or would the major sacrifice feel more like a gift, a selfless offering? In The Atomic Weight of Love, 17-year-old Meridian Wallace faces these very questions... Continue Reading →
When I was growing up, my parents did not allow video games in the home and television was limited to one hour of PBS on weekdays and two hours of cartoons during the weekend. After watching Arthur and Wishbone, I would read books, draft out new inventions, ride my bike and play with friends. I was... Continue Reading →
I recently had a conversation about the current atmosphere of sensitivity, political correctness, and the pressure to please everyone. People seem to either be walking on eggshells or instigating for the sake of being controversial. Quite frankly, nothing tangible or sustainable is being achieved by these attitudes. What's the controversy all about? Between the tear down... Continue Reading →
One of my biggest pet peeves is when my peers say that they'll start saving for retirement when they make more money. I explain the power of compound interests, cost-dollar averaging, and diverting any raises into savings before you have the chance to miss them. Eyes glaze over and the topic is quickly changed to... Continue Reading →
One of my colleagues is actively searching for a new job and I feel as I'm being nudged out of my position, as well. The owner of the company has an abundance of early-twenty-something children and relatives who are quickly filling the small office. Otherwise unemployable, these entitled dimwits have found their place. In exchange for... Continue Reading →
Cancer is rampant in the world and in the media. Nearly all of us have been affected, whether personally diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or watching a friend's battle on social media. It's scary and it's disarming. And yet, it's a topic that comes up in the news and conversation. People understand, even to the... Continue Reading →
We all have that one friend, coworker, or family member that gossips incessantly about the dumbest things. Did you hear what you Aunt Carol said? Did you see what Kim Kardashian wore? Did you watch the latest episode of The Bachelor? It's like a disease where they cannot stop talking. Despite, the "no, I haven't,"... Continue Reading →
The news is filled with emotion-driven stories of wrong-doing, finger-pointing, and demands for immediate for change. You flip on Fox News or CNN and catch a glimpse of the latest travesty, which you'll discuss over drinks with your friends the next day. You scroll through Facebook or Twitter and click "like" on the posts and... Continue Reading →
When I met my boyfriend five years ago, he was deeply interested in the memorization techniques of Memory Champions, such as Ed Cooke. He was particularly drawn the the practice of creating a "memory palace," in which you take a mental journey through a familiar location and place remarkable icons along the path to trigger... Continue Reading →
In November 2017, a group associated with Bill Gates invested $80 million in a high-tech planned development outside of Phoenix, Arizona. The smart city is set to be designed around high-speed networks, autonomous vehicles, high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies, and autonomous logistics hubs. "Envisioning future infrastructure from scratch is far easier and... Continue Reading →
Apple recent filed a broad patent which revealed that a wearable cuff, presumably the Apple Watch, would include a touchscreen, Bluetooth capabilities, and an "actuator" to accurately gauge blood pressure. This wearable blood pressure monitor would require FDA approval and represent Apple's first foray into medical devices. Thought the first of it's kind, Apple's proposed... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress following the Cambridge Analytics investigation. At one point, Senator Lindsey Graham asked if there was an alternative to Facebook. Zuckerberg dodged the question until Graham bluntly asked, "You don't think you have a monopoly?" Tech companies, such as Facebook, don't necessarily drive up prices for... Continue Reading →
