November 2019
75 articles published this month.
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Notes From My Journal
Art and Science, Beauty and Truth, Straining and Relaxation, Aristotle and Plato, Iris Murdoch and Music… in One Lesson
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” – John Keats Art and Science, Beauty and Truth, Straining and Relaxation, Aristotle and Plato, Iris Murdoch and Music… in…
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A Word to the Wise
transcendent (adjective)
Something that is transcendent (tran-SEN-dunt) is beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience. As I used it today: “[Iris Murdoch] says that you cannot experience [beauty] fully…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Philadelphia Police Invented Black Friday
The term “Black Friday” was supposed to persuade people to not go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. In 1966, the Philadelphia Police Department started referring to it as Black Friday in hopes that it…
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Worth Reading
The Amber Room: History's Greatest Lost Treasure
“The Amber Room” on History.com LINK A lost masterpiece…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Street Performer Masters The Ancient Ring Dance Art
The Ring Dance I saw someone doing this in San Francisco a few years ago. This performer brings it to an artistic level.
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Notes From My Journal
Is This Very Smart Funny? I Have No Idea…
“From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.” – Dr. Seuss Is This Very Smart Funny? I Have No Idea… There’s funny and there’s very smart funny. That’s what I call it. Maybe it’s not…
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A Word to the Wise
Machiavellian (adjective)
Someone who is Machiavellian (mak-ee-uh-VEL-ee-un) is focused on his own interests – scheming, deceiving, and manipulating others to achieve his goals. The word comes from the 16thcentury Italian philosopher…
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Fun and/or Interesting
What The First Thanksgiving Meal Actually Included
The first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 lasted for three days – and it looked nothing like the “traditional” meal we enjoy. No turkey (which didn’t become popular until the 19thcentury), no corn on the cob (they…
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Worth Reading
Why You Should Check Your Bag When Flying
“The Case for Checking a Bag (and other travel complaints)” on Medium.com Today is expected to be one of the busiest air travel days of the year, with an estimated 2.7 million passengers. Whether or not you’re…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Absurd Economics Of Modern College
A funny but sad look at college education today.
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Notes From My Journal
7 Reasons to Believe Things Are Getting Better
1. Innovations in Prosthetics: People that have above-the-knee leg amputations can now walk more easily, thanks to new technologies developed by researchers from ETH Zurich and the Universities of Belgrade and…
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A Word to the Wise
glom (verb)
To glom (GLOM) onto something is to grab hold of it. As I used it today: “REGN-EB3 is made up of three antibodies that glom onto the [Ebola] virus, preventing it from replicating inside the host’s bodyand…
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Worth Quoting
Michael Masterson On True Character And Adversity
“A person’s character is not determined by how far he moves when the wind is at his back but by how far he leans forward when it is against him.” – Michael Masterson
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Fun and/or Interesting
One In Seven Americans Has Gone Skinny-Dipping
Fifteen percent of Americans have admitted to skinny-dipping.
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Worth Reading
Harriet Tubman's Raid Freed Over Seven Hundred Enslaved People
“How Harriet Tubman Led a Civil War Raid That Freed More Than 700 From Slavery” on History.com LINK
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Readers Write
An email from JT
I wanted to follow up and thank you – for your time and your ongoing support. I have always greatly appreciated our relationship and want you to know that your “lobbying” for me – and to me – means a lot…. I…
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Fun and/or Interesting
What Fits Inside Modern Tiny Packages — November 24, 2019
It's amazing what you can fit into a little package these days.
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Notes From My Journal
A Renewal Notice From Medium.com
In most areas of commerce, subscription services are required to notify their customers about renewal charges before they are done. And even where they aren’t required, notification is a good idea because it…
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Worth Reading
Bob Bly on Changing Careers Later in life
“One of the major keys to happiness is choosing your career wisely and if possible early on in your life. “According to an article in Personality and Social Psychology, a leading cause of regret in older…
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Worth Quoting
Michael Masterson On Choosing Your Own Purpose
“A sense of purpose is a great blessing – one of the few that can be freely chosen by anyone at any time.” – Michael Masterson
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A Word to the Wise
caducity (noun)
Caducity (Kuh-DOO-sih-tee) is the quality of being transitory or perishable. It can be used as a synonym for senility. As used by J.G. Millingen in Curiosities of Medical Experience: “Let us deduct even from…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Four Mammals That Cannot Jump
There are four mammals that can’t jump: elephants, sloths, hippos, and rhinos.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Bruce Gilden’s Gritty Vision of a Lost New York” in The New Yorker
“Bruce Gilden’s Gritty Vision of a Lost New York” in The New Yorker
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Notes From My Journal
Book Review: How to Elevate Your Life by Robert Glazer
“He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both.” – Francis Bacon Book Review: How to Elevate Your Life by Robert Glazer I swear – almost everything I…
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A Word to the Wise
problematic (adjective)
Something that’s problematic (prah-bluh-MAT-ik) is doubtful, uncertain, questionable. As I used it today: “My relationship with my trainer, for example, can be problematic at times, and it certainly drains my…
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Fun and/or Interesting
McDonald's Big Mac Secret Sauce Revealed
The “special sauce” in a Big Mac is Thousand Island dressing – basically, ketchup and mayonnaise.
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Worth Reading
ScorceseLand” in Taki’s Magazine
A fascinating review of Scorcese’s film “The Irishman” and several of the stories behind it.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Yogi Berra's Most Wonderfully Absurd Quotes
Yogi Berra Quotes...these are wonderful!
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Notes From My Journal
Why Writers Listen Differently Than Everyone Else
“We write to taste life twice: in the moment and in retrospect.” – Anaïs Nin A Letter to Friends and Family From Someone That Writes for a Living I know what you think. That I’m self-centered and antisocial…
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A Word to the Wise
empathy (noun)
Empathy (EM-puh-thee) is the ability to understand, be aware of, and be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person. As I used it today: “There was a time in my life when I had such…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Long Do Dreams Actually Last
The average dream lasts 5 to 15 minutes.
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer — November 17, 2019
In this issue: * How 3 Magic Ingredients Can Help You Earn a Strong and Reliable Writing Income * 10 Really Good Reasons to Quit Your Job and Start Your Own Writing Business * From the Brink of Burnout to the…
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Readers Write
An email from LA
I do not have the words to express my gratitude to you for sharing your wisdom, insights, and experiences…. I reflect on every word that you have written – and then, where possible, I try to apply and follow…
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Fun and/or Interesting
A Cover That Rivals Lady Gaga's Original
The best rendition of this song I ever heard. As good as, if not better than, Lady Gaga herself.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Risk Management Matters More Than Asset Allocation
“All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.” – Sun Tzu Principles of Wealth #34* According to the financial planning community…
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A Word to the Wise
adventitious (adjective)
Something that is adventitious (ad-ven-TISH-us) happens or is carried on by chance rather than by design or its inherent nature. As used by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The adventitious beauty of poetry may be felt…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing: “Prescription for Disaster
80% of US medications are now made in Asian factories with abysmal quality control. The result? Taking prescription drugs has never been more dangerous. In the November issue, you’ll learn how to protect…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Prescription Drugs Kill More Americans Than Cancer
Prescription drugs are the 4th leading cause of death in the US. They kill more Americans than breast cancer, prostate cancer, homicide, and suicide combined.
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Fun and/or Interesting
What The Human Body Can Accomplish
It's amazing what the human body can do...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why Your Possessions Won't Matter After Death
“If you are not happy now with what you’ve got, you won’t be happy later if you get more.” – Michael Masterson Just One Thing: You’re Not a Pharaoh. Don’t Act Like One Several years ago, The New Yorker…
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A Word to the Wise
desiccated (adjective)
To desiccate (DES-ih-kate) is to remove the moisture from; to become completely and thoroughly dry. As I used it today: “[When the bodies of the pharaohs] were found years later – desiccated, linen-wrapped…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Your Eyes Close When You Sneeze
It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
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Worth Reading
The Persecution and Assassination of Donald J. Trump, Part 5
In this essay, Bill Bonner’s take on the “deep state” is smarter and more realistic (less conspiratorial) most. It’s a perspective that should be seen by both the right and the left. These 4 paragraphs were…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Secrets To Living Long And Happy
Secrets to living a long and happy life that will make you smile...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Just One Thing: The Economics of Overseas Resort Development in One Lesson
“The most important secrets of every business are almost always invisible to outsiders – especially investors.” – Michael Masterson Just One Thing: The Economics of Overseas Resort Development in One Lesson A…
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A Word to the Wise
opuscule (noun)
An opuscule (oh-PUSK-yool) is a work of art or music that is considered to be minor or insignificant. Some critics might, for example, describe Shakespeare’s King John or Pericles as an opuscule.
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Fun and/or Interesting
America's Chicken Population Exceeds Global Human Count
There are more chickens in America than there are people on the planet.
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Worth Reading
The Brutalist Strain” in Taki’s Magazine
The Greeks and the Romans set the standard for architecture. They created buildings that were not only beautiful but functional, and they built them to last. Renaissance and Baroque architects elaborated on…
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Readers Write
An email from TS
Mark, [You] are the best client I’ve ever worked with. And I’ve worked with dozens, possibly hundreds in the last 13 years….I hope we can continue, and hopefully do some bigger things together in the future……
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Unexpected Privilege Of Ordinary Life
Next time you feel underprivileged, watch this...
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