Category: Blog

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Cliffhanger Social Posts

Lately I’ve noticed an incerase in cliffhanger social posts. They go like this: “Oh No! Something extremely bad is getting ready to happen or is happening!” No explanation and no followup. Or “Yes! Something awesome is about to happen, or is happening!” Again no explanation and no followup.

I hate this practice! In my opinion if your going online to tell us something of this magnitude, you should come back and finish the story. What happened? Should I be sad for you? Should I be happy for you? Should we all be celebrating or mourning?

You played on our heart strings in careless fashion and the empathy I had for your situation, has now diminished. It is the modern social equivalent of the boy who cried wolf. Will I pay attention the next time you post? Not likely.

Please, if you feel the need to exclaim a great hurt or victory, give us the story or outcome, but don’t leave us hanging.

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REVIEW: ALPAKA Zip Pouch

ALPAKA Zip Pouch Mulberry X-Pac VX21 - RFID-Blocking Small Cash and Card Zip Wallet
ALPAKA Zip Pouch Mulberry X-Pac VX21 – RFID-Blocking Small Cash and Card Zip Wallet

One of my favorite types of media to consume is EDC (everyday carry content). When I can across the ALPAKA zip pouch I was instantly interested. It is just big enough to accommodate a minimalist wallet, cash, and an airtag or small pocket knife. I carry it in a leather slingback most of the time. I often grab the pouch and toss it into a larger messenger back or my front pocket. It is one of the best items I have purchased in the EDC genre and recommend it. 

Follow the following link if you would like to purchase a ALPAKA Zip Pouch https://amzn.to/4g1o9Ux

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase something through that link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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REVIEW: Chefman Electric Hot Water Kettle

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase something through that link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I received the stainless steel 1.8 L Chefman electric water kettle for a Christmas present last year. I use it everyday! In fact I used it very shortly after unwrapping the present. First thing in the morning drink a glass of water while my kettle boils water for that first cup of tea. It keeps the water pretty hot throughout the day. And if the water does get too cold it’s pretty easy to heat it back up. 

Easy to use, just fill it up and press the lever. When the water is down boiling the kettle shuts off. The kettle sets on a base that allows it to swivel around. It takes up very little space and fits nicely on a kitchen cabinet.

I’ve discovered it is great for making coffee in a french press or that perfect cup matcha.  It is also incredibly useful when making minute rice. I can’t imagine not having an electric kettle in the kitchen and will most certainly replace it when I wear this one out! You can’t go wrong with this kettle, I highly recommend it!

Follow the following link if you would like to purchase a Chefman electric water kettle. https://amzn.to/4w4Xb38

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase something through that link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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We need more power!

I recently listened to some leaders in tech as they discussed the need for more energy to power AI. They proposed that in the future we will need so much energy to power AI and Crypto that all forms of energy will be utilized. Then one of them said, “This means the climate crisis will have to wait, then we can use AI to help solve the climate problem.”

I don’t think this sounds like a very good idea. What happens if we reach a point of no return? What if the answer AI gives relies on the area we just sacrificed to get AI. Perhaps it would be better to work on both as the same time.

Personally I love the idea of having a personal AI assistant. And I want the Jetsons future I was promised as a kid. But not at the expense of clean water and fresh food. We could start employing permaculture principles in our communities. We could start using AI now to identify areas that will benefit most in every geographical region of our world. There is really no reason why we can’t advance AI, crypto, autonomous cars, jetpacks, flying cars and at the same time protect the environment. It just requires fresh eyes and new ideas.

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Use targets instead of setting goals

I no longer create goals, I set targets.

In the past I would set goals, make plans. Then I would attempt to work the plans. Sometimes I hit the goals and other times I missed the mark. Most of the time I felt a great deal of angst about the process.

One day I was talking to a friend and realized that I had reached one of my goals. I had accomplished what I set out to do, but hadn’t realized it. I hadn’t realized it because I hadn’t written a good goal, and I had failed to establish key indicators.

When I had pictured the goal in my mind it looked completely different. I failed to realize that I would reach the goal in a smaller form long before I would hit the mark that I envisioned. What I had envisioned was a higher degree on a the scale.

So I decided to start using targets in place of goals. They are easier to create and you can create a range to success. The way I see it, it’s like an archery target or a dart board. There are rings from the outside moving towards the bullseye. The first target might be to hit the target as a whole and then move inward.

What I have found is that in setting / defining targets, I have changed the language so it stays in a more positive format. There is the added benefit of measuring progress.

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Let’s make AI into something good

If AI learns and will become what we make it, then shouldn’t we make the effort to teach it to be principled and good? It doesn’t seem like a good idea to teach it to be a doomsday machine by trying to prove a point. Instead of being fearful, let’s make it something useful. Let’s make it the thing we want it to be.

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WIN – What’s Important Now

According to Lou Holtz there is a simple formula for living life. Start by asking What Is Important Now, WIN. Then apply these four actions:
1) You choose your attitude.
2) Focus on your purpose
3) Dream and set goals
4) Make good choices.

If you apply the WIN concept to all four actions, you will find that choosing a good attitude is always the most important action right now. You’ll discover that focusing on your purpose is the right action right now. You find that dreams and goals will help you keep a good attitude and form your purpose. Finally you’ll know that making good choices is always the most important action right now.

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Bottle Your Inspiration

I find the ocean so inspiring that I long to return as soon as I’ve left. It makes me feel small and insignificant. If you’ve ever gathered seashells, you’ve noticed that pieces of large shells are tossed all over the beach. Yet the tiniest shells are completely unharmed by the same waves that destroyed the larger ones. I like to walk the beach and gather shells.

Georgia O’Keeffe loved the western United States. She loved it so much that she would fill barrels full of animal bones and ship them back home to her studio in New York. Barrels of animal bones in a New York studio, that’s where she created masterpieces. I’ve tried to mimic her behavior with jars of seashells all around our home.

The ocean inspires me. What inspires you? Have you found a way to harness the inspiration? Can you tap into it at anytime you wish? I hope so and if not I encourage you to find a way to do so.

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What We Bring Into Our Lives

There is a tribe in the Amazon where the men work 4 hours a week to maintain crops and the rest of their time is spent hanging out in the hut and swinging in hammocks. They don’t have much and they don’t require much either. What we bring into our life will determine the amount of resources needed to maintain our life.