Category Archives: ideas

PROMPT: Lesson

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What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?
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Just because a message has merit does not mean there is benefit in its delivery. For example, telling a person who is on fire and mad with itching not to scratch or telling a person to not be a jackass when their core nature is jackass. Saying such things will not nudge the state of the world and can only release the puff of hot air that creates chaos — like Edward Lorenz’s proverbial butterfly in Brazil that causes a tornado in Texas.

PROMPT: Ridiculous

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What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
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That adults knew stuff and were free to do as they pleased.

PROMPT: Advice

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What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
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Make decisions 25% more nervy than you currently see yourself having the courage to pull off.

Also, develop some uniquely human skill for the time (you are likely to see) when ai/robotics does all productive tasks better, faster, and more efficiently than humans. (Think nursing, philosophy, sex work, cage fighting, etc.)

PROMPT: Proverb

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Share a proverb you think is completely wrong and make your case.
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“If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.”

Maybe Muhammad is a beach person. I think it’s just a parallel construction run amok. Everything sounds wise in parallel construction — whether it is or not. “Ask not what your country can do for you,…” “If you can’t change a diaper, the diaper will change you.” etc.

FIVE WISE LINES [June 2026]

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Photograph of sunset taken at Moalboal, Philippines across the Tanon Strait.

When I was younger I could remember anything,
whether it had happened or not;
but my faculties are decaying now and soon
I shall be able to remember only the things
that never happened.

Mark twain

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled,
but a fire to be kindled.”

Plutarch [paraphrased]

Judge a man by his questions
rather than his answers.

Voltaire

Resist much, obey little.

Walt whitman; “To the states“

People don’t take trips —
trips take people.

John steinbeck

PROMPT: Word or Phrase

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What’s a word or phrase that annoys you?
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“Popularity contest,” as in “This isn’t going to win me any popularity contests, but…” You know what’s not popular? Popularity contests. I’ve never heard of one. What you are really saying is, “I’m about to be a jackass, and I just want you to know that I’m aware I’m being a jackass.” Just own your jackassery all ready. You can’t soften the blow of being a jackass.

PROMPT: Motivated

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How do you stay motivated when learning something new?
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That’s not so much my problem. I’m a learning addict and get hooked easily. My problem comes down the line at the point where the once blurred edges between what is of value and what is bullshit in a given discipline comes into focus. It is that point that my enthusiasm wavers.

PROMPT: Minimalist

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What are the biggest benefits of minimalist living?
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You own few things and nothing owns you.

FIVE WISE LINES [May 2026]

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Photograph of desert dunes in the United Arab Emirates.

All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.

Ernest hemingway; A Moveable feast

Friends do not live in harmony…, but in melody.

Henry david thoreau

Avoid adjectives of scale, you will love the world more and desire it less.

Robert Hass’ paraphrasing of Bashō [National Geographic; Feb 2008]

Do not hurry; do not rest.

 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Be careful of your words,
for someone will agree with them.

Lieh Tzu

PROMPT: Topics

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What topics do you like to discuss?
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Anything but myself. Unfortunately, that seems to be the main mode of social discourse in the world. People mostly want to hear enough about me that they feel justified in telling me more about them. I’m an ideas guy: philosophy, science, literature, technology, economy, international affairs, etc. (Also, travel, but that only works with travelers — a tiny segment of the population.)