What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?
At this point, it would need to be something AI / robots won’t possibly be able to do better, faster, cheaper in the near term. This leaves jobs for which one’s humanity is a central part of the job. Unfortunately, I suck at many aspects of being a human. Maybe I’ll become a robot and beat them at their own game.
What food would you say is your specialty?
I make a mean pot of steamed rice.
What major historical events do you remember?
Alexander takes Egypt, the death of Kublai Khan, the War of 1812, the Teapot Dome Scandal… You know, the biggies.
What have you been working on?
Being…. POW!… more spontaneous. 自然 (zìrán) in the Taoist conception.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I’m a genius. I know everybody always says, “If nobody recognizes your genius, you’re not a genius,” but…. [I can’t really think of a rebuttal, seems airtight, now that I think about it.]
Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
Rested. Like Mondays, they never get me down. [Or is that “rainy days?”]
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
Ron Burgundy, because he’s a legend, and the legend continues.
What makes a good neighbor?
Neither a borrower, nor a lender be… plus, has good judgment about when to call the cops.
What could you try for the first time?
My problem is that I’m old enough that all the low hanging fruit has been consumed, meaning most “first times” involve a serious time investment. For example, I’d love to go skydiving, but you can’t just jump out of a plane, you have to either watch a safety video or sabotage a plane. All for a five-minute experience. And if you don’t want to do it with a stranger strapped intimately close to you, you need to do probably watch several safety videos and practice pulling a cord over and over again. [Question: They sometimes ask if you’d like a male or female massage therapist when you get a massage, but I’ve never heard of being given the option when tandem skydiving. How come it’s ok to be homophobic, or hetero-phobic, in one instance, but not the other? Just asking.]
What principles define how you live?
Before traveling, empty my cup. Before returning home, empty my cup.
Collect experiences, not geegaws.
Wishing for the world to be some other way is a grand waste of time.
If there is a river flowing toward where I want to be, surrender to it.
See humor everywhere, especially in myself.
Be content with who I am at the moment, while struggling to be a better version in future editions.
Strive to find the non-adversarial path.
Keep looking until I see what is beautiful in all things and creatures.
Don’t attempt to construct anyone else’s list of principles to live by.
Feel the sensations that arise without letting the mind amplify them out of proportion.
Seek only simple pleasures, enjoy them fully, and then move on.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 