Aging, Feelings, Money, Government, Advertisements, Genetics, International News — 1. “Show your feelings” Showing you’re stressed may make you more likeable — new research — Jamie Whitehouse — (The Conversation) In some ways, I blame our culture of shame. It’s “shameful” to show certain types of feelings, particularly any associated with any kind of weakness. And yet, as this article lays out, humans…

Perfection, Aging, AI, Skepticism, Wisdom, Comprehension, Kindness — 1. “There will always be something that you kinda suck at” 3 Principles for a Better Life — Mark Manson — (Mindf*ck Monthly newsletter) The takeaway above is an instance of a larger, more important concept, Manson’s principle number 1: You are perfect just as you are… but you can always be better. One one hand perfection and being better seem…

Journalism, Photography, Swearing, Fallacies, Understanding, Bullshit, Placebos — 1. “I choose to live in peace and witness war” The Profile Dossier: Lynsey Addario, the War Photographer Capturing Our Collective Humanity — Polina Pompliano — (The Profile newsletter) I ended up watching a 30 minute talk and slideshow by the profiled photographer (“On working on the front lines” in the profile). …

Culture, Attention, Courage, Midlife, Unplug, Student Loans, International News — 1. “It is racist to consider a culture beneath you.” Racism in Africa: It’s Not What You Might Think — Julia Hubbel — (Walkabout Saga blog) This is an eye-opening essay on something that, honestly, I’d never thought that deeply about. …

Truth, Content, Requiem, Brevity, Habits, Empathy, Fear 1. “Beliefs, like genes, are passed down from generation to generation.” When Advice Collides With Truth — Lawrence Yeo — (More to That blog) An interesting essay on truth, how truth changes, and how falsifiability is a cornerstone of what it really means for something to be true. In an age where opinions are…

To my foreign family and friends. No, I can’t explain it. The US was once the land of opportunity and freedom. Now it seems the home for hypocrisy and hate. We care more for our guns than our children. We tell people there’s a wrong way to love while engaging…

Critical Thinking, Entertainment, Flow, Intrusions, Iodine, Kindness, Meaning, Settling — 1. “Every interaction is an intrusion.” Thinking About Service, A Personal Observation — David Gerrold — (Patreon post) Unfortunately, this post is locked to patrons only. The takeaway above caught my attention, though, and it seems worthy of additional thought. So it’s important to recognize the three gates. Is the intrusion kind, useful, and true? Or…

Problems, Infraverse, Experience, Strength, Happiness, Authority, Data 1. “Everyone is more or less struggling with the same three or four problems” The Biggest Lesson I’ve Learned From You — Mark Manson — (blog) In the 100th issue of his newsletter Manson summarizes his discovery that everyone struggles with, essentially, the same kinds of problems regardless of how different we all are. “I’m unhappy in…

Anger, Aged, Humble, Reading, History, Tribalism, Song — 1. “If it can make you angry, it can own you” That Annoying Box Of Anger — David Gerrold — (Patreon, public post) Anger makes me angry. :-) More precisely, frequent pointless anger. Bonus points when the angry person insists they’re not angry. Gerrold’s topic is the anger we carry with us. The anger that owns us, causes it to perhaps…