Are We Rushing Blindly Into the Unknown Abyss?

I say yes. Technology will continue to evolve. But we still have a choice, about the path to take and the shoes to wear. We need to decide which direction to go while we still can.

The article “Are We Rushing Blindly Into the Unknown Abyss?” discusses the rapid evolution of technology and the choices we face regarding its direction. It emphasizes that while advancements are inevitable, we still hold the power to make conscious decisions about the paths we take and the implications of those choices on our future. The author urges readers to reflect on their direction before it’s too late, highlighting the importance of intentionality in the face of relentless technological progress.

Go to the source and read the whole article: Are We Rushing Blindly Into the Unknown Abyss?

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Proof that cats are assholes?

The author thinks so. A new study reveals how much cats differ from dogs and toddlers when it comes to altruistic behavior.

A recent study highlighted in Psychology Today investigates the altruistic behavior of cats compared to dogs and toddlers, concluding that cats exhibit more self-serving tendencies. The research presents definitive experimental evidence that supports the idea of feline selfishness, suggesting that while cats may not engage in altruistic acts to the same extent as their canine counterparts or young children, they still display unique social behaviors worth exploring. The article emphasizes the implications of these findings on our understanding of animal behavior and companionship.

Go to the source and read the whole article: Definitive Experimental Proof That Cats Really Are Selfish

Me? I think that cats are superior beings that have boundaries. As Eckhart Tolle said ‘I have met many zen masters — all of them cats’…

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The Secret to Enjoying Work More

You’ll spend around 90,000 hours at work, so shouldn’t work help you thrive? Recent research points to three psychological needs that, when met, drive motivation, well-being, and performance.

In the article “The Secret to Enjoying Work More,” it is emphasized that people spend about 90,000 hours at work throughout their lives, highlighting the importance of a fulfilling work environment. Recent research identifies three psychological needs essential for enhancing motivation, overall well-being, and performance: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Meeting these needs in the workplace can lead to a more enjoyable and productive work experience.

Go to the source and read the whole article: The Secret to Enjoying Work More

 

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Why You Can’t Help Sharing the Things You Love

Stone causing splash and ripples on lake water at sunset

I am a curator as this website will attest and this article caught my eye…

“You’ve sent a song to someone at 11 p.m. You’ve pressed a book into a friend’s hands. A new study suggests you weren’t showing off. You were trying to give something away.”

The article “Why You Can’t Help Sharing the Things You Love” discusses the intrinsic motivation behind sharing experiences, music, and books with others. It highlights a recent study suggesting that when people share things they love, they are not seeking validation or trying to show off, but rather expressing a desire to give and connect with others. This act of sharing reflects a fundamental social behavior where individuals aim to enhance relationships by spreading joy and personal meaning through their interests.

Go to the source and read the whole article: Why You Can’t Help Sharing the Things You Love

 

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The Marginalian

One of the most interesting websites I’ve ever found. You can find it here: The Marginalian

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On Intelligent Discourse

Liberty Bell housed in a glass pavilion with sunrise in background

George Washington acknowledged that differences in political opinions are unavoidable and even necessary, but he expressed deep regret when “subjects cannot be discussed with temper”. He warned that without “charity in deciding on the opinions, & actions of one another,” managing the government would be difficult, if not impracticable. To maintain harmony, Washington pleaded for “liberal allowances,” “mutual forbearances,” and “temporising yieldings on all sides” to replace “wounding suspicions, and irritable charges”. In his Farewell Address, he further cautioned that the “spirit of Party” constantly distracts public councils and “agitates the Community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms”.

Continue reading “On Intelligent Discourse” →
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Hundreds of economists say ‘we must act now’ on AI’s economic impact and job displacement risks

Hundreds of economists have signed an open letter urging immediate action to address the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on the economy. They warn that AI could potentially displace many workers and emphasize the need for institutions to develop strategies to mitigate these risks. The letter highlights the urgency of responding to the economic implications of AI advancements.

Source: Hundreds of economists say ‘we must act now’ on AI’s economic impact and job displacement risks

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Tech billionaires are publicly shielding their children from the products that made them rich

As governments race to restrict minors’ social media use, the tech billionaires who built the platforms are imposing strict screen limits at home. What do they know that we pretend not to?

Source: Peter Thiel and other tech billionaires are publicly shielding their children from the products that made them rich | Fortune

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Ken Holtzman’s first no-hitter

Yesterday, my mom gave me this program from Ken Holtzman’s 1969 no hitter. I was 11 and my dad and I sat in the upper deck behind home plate for what turned out to be one of the most unique games in Cubs’ history. The program is signed by Ken Holtzman, Ron Santo (who hit the game winning homer), Billy Williams (whose catch preserved the no hitter) and Fergie Jenkins. Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter on August 19, 1969, is one of the strangest and most memorable pitching performances in Chicago Cubs history—not because he overpowered hitters, but because he didn’t strike out a single batter.

The 23-year-old left-hander faced the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field and won 3–0, allowing no hits, three walks, and no runs. Every one of the Braves’ 27 outs came on a ball put into play—grounders, fly balls, or line drives. A no-hitter without a strikeout is extraordinarily rare, and Holtzman remains the most recent major-league pitcher to accomplish it. (SABR)

Continue reading “Ken Holtzman’s first no-hitter” →
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The End of Reading Is Here

We have entered the post-literate age…

“The darkness is gathering again. Americans, once members of a proudly literate society, read much less than they used to. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, which conducts the most comprehensive survey of the nation’s reading habits, fewer than half of all adults reported having read a book of any kind in 2022. Only 38 percent read a novel or short story. A study analyzing 236,000 responses to the American Time Use Survey found that the proportion of Americans who read for pleasure on any given day fell from 28 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2023. (The study looked at people who had read a book, magazine, or newspaper; listened to an audiobook; or read an e-book.) Gambling has become a more common leisure activity than reading a book: Last year, 57 percent of Americans placed a bet.”

Source: The End of Reading Is Here – The Atlantic

(Add the link in incognito mode to read)

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What This Fourth of July Is Really About

An unfinished ode from 1876 offers a lesson for America’s 250th. Open this link in incognito or private mode: What This Fourth of July Is Really About

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George Washington’s Rules of Civility (and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation)

George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation” is a collection of 110 maxims that emphasize proper conduct and etiquette in social interactions. Originally derived from a set of French rules, Washington adopted and translated them in his youth. The rules cover various aspects of behavior, including:

  1. Respect for Others: Treating people with kindness and dignity, acknowledging their presence, and showing proper deference in conversation.
  2. Politeness and Modesty: Maintaining humility and refraining from boasting, as well as speaking appropriately according to the situation.
  3. Listening and Understanding: The importance of listening attentively and allowing others to express their thoughts without interruption.
  4. Avoiding Controversy: Steering clear of topics that could lead to disagreements or discord, particularly in mixed company.
  5. Good Manners: Practicing etiquette during meals and gatherings, sharing space amicably, and being gracious in both victories and losses.

Collectively, these maxims provide insight into the social expectations of Washington’s time and reflect timeless principles of civility that are still relevant today.

Could you imagine what our current president’s book would look like?

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What’s really in a hotdog? Nutrition experts explain

Americans eat 20bn hotdogs every year, but experts say they’re also among the most highly processed foods…

Source: What’s really in a hotdog? Nutrition experts explain

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Media, Technology, and Stress At America’s 250th

“The United States is in a strange position. Even as we prepare to celebrate our 250th anniversary we are dissatisfied with how things stand. A recent Pew Poll indicated that 69% of Americans don’t like the way things are going right now but that may have always been true in this country; historians believe that only 30-40% of American Colonists actively supported the Revolutionary War, with 20% remaining loyal to the crown, and the remainder being neutral or disengaged.”

Go to the source and read the whole article if you’re interested: Media, Technology, and Stress At America’s 250th

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Listen Like You Might Be Wrong

Six graduates in caps and gowns standing on a mountaintop at sunset overlooking a valley and river.

The speaker delivers a powerful message urging graduates to reject rigid binary thinking and move past a culture that values winning arguments over understanding people. He challenges the audience to engage in genuine dialogue, especially with those they deeply disagree with.

Continue reading “Listen Like You Might Be Wrong” →
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How to Be a Living Unison: D. H. Lawrence on Harmonizing the Conflicting Parts We Live With

“The great paradox of personhood is that the sum is simpler than its parts. We move through the world as a totality, fragmentary but indivisible, clothed in a costume of personality beneath which roil parts perpetually fighting for power, perpetually yearning for harmony. The person making the choices, the person bearing their consequences, and the person taking responsibility for them are rarely the same person.”

If this resonates wiht you, go to the source and read the entire article by Maria Popova: How to Be a Living Unison: D. H. Lawrence on Harmonizing the Conflicting Parts We Live With

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AI Cadences

In the latest Anthropic Economic Index report, we look at when people come to Claude, what they produce with it, and how they perceive AI’s impact on their work.

Go to the source and read the whole article: Anthropic Economic Index report: Cadences

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Writer Ian Bogost Says ‘the Small Stuff’ Can Help Us Reclaim Our Lives from Too Much Convenience

Has Silicon Valley been building the wrong things?

Source: Writer Ian Bogost says ‘The Small Stuff’ can help us reclaim our lives from too much convenience | TechCrunch

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Who Does it Serve?

Armored knight in glowing high-tech suit carrying an ornate glowing chalice in a neon digital forest environment

In this keynote address from ARC 2026, artist and public speaker Jonathan Pageau delivers a profound philosophical warning about the unchecked trajectory of artificial intelligence, framing our current technological race through the lens of ancient myths and legends.

Here is a summary of the core themes and arguments from the video:

Continue reading “Who Does it Serve?” →
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Ex-Google Exec: How to Position Yourself Now Before the Next AI Phase (2026–2027)

In this episode of the Silicon Valley Girl Podcast, host Marina Mogilko interviews Mo Gawdat, author and former Chief Business Officer at Google X. Gawdat outlines what he views as a highly disruptive “12 to 15 years of hell before heaven” caused by rapid AI progression, peaking around 2027 01:02 Opens in a new window …

Continue reading “Ex-Google Exec: How to Position Yourself Now Before the Next AI Phase (2026–2027)” →
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David Brooks: America Has a Moral Problem, Not a Political One

In this episode of Prof G Conversations, host Scott Galloway interviews author, New York Times veteran, and Atlantic writer David Brooks. The discussion centers around what Brooks views as a deep-seated human and moral crisis in modern America, rather than a purely political one…

Continue reading “David Brooks: America Has a Moral Problem, Not a Political One” →
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