Is Realism the Middle Way?
Of all the definitions out there, I believe my view of the world falls closest to that of a “Realist.” The dictionary definition is “a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.” (www.reference.com) In contrast, it seems that in western society there is a trend pushing people to believe that they should take a “glass half full” approach to life which by definition is that of a...
Bonobo Happiness
Lately I’ve been obsessed with learning more about Bonobos partly because until recently I had not even heard of them. In the briefest terms, they are the primates closest to us in the genetic tree, having only 1.2% difference in DNA from humans. That number is considered remarkable when you consider that there is more DNS difference among different species of birds than between humans and bonobos. Scientists believe the bonobo...
Selling Everything in 77 Days
My goal was to sell all my belongings, including my house, in a short 77 day period of time in order to travel the world with just a carry on bag and computer bag. Although I ultimately ended up renting out my house rather than taking a $60,000 loss, I feel I accomplished my goals in an efficient manner. In many ways, I actually made money on some items. The key was to follow a seven step process which I came up with myself. 1. What...
No Pyramids in Luxor Egypt!
I lived in Las Vegas for 17 years and the entire time I was very annoyed by one thing, the Luxor Casino and its big glass pyramid. Why? Well, because in 1991 I spent time in Luxor, Egypt and there are no pyramids there–absolutely none! So, why in the world did they name a Casino the Luxor Pyramid? I have no idea; maybe because it just sounds cool. The big pyramids that everyone sees in movies and photos are found in northern...
Earth’s Only Truly Immortal Creature
Earth’s only immortal creature looks startling familiar, having a striking ressemblence to Avatar’s small floating creatures know as the ‘Seeds of the Sacred Tree of Eywa.’ On earth, these creatures live in the oceans and are classified as a type of jellyfish known as the turritopsis nutricula. Like most jellyfish out there, this species has two distinct phases of life, its immature stage when it lives as a stalk with tentacles. This...
Waiting for an Appointment
Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves is making an appointment with a business professional, like a doctor, and then sitting and waiting in a reception room for 30 or 40 minutes before the person will see me. Medical doctors seem to be the worst at this. I believe if we didn’t feel deathly ill and not have other easy options, most of us would walk out and go elsewhere with our business. The big question is, how long do you feel is...