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American Fascism – Part Two
According to Retired Major General Randy Manner most MAGA Republicans “… don't understand what fascism is. The reality is that they are, in fact, fascists themselves."
What do we do to stem the tide of fascism in a country where more than half of citizens are deranged or delusional or don’t give a shit?
The Troublesome Truth
Scott Peck, a Harvard psychiatrist of some renown in the 70s, built his edifice of good mental health on truth - no avoidance, confrontation with reality, no matter how distasteful.
What is Trumpism?
What is “Trumpism”? Who are these “Trumpsters”?
If anyone ever reads this article (dubious), I expect to end up on an “enemies list.” At my age, it would be a badge of courage. It’s 1933 in Germany, folks. Pull your heads out!
Time for a Selfie
Instead of staring at your iPhone and photographing your physical image (without AI filtering), let’s do more of an MRI, designed to give us an image of how you are living your life.
Cognitive Impotence
Cognitive impotence is the reverse of social proof.
Social proof means we tend to do something because everyone else is doing it; cognitive impotence describes the tendency to not do something because everyone else is not doing it.
Cialdini’s Heuristics
Wise decisions result in a wise life, and a wise life is as good as it gets.
Making wise decisions does not come naturally.
In recent years, we have learned that to make wise decisions, we must understand two concepts: heuristics and cognitive biases.
The Power of “Because …”
I often opine and whine, but empirical studies support my arguments in this article.
musings from a tortured poet
When
passions bore us
people understand Elizabethan
Warren Buffet files for bankruptcy
Self-Absorption or Self-Transcendence?
What are the benefits of having a self-transcendent purpose in life?
Fiddling While Rome Burns
In 64 AD, a conflagration began devouring Rome. Emperor Nero bothered not, some say, with buckets, hoses, or help. Isn’t our version of Rome now burning in so many ways? And aren’t we fiddling?
May I Have Your Undivided Attention?
Anyone who does not understand the importance of “undivided attention” has never had a small child or a hungry cat.
MTG and the Solar Eclipse of 585 BC
I admit to being a tad ambivalent about the prospect of the solar eclipse of 4/8/24.
Rage – Part One
Like an incurable cancer, rage rages on generation after generation.
We need to stop raging before we all kill each other!
Froot Loops for Dinner, Again?
Almost one in nine Americans—including one in eight children—live in poverty. More than 38 million people living in the United States cannot afford basic necessities. More than a million of our public schoolchildren are homeless, living in motels, cars, shelters, and abandoned buildings.
The Minotaur’s Diary
The Greeks may have been the earliest culture to discover that wisdom came clothed in stories, not lists and rules.
Have You Tried Kvetching?
Hello, and thank you for calling Kvetchers International. We are here 24/7 to listen to your kvetching, or, for those of you who prefer to play the passive recipient, we offer various services at negotiated rates (based on your level of weirdness).
Introducing Festivus 2.0
• Festivus is December 23rd.
• What is “Festivus”?
• For the unfamiliar, search YouTube (Seinfeld, Season 9, Episode 10, “The Strike”).
Writing Tips for NI
This article is primarily for those who have not completely delegated the art of writing clearly to ChatGPT or some other form of AI (NI = natural intelligence).
Icarus Debunked
Most of us are familiar with the end of the story of Daedalus and Icarus.
For those of you who may not appreciate the nuances of Greek mythology, I am dropping you near the end of this story.
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