• Midstream Musings – we scale ourselves and return Sisyphus …
- I’ve had some long conversations with an aspiring screenwriter about a collection of short stories, with a working title of The Ditbit’s Guide to Blending in with AIs. An evolving landscape: The great realignment of humans and AIs left a landscape littered with un-, sub-, semi- and supernatural agency. – […]
- This article (below) is an interesting take on a classic fable, one of Aesop’s. Like the fable The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Fox & the Grapes [1] is part of the moral fabric of the American psyche (and elsewhere). The oft-quoted moral of the fable is: There are many […]
- My personal word of the year is demonize. But … A commentary on how “we are using our free time” … an ongoing “cultural conversation about humanity and technology.” • AP News > “How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is ‘brain rot’” (December […]
- Pondering the big picture, what has changed in the last 100 years or so … This article (republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license) is a useful recap of our understanding of human evolution, and an excellent visualization of that story, including salient talking points. The millions-of-years history […]
- [Draft 11-7-2024] We supposedly live in a secular society. And yet, sacred speech dominates our polarized politics. The righteous mind is alive and well. Private & public piety pervades our identities, our virtues and values. Dogma still divides. History has lessons which remain unheeded. Social media (and money) amplify an […]
- This Psychology Today article poses an interesting question regarding storytelling and sense of meaning. Is there a relationship between skill at storytelling and sense of meaning & purpose in life? Might workshopping that with an AI help or harm one's voice? Will AIs be storytellers – "organizing the colorful but […]
- Regarding my statement that: We need a renewed sense of common purpose, an overarching social ethic highlighting interdependence rather than ascendance. • LA Times > Opinion > "Where does resilience come from?" by Lucy Jones (1-11-2025) – We need 'social capital' — strong community bonds that are the reason and […]
- Here's Torrance Memorial's take on the 'recipe' for a long, healthy life. • Torrance Memorial > Advantage > Healthy Living Over 55 > "Living Longer & Thriving" (Issue #34 Winter 2025) – Tips for Blue Zone living. The Blue Zone Recipe for a Long, Healthy Life > Habits Plant-filled diet […]
- Here's another perspective on praise, pride, and purpose in the achievement-driven American dream. • Psychology Today > "Choosing Wonder Over Achievements: A New Year's Mindset Shift" by Jessica Del Pozo, Ph.D. (Being Awake Better), reviewed by Monica Vilhauer Ph.D. (December 30, 2024) – Wonder and awe [when it is not threat […]
- "the American dream and nightmare" This book [1] review reminded me of another cardinal characterization of the American psyche, another homage to Ben Franklin's influence on our culture. Namely, a singular shared ideology (mythic common ground) that hard work (sweat equity) warrants "getting ahead," and earns merit and place in […]