The phrase “Hell is other people,” immortalized by the French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre in his play “No Exit” (“Huis Clos” in French), serves as a complex meditation on human existence. Superficially, it might seem like an endorsement of misanthropy, but a closer examination reveals deeper layers that underscore the complexities of human relationships and … Read more
James Baldwin’s profound observation, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” captures a quintessential axiom about human existence. It speaks to our inescapable confrontation with reality, beckoning us toward a journey of transformative bravery. This article delves into the symbiotic relationship between facing challenges and … Read more
We all want freedom. We all want choices. But the more choices we have, the more we realize we’re still trapped. We trade parts of ourselves to fit into society. We give up some freedoms to gain benefits like safety, jobs, and homes. It’s like swapping one cage for another. In the old days, people … Read more
Being yourself in a world that often wants you to be something else is a real challenge. But it’s a fight worth having. Why? Because not being yourself leads to a life that’s inauthentic. And living an inauthentic life is like walking uphill all the time—you spend so much energy trying to be something you’re … Read more
In today’s fast-paced world, media prioritizes politics, profit, and pleasing audiences over truth. This shift traces back to a decline from early 20th-century investigative journalism to today’s sensational, biased reporting. During the early days of modern journalism, reporters like Upton Sinclair and Ida Tarbell paved the way for investigative journalism that challenged the status quo. … Read more
Eating Fossil Fuels Three valleys, two centuries apart What goes in The energy costs of bread, chicken, and tomatoes Diesel oil behind seafood Fuel and food The modern food system, often perceived as a marvel of efficiency, is paradoxically a prodigious consumer of energy, much of it derived from fossil fuels. From the dawn of … Read more
The section paints a grand panorama of the evolution of life on Earth and humanity’s journey towards technological and environmental mastery. The narrative unfolds through the metaphorical lens of “probes” observing the Earth over billions of years, documenting key shifts and transformations. Then the author discusses energy and its modern uses. Fundamental Shifts Modern Energy … Read more
The allure of misleading advice, while perplexing on the surface, can be understood through a meticulous exploration of psychological phenomena. Drawing from an array of psychological theories and empirical research, we can dissect the underlying reasons why individuals might find themselves attracted to misleading advice. 1. Cognitive Biases and Heuristics (Add to TEOW) Example: During … Read more
n “A Random Walk Down Wall Street,” Burton Malkiel fundamentally challenges the efficacy of active trading, positing that the financial markets are essentially random and that no amount of skill, insight, or information can consistently beat the market. This revolutionary concept has not only become the foundation for the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) but also … Read more
In an age where technological advancement has transformed almost every aspect of our lives, one immutable fact remains: the certainty of death. But what if this final frontier could be transcended? What if aging and death were no longer inevitable but problems to be solved? The quest to cheat death has tantalized humanity for centuries, … Read more