Blog

  • Out Dew Colorado River?

    Not likely, but…

    Would dew collectors effectively collect enough water to make them practical in

    1. Nevada
    2. Utah
    3. California
    4. Arizona
    5. New Mexico
    6. Wyoming
    7. Colorado

    Dew collectors are a form of condensation that utilize surfaces to collect the natural moisture present in the air, so in most circumstances, they can be effective in all seven of the locations listed. In areas such as the deserts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, the moisture content in the air is low, but if it is supplemented through water delivery systems or manual misting, dew collectors will be more effective and could help to provide water in those areas. In the other states, Colorado, California and Wyoming, dew collectors are likely to be even more effective due to the higher moisture content in the air.

  • For many years, I’ve had an ongoing difference of opinion about my spiritual organization. I believe it is not dogmatic. The other party believes that it is. So, I think by establishing definitions, which I have done below, it depends on one’s point of you.

    I think I’m following a set of principles, whereas the other person may think I am following a belief system, which I’m not. Principles are based on truth, whereas belief is usually based on some kind of emotional appeal or intellectual preference.

    However, I’m conceding that a person who is following an organization that is structured on truth principles, may approach and practice those principles in a such a way that their behavior may border on belief system fanaticism.

    Dogma is a set of principles or beliefs firmly held as authoritative and largely unchanging, especially those related to religion.

    Principles are similar to beliefs in that they are both closely-held convictions that guide someone’s behavior. However, principles are typically consistent and based in concrete facts, while beliefs may be more subjective and arguable. Principles usually involve some type of moral or ethical reasoning, while beliefs may involve a religious, spiritual, philosophical, or other ideological reasoning. Principles are also typically intended to contribute to the greater good, while beliefs may be designed to benefit one individual or a specific group of people.

    Are principles dogmatic? Principles are not dogmatic. They are intended to provide guidance and define expectations for behavior, but there is often room for interpretation and variation depending on the context.

    Are beliefs dogmatic? It depends on the context and the content of the beliefs in question. Generally speaking, dogmatic beliefs are those that are rigidly held and not opened to change or questioning, regardless of evidence to the contrary.

  • What bores you?

    Waiting in line can be boring because it can take up a lot of time that could be better spent doing something else. It can be boring because it often involves waiting passively, not being able to engage in conversation or other activities. Additionally, there is often a feeling of frustration due to the slow progress of the line and the loss of autonomy while you wait.

    I’m reminded of prisoners in concentration camps who were educated people and spent time learning from each other, their languages, cultures and skills, and not only that, by recalling all the things that they had ever learned and going over that material mentally. And they would persist in recalling the memory of places where they had been down to very detailed facts. It just shows the resourcefulness of individuals who were under extreme conditions conducive to boredom, putting their minds to work constructively.

  • Humbleness is the quality of being modest and respectful, recognizing one’s place in the world, and not thinking one is better than others. It is also described as being humble and unassuming.

    Humility is the quality of being humble; having a modest or low view of one’s own importance or rank. It includes behavior marked by modesty, respect towards others, and a lack of arrogance or pride.

    Humbleness and humility are similar in that they both involve having a low opinion of oneself and a lack of pride. The main difference between them is that humbleness is more outwardly expressed and can relate to one’s behavior, while humility is more internal and involves having a genuine understanding of one’s own limitations and insignificance. Humbleness is more focused on outward appearance and how one acts, while humility is based more on an individual’s attitude and character.

  • First principles thinking chat

    First principles thinking is a problem-solving technique used by Elon Musk to break problems down into the most basic elements. Instead of relying on assumptions or analogies, he starts with a question like: “what are the fundamental facts, the basic truths and assumptions of this problem?” He then identifies the assumptions and looks at each of them independently and asks himself: “Is this assumption true? Is it based on a fact, or is it an opinion?” By doing so, he is able to drill down to the heart of the problem and find new and innovative solutions.

    Then, it could be said that first principles thinking is a way to avoid depending on the thinking of others and to develop one’s own ideas on a certain subject from the ground up. First principles thinking involves breaking down complex problems into fundamental elements, and then reimagining or reconstructing those problems to see what new ideas and solutions can be derived. This method of thinking allows you to think independently, using your own mental resources rather than relying on the work of other people, and can also lead to more creative and innovative solutions to challenging problems.

  • With the rise of social media, there has been an increase in the number of people claiming to be thought leaders. Unfortunately, in many cases, people who claim to be thought leaders lack the experience, expertise, and qualifications that are required to be seen as true experts. This has caused a disconnect between those who are truly knowledgeable and experienced in their field, and people who are merely claiming expertise in a certain area.

    This issue has further been exacerbated by the tendency of some people to use the term “thought leader” to describe anyone with a strong opinion. This has caused confusion, as it muddies the definition of what a thought leader actually is and has led to “thought leaders” becoming seen as being of lower quality and credibility than they deserve.

    The issue of fake thought leaders is compounded by the fact that it can be difficult to distinguish a true thought leader from someone posing as one. These people can often seem legitimate, due to the use of impressive-sounding titles, awards, and credentials. As a result, it can be difficult for people to properly evaluate the insights and knowledge of those claiming to be thought leaders and to be sure that their opinions come from real-world experience.

    To combat this problem, it is important for people to properly vet the claims of those claiming to be thought leaders, verify their credentials, and look for evidence of real-world experience. It is also important for organizations, such as universities and associations, to create formal definitions for what it means to be a thought leader, and who is qualified to hold the title. This will help ensure that thought leaders are held to a high standard, and that those who are truly providing valuable insights and advice are recognized and rewarded.

  • Lincolnizing Situations

    The famous phrase attributed to Abraham Lincoln can be utilized to illuminate the human nature landscape with a perspective that is a derivative of common sense, and a deft handling of the truth. 

    Someone somewhere, recently has probably paraphrased Lincoln’s astute observation. “You can fool some of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”

    Any word can take the place of the word “fool”. My latest insertion is the word “outthink”, but obviously it could be anything: outsmart, beat, defeat, humiliate, convince, manipulate, heal, etc. I’m sure you can think of many human action or behavior words that would fit perfectly into this paradigm. I really appreciate how this phrase and its variations can free us from generalizations, or the one description “fits all” tendency.

    Cheers!

  • Why questioning is quintessential.

    If I have a talent for writing… what can I write that I would enjoy writing and also provide a service, I ‘m asking the question, but I don’t hear the answer because I’m not perfect. Will I eventually realize the answer? I hope so or do I guess at the answer? Of course my guess will be influenced by my attitude, whether it be good or bad, positive or negative and that in itself is a problem isn’t it. Because your guess will just be a shot in the dark, so what is a person to do to get answers to life’s persistent questions that seem to persist only in their insistence on being answered. The inevitable or probable next step is to continue to ask questions, because in the asking we redefine the problem. They say by continue to ask questions, you continue to halve the problem, if one keeps asking questions about the questions, then the nature of the problem is dwindled continually, but not snuffed out…? But I think there was a scientific experiment that by repeatedly dividing something in half, the halving is never done. But that doesn’t make sense, because eventually your division results in nothing. especially when you consider the atomic level, dividing an atom in half, results in the simplest element whether its helium or hydrogen. And there is supposed to be relatively more space between the nucleus and the electrons of an atom. How did they ever determine that an atom is mostly space? But it’s not nothing, I think, because in that space are the forces that keep that atom together. 

    I got off track from my desire to find the answers to questions that are deal with destiny, duty and purpose. I think that by continuing to devise new questions that refine the inquiry to a point where the mind is pondering the nature of the unknown with greater and greater determination then sincere interest in lead one to realizing the truth and put one in a space of seeing deeper into the nature of one’s life and its meaning, purpose and value.

  • Quandary in Peril

    You know you won’t keep this up, so why try, what good will it do?
    What is the way to pushing forward?s
    When is the day that my persistence is waiting for?
    What sense will I make?
    Who will care?
    How will people react?
    Will they think I am crazy, or will they know I am crazy? Either or both?
    I can tell it won’t make any difference, at least, that’s my dream. I am a great writer, I have great ideas to share, and why should I care if no one else believes that?
    How do I prove that I have an exceptional gift?
    Who am I to make such an audacious claim?
    I certainly can’t be an objective judge, of my own deep insights. But, perhaps appreciation and belief in oneself must start somewhere. But is it good enough, one person’s appreciation of their own intelligent ideas? Isn’t our worth best validated by another mind or many minds.
    But where does one start, sharing one’s mind. and who can one believe? Naysayers, or the yeasayers? Perhaps both must be considered. How do you know how wrong or right we are until we share ourselves?
    What if the reception is devastating, leaving one bereft of hope and their mind clamoring for its own demise along with others who scoffed at one’s lofty musings that barely skidded across the floor. Let’s not entirely relate our moon soaked dreams to conspiratorial ramblings of an old soak wishing beyond hope of deeper than the deepest sea of understanding and insight.
    But remember, our goal was the dissolving of quandaries. What’s our quandary today?
    The quandary of what came first, the recognition or the cognition of careful considerations destined for greatness, but knowing initial offerings would be compared to the greatest and the slightest preceding works of literary giants. Now back to what am I accomplishing with a rant of mediocre reasoning. A determined effort of will and imagination can leave me in an instant, unless some sense of my own appreciation isn’t forthcoming immediately. Still looking for what I am meant to reveal, what comes is the vague but definite stillness of knowing that without venturing there is no adventure. And this is one of my first steps in the journey of a thousand miles of stellar soul searching.