Influencers are masters of monetizing attention. Appealing, relatable storytellers – "real" voices saying whatever is on their minds – who may have started sharing a personal passion. The Guitar Guy, the Football Guy, etc. Later, with a fan base & […]

Re Figure-1's thread of Techno Optimism and my references to Margaret O'Mara's book The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America, this article (below) explores the notion that: "If Elon Musk is America's CEO, DOGE is the Silicon Valley […]

Speaking of hard work … • CNBC > makeit > "'Captain America' star Anthony Mackie: 'We're lying to our kids' when we say success comes just from hard work – luck is key, too" by Ashton Jackson (Mar 17 2025) […]

Here's an interesting article about office surveillance tech in our contemporary workplace. But it contains some comments about the interplay with the work ethic, citing a book on the co-optation (perversion) of the Protestant work ethic. Regarding the question, "Whom […]

So, more legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the myth of the 'self-made' man. This article (below) traces the conflation of piety & profit, faith & finance, into the late 20th century in the tech industry, particularly Silicon Valley culture. This is […]

Humans carve [split] the world cleanly in two when they feel threatened. … Complexity is intolerable; ambivalence is cowardly. … That kind of clarity … [leaves] no room for doubt — or for reality. … When politicians and activists split […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]