Author Archives: Alec
On The Road Again
It’s hot in Arizona. It’s too hot to ride. It’s time to get out of the heat. It’s also time for a change. Much as I like the cycling around here, it gets boring to keep repeating the same few rides. … Continue reading
American Exceptionalism – How We File Our Taxes
American politicians love to throw about the words “American Exceptionalism” and to use them as a weapon against other politicians who dare to claim that perhaps America can learn from other countries. Which is sad. It’s always sad to see the government … Continue reading
AI and Immortality
I’m sitting around in Bali, feeling bored (1). So it seems an appropriate time to finish writing this article, which I started a while back then put aside. In the last few months I’ve been reading a lot about Artificial Intelligence … Continue reading
You’ve Got to be Somewhere
“I can’t learn the piano. It will take 5 years before I’m any good.” “I can’t learn French. It will take 5 years before I’ll be able to speak it well.” Well, as they say, 5 years will pass, and … Continue reading
Posted in Retirement, Travel, Vacations
1 Comment
Those Were The Days
Ah, nostalgia. So sweet and so deadly. Yesterday evening we went to a Dueling Pianos show and one of the songs was Those Were The Days. We, the audience, sang along to the refrain: Those were the days my friend … Continue reading
Posted in Change
4 Comments
The Best Laid Plans
My friend Cat told me that she hadn’t seen me smile in a while. We were at a restaurant – and after a few drinks I was definitely smiling and laughing. But I realized she was correct. I haven’t been smiling much. … Continue reading
Posted in Change, Engagement, Travel, Vacations
2 Comments
The Power of Gamblers
I was reading an article about the broken Pharma system – basically about how people like Martin Shkreli can jack up the prices of drugs by 5000% in order to make a fortune at the expense of the people who … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
Seeing Things As They Really Are
While doing art classes it’s become obvious how bad I am at seeing things as they really are. In drawing class it was so easy to draw things as I thought they were rather than as they actually were. Getting … Continue reading
Posted in Curiosity, Habits
2 Comments
Taking Action – Or Not – Part 3 (Superpowers)
I didn’t expect to have a Part 3, but while reading the Art of Taking Action I found two quotes that reinforce Oliver Burkeman’s quote in Part 1 about having a superpower. Alternatively, they are about maturity. About outgrowing the belief that your feelings dictate your … Continue reading
Posted in Change, Engagement, Habits
5 Comments
Taking Action – Or Not – Part 2
As I mentioned in Part 1, many of the mind problems that plague us are based on social comparison. Thoughts of not accomplishing enough, not being rich enough, not being pretty enough, not having enough interesting experiences, FOMO (fear of … Continue reading
Cycle Uphill 