September 2010
9 posts
Rational Detachment - Enlightenment the Vulcan Way
I strive towards having as much rational detachment from- and control over my emotions as possible. This does not mean I strive towards feeling nothing at all, I still embrace the positive aspects that come with the human condition, it is impossible not to and it would be a shame to miss out on the positive experiences. Furthermore, we need the contrast of experiencing the negative to fully...
The 3 Mental Shifts Undermining Western Prosperity
For most, it is plain to see that a massive shift of power is happening in the world economy: the old Western empires are crumbling under the weight of regulation, excessive taxation and crippling debt. But I think the Western decline is not only related to policy mistakes and financial bubbles, it is a more deep-seated issue than that, it goes all the way to shifts that have happened in the...
Clean Out: Week 10 & Retrospective
Tenth and final week of my official “decluttering challenge”. This is what’s going this week. Slightly less than some other weeks, but I think I’ve done well so far.
In addition to what is pictured above, I might be able to sell off a Nintendo Wii, PSP, Apple Time Capsule and four quite large books before next week is up, so that’s money in the bank and less stuff....
It's a Hard Knock Life. So Get Over It.
I’ve had a lengthy discussion over the last few days in various threads with Carlos Miceli of OwlSparks, my sister and various other people about feminism, inequalities, privilege and the difference in opportunities different people have given different circumstances.
You Don’t Want What I Want & That’s OK I wrote about this some months ago at some length. But the gist...
The Era of Post Political Freedom
In the future, every man will be an island. The promise of panarchy - people being able to freely chose the political system under which they live is a reality today, if you only reach for it. In years past, the concept of panarchy seemed a pipe dream concocted by wild-eyed anarchists and libertarians. To most who still think inside the box, it will still seem that way. But if you redefine your...
Clean Out: Week 9
As part of my ongoing decluttering challenge, the following things went this week:
Yet another old (laptop) backpack that was frayed and broken.
My Slingbox, which I gave away to a friend. It’s been acting up lately, not connecting to the network etc, so it got to go.
A Google branded foldable chair (blue bag/package)
2 keyboards (I use a 17” Macbook Pro laptop with a perfectly...
Finding a Voice: "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of...
Since I started this blog in October/November last year, I’ve struggled somewhat to find a voice, a core theme - I’ve written mostly about things that have interested me, but they have been all over the place at times.
It’s been a slow process, but I think in a sense I have come full circle and worked out what I want this to be going forward: This blog will not be about any...
Survivalism, Finances and the Rule of Three
Survivalism has a number of “Rule of Three’s”, for instance one states that a man can only survive for a maximum of 3 hours without shelter under extreme weather condition, a maximum of 3 days without water and a maximum of 3 weeks without food. Survivalism author Ragnar Benson has turned this rule into tangible survival advise, stating that under survival conditions, you...
Clean Out: Week 8
This week, I finally got around to throwing out some stuff long overdue that have been in my storage for over two years:
2 IKEA floor-to-roof poles for mounting sliding doors or shelves on. Bought but never used.
2 IKEA shelves.
Blinds that I never installed.
Some old clothes.
Old jogging shoes.
Sub-par quality backpack I bought in Buenos Aires. Replaced with a better one.
Scanner that...