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ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (1/23/26) Influencers, Misfortune, Learning

A. Influencers do not teach. They influence. Know the difference. B. It is unwise to vest your happiness upon the misfortunes of others. C. What the church is to religion, the library is to learning.

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (1/6/26) The other arts: Flattery, Diplomacy, Politics

A. Flattery is the art of getting what you want without asking for it. B. Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions. --- Winston Churchill. C. Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, and then blaming it on your opponent. *Note. A. is not original, but I can find no source. C. is an adaptation ala Groucho Marx.

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (1/9/26) doubt, understanding, legacy

A. Doubt is like a battery tester for truths. Use it often. B. E xperience and knowledge are the handmaidens of understanding. For example, you may know plenty about love but never understand it until experienced. C. To help another succeed qualifies as a legacy – and an unqualified generosity.

INTUITION

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (1/2/26) your house, learning, Intuition

A. When you build your house, you need not feel guilty about living in it. B. Learn not for its utility, but for its delight. C. Intuition does not grow from nothing. Experience and learning fertilize its beautiful flowers.

Problem-Solving – The Enemies List

Introduction. Much of life involves problem-solving of some sort. Many are routine, some take time, and others seem nearly impossible. The important fact is that we don’t solve them all, or, even worse, we offer ineffective or poor solutions. Most problem-solving books available suggest how to solve problems. In this brief essay, we discuss the barriers to solving a given problem. Here is a list of common "enemies" of problem-solving, also called the psychological, cognitive, and practical barriers that prevent us from effectively addressing and resolving them. These are drawn from psychological research and productivity insights. The List . Every problem solver should be aware of these barriers. Team leaders should monitor closely to prevent their team from falling for any of them, particularly #6 on confirmation bias and #8 about unnecessary constraints. 1. Lack of Knowledge or Information: Without sufficient understanding or data about the...

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (12/26/25), failure, rejection, love

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (12/26/25), failure, rejection, love A. ON FAILURE. At times, failure is life’s lesson that you may have knocked on the wrong door. Tough love? If not, do consider revaluation, realignment, or reorientation. B. ON REJECTION. Does it motivate or defeat? Depends on you. C. ON LOVE. A form of faith, love believes, even against evidence. Can you love?

ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (12/19/25), soul, depravity, nourish

A. “The human soul is a garden, ever at war with its own weeds.” --- Hieronymous Bosch, d. 1516, artist. B. The depths of depravity have no bottom. C. Things that nourish the soul: love, confidence, purpose, success, hope, and work.

Always Fill Your Cup First...

A most interesting maxim reads, “Always fill your cup first. And allow the world to benefit from the overflow.” Yes, it’s not obvious what’s intended, but it could be recast in more pedestrian forms. 1. Having met your own sufficiency, you can help meet that of others. 2. Always know what you’re talking about. Then others will listen. 3. People will always beat a path to excellence. 4. Your ability to solve important problems will secure your job. As a note, all of the great maxims, aphorisms, and sayings have the common property of multiple interpretations.

THE WEALTH TAX – IT’S POSSIBLE – EVEN FAIR

PREAMBLE: It's fair; it's reasonable, but still, I don't like it. Did you know that we already have a form of wealth tax? It is called the property tax, sometimes referred to as the school tax. This tax is based on the value of your home. Typically, you pay a low, fixed rate per thousand dollars of assessed value. The calculation is simple: multiply the tax rate by the value of your property. If you rent, you are not exempt. You pay this tax indirectly through your rent. You also pay it when you stay at a hotel or motel, and even if you live in a tent on land you own, you still pay property tax on that land. Many people object to proposed “wealth taxes,” sometimes suggested at rates as high as 5 percent of net worth. Yet policymakers often overlook the fact that a wealth tax already exists in a familiar and politically accepted form. If structured carefully, such a tax could be expanded in a way that would generate additional revenue while limiting opposition to only ...

HATE IN AMERICA

Hate is an intense, hostile emotion that fixates on destroying, rejecting, or devaluing someone or something. It tends to narrow perspective, reducing complex people and situations to one-dimensional enemies, which makes cruelty and injustice easier to justify. Carried over time, hate often harms the person who feels it, feeding bitterness, stress, and a sense of constant inner agitation. It spreads quickly through groups and communities, turning differences into threats and fueling discrimination or violence. Because it closes the door to curiosity, empathy, and nuance, hate blocks understanding and makes healing and genuine change much harder to achieve. Let us review just five of the most egregious aspects of hate. 1. Dehumanization - It turns other people into objects or enemies instead of full human beings. This is also a precondition to slavery. 2. Psychological self‑poisoning - Over time, this can contribute to anxiety, ...