Mental Health and Selfishness

A recent paper in a psychology journal reveals that your resilience and well-being are determinants for your positive mental health. Yet this is not new; it is a common expression in the military dating from WWII: “Noli Illigitimti Carborundum,” meaning “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” It is not ancient nor Latin.

The Selfishness Paradox. For your welfare, one way is to think mostly of your own welfare, progress, and wealth. The other way is to focus on giving yourself to the welfare of others. Both can be immensely satisfying. Many professionals and others follow the latter: teachers, ministers, parents, …

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UNCERTAINTY IS CERTAIN

Uncertainty is Certain G. Donald Allen 12/12/2024 1. Introduction . This short essay is about uncertainty in people from both secular and nonsecular viewpoints. One point that will emerge is that randomly based uncertainty can be a driver for religious structure. Many groups facing uncertainty about their future are deeply religious or rely on faith as a source of comfort, resilience, and guidance. The intersection of uncertainty and religiosity often stems from the human need to find meaning, hope, and stability in the face of unpredictable or challenging circumstances. We first take up the connections of uncertainty to religion for the first real profession, farming, noting that hunting has many similar uncertainties. Below are groups that commonly lean on religious beliefs amidst uncertainty. This short essay is a follow-up to a previous piece on certainty (https://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2024/12/certainty-is-also-emotion.html). U...

Where is AI (Artificial Intelligence) Going?

How to view Artificial Intelligence (AI). Imagine you go to the store to buy a TV, but all they have are 1950s models, black and white, circular screens, picture rolls, and picture imperfect, no remote. You’d say no thanks. Back in the day, they sold wildly. The TV was a must-have for everyone with $250 to spend* (about $3000 today). Compared to where AI is today, this is more or less where TVs were 70 years ago. In only a few decades AI will be advanced beyond comprehension, just like TVs today are from the 50s viewpoint. Just like we could not imagine where the video concept was going back then, we cannot really imagine where AI is going. Buckle up. But it will be spectacular. *Back then minimum wage was $0.75/hr. Thus, a TV cost more than eight weeks' wages. -------------------------

Infinity of Theories

I do love the Stock Markets, all of them. Why? Because of the abundance of theories. Every day, no matter how the market moves there are dozens of pundits offering forth their theory as to why it went down – or up, where it’s going tomorrow or next week, and why it must crash soon or maybe elevate another couple thousand more points. Ok, this is fine. But the next day these same folks may expound theories postulating the opposite. This proves market pundits have no essential understanding of economics as related to the market. This proves pundits prefer expedience to understanding. I am constantly besieged by brokerage firms telling me if I would only invest a million, they would help me reach my goals. If I had this information, how to make a lot of money, I would borrow every cent I could and apply it to making a bunch of money. I’d not tell a soul. So, why are they trying to help me? Well, ...

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