I’m revisiting some of my favorite concepts in this episode. Awareness. Intent. Attention. Consciousness. Will. And how these things work together and facilitate growth. Being human. Underneath all of this, I believe that growing to be a ‘better’ human is a critical requirement of being alive. Or, if it is not a requirement, it is a meaningful element whose absence is a shame if not a failure. We are all humans, subject to the distractions…
I say it all the time. The three most powerful words in the English language are, “I Don’t Know’. When I worked at a pet store, the boss publicly humiliated me for not being able to say, “I Don’t Know’. I learned quickly that it is not only ok, it is not only a good idea, it is not only TRUE, but it is very freeing to say, “I Don’t Know”. If you’re close to…
This is really the third in a series about the evolutionary significance of sex. I recorded this Episode first, then forgot about it and recorded the previous two episodes (117 and 118). Funny that this was all on my mind to the point where I forgot talking about it. But that’s how important this is. I can’t stress it enough and so give it three Episodes. The evolution of sexual selection as the way to…
In part 1 of this series, I introduced the difference between asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction is basically mitosis or simple cell division. This leaves little room for variation. Evolution and change are slow, and your kids are basically clones of you. With the onset and ultimate domination of sexual reproduction, much more change becomes possible. New concepts like gender and parenting evolve. Evolution, itself becomes THE way organisms can adjust to changing…
Sex. We’re obsessed with it. And for good reason. Sexual reproduction is the mechanism that perpetuates life. We can’t live forever, but we can become essentially immortal by passing on our genes to the next generation. Humans, and other life forms, don’t live forever. But one can argue that our DNA does. And it’s not all sex, but it’s more fun to talk about sex. We used to get along great without sex. All organisms…
What’s the point? Of any of it? For me, it is the unrest that comes from acknowledging what is wrong in the world. Poverty. War. Violent crime. Social justice issues. Inequality. Racism. Choose your weapon. It isn’t hard to see problems in the world. My point is not to point them out, but to try and posit solutions. Or pathways to solutions. Because I’m sick and tired of armchair, short-term, quick-fix ‘solutions’ sold by various…
My most pedantic episode ever. While I am a pretty touchy-feely hippie kind of guy, I shy away from the overly emotional and more ‘woo-woo’ concepts. I don’t believe in the ‘secret’ (though I do think a positive attitude attracts positive things) and I don’t like gratuitous cheesiness. But I have had multiple experiences that lead me toward Love. I have had somatic experiences I can’t explain other than to say I felt an internal…
I continue to be inspired by the interviews on The Great Simplification Podcast, by the host Nate Havens, and by his guests. It is rewarding to find support for ideas I thought were my own. So many thoughts have been swirling around in my head, and this podcast/blog/video channel is my attempt to integrate them. It is happening. Slowly, but surely. And the process has been expedited lately. The Acid Test idea; that nature and…
Are you a technologist? Do you think tech is going to solve all of our human problems? Do you see science, health advances, nuclear tech or some other human invention as being our salvation? Maybe you don’t even see problems around us. I find it hard to believe that everyone, in some way, doesn’t wonder where we are headed. As any follower on KEW will know by now, I think we need to take a…
I have been thinking a lot about the popular images of aggressive male competitors. Silverback gorillas. Wrestlemania or UFC fighters. These popular ideas feature ‘Alpha males’ bullying and pushing around ‘weaker’ males in order to get mates, habitat, or food. These toxic stereotypes probably spill over into popular culture and contribute to the issues we have among genders today. My question is, how common are these ‘alpha males’? How ‘fit’ were these gender differences across…