Michael

Meditation

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Do you listen to 10% Happier? It’s an app, it’s a podcast, it’s a YouTube video. Well OK, there are many YouTube videos. Lots of podcasts. But 10% Happier is a place where you can start for free. I’ve been a starter since 2015. Enjoying the benefits of the App for Android phones (yes, there’s an iApp too) for years now.

This is something that I know people can preach about. So I’m done. But, if you do try it and want to talk, get a hold of me.

Give it a whirl, as described here in Meditation 101. Or right here:

2019 September 1

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It´s a new month. I promised on August 1 to update you. In July it was Watercolor Month. August became a writing month, specifically Blog It Month. So far so good. There are lots of posts, nearly one every day, on a variety of topics. Mark it down as a success.

This inspiration came from Austin Kleon and his book Keep Going. In it he advises to do a little bit every day, to share what you find, and (well) Keep Going.

I´ve chosen a thing to do for September. I´ll tell you about it in October. Why wait to tell? I´m following the advice of putting my energies into doing it, not talking about doing it.

Phone Memories

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Dialing 503-555-1212? Or any three-digit-prefix-555-1212? This pre 4-1-1 information line. Before that you had to call 0 to get an operator for assistance.

Or writing down phone numbers as (503)555-0110? That, for those that haven´t had the pleasure of knowing you could just dial seven digits. And earlier five or four digits. But life got more complex, or too numerous, for the earlier times. All the way back to calling the operator and asking for who you wanted. Small exchanges in those days.

I´ve wondered about phone numbers. How long will the pool of them persist? Before we have too many unique places to call and there is no longer an available number. Like IPv4, it is inevitable for us to outgrow the system.

Or being able to call a number, wait for the answer, and hang up quickly to not be detected. But that´s a different set of memories to follow in another post.

Social Security Day

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Well hot dog. I´m 62. I can now collect Social Security payments from the US Government. If I want. Which I don´t. So far I do better at living off of my savings at a rate of perpetually sustainable withdrawals.

It´s a great feeling to have my savings investments growing faster than it is depleted. WARNING: past results are no indication of future returns. But still, I´ve the happy feeling today.

Other than that, there is nothing special about turning another year older. Well there is the marveling at people who do not know about what seems commonplace. Like rotary phones. Or library cards, getting filled up. Or life before computers. Or being able to call up your crush and hang up in being scared, and they couldn´t know who had called. Or clams for a buck a pound. Yes, so many bits of my past. About to fade into no longer memory.

I have a couple more decades. Looking forward to them.

On Caring

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Despite my best efforts, I understand a third Democratic “debate” is about to happen. I’m not watching. I finally found this gem of a Vlogbrothers post, which has in part sums up my feelings. In response I commented:

John, I really think it’s time to reshow this again. It was hard enough to find. But now, well gee. Look what the extended primary got us.

OK, maybe make a new vlog episode or just slap a header on this and run it again. As we approach the third Democratic “debates” it’s really time.

Me, on the comments

So watch and decide for yourself.