It’s awkward enough talking about death with other adults. It’s even harder when you have to explain to impressionable children that a loved one is gone forever. Here are a few tips for approaching this inevitable topic in the best way possible.
Source: LifeHacker
The problem of evil is a classic dilemma in the philosophy of religion. The relative ease with which the problem can be stated belies the depth of the challenge that it presents to traditional monotheism. Roughly, it can be summarised as follows:
If God is omnipotent, then He has the power to create a world without evil.
If God is omniscient, then no moment of evil goes divinely unnoticed.
If God is omnibenevolent, then He has the desire to rid the world of evil.
Source: Aeon
My Comments: Really good insights into some of these problematic themes that religion and philosophy has grapples with (and still continues to) since man has had enough sense to contemplate his relationship with nature.
Preparing for the death of a spouse or partner and its ramifications may be an unhappy task, but doing so can ease some avoidable financial sorrows.
MOST of us do not even want to contemplate the death of a spouse or partner — much less the prospect of having to take care of the financial end of such a loss while still grieving.
Source: Death Is Inevitable. Financial Turmoil Afterward Isn’t.
My Comments: This is really good advice.
The figures are pretty dramatic. On average, about 50% of students fail to graduate from the college in which they first enroll. (See The Journal of Colege Retention.)
Source: Flunking out of college: Lacking readiness responsibility
My Comments: Really good article if you have a kid in college. Hard topic to read about, but it quite sobering.
A new study shows that disproportionate imprisonment rates faced by people of color exacerbate race-based inequalities in educational attainment.
Source: How Mass Incarceration Contributes to the Achievement Gap
My Comments: Really depressing report. Hello God…where are you?
Raising a family is the most important duty a man has. Without children the state has no future, and if those children are not brought up properly then that future is bleak. When there is so much at stake it is vital to get it right, and in this article I will explain how to make sure your family is a source of great pride to you…
Source: Lessons in family management from a Roman of noble birth
My Comments: Might be a bit strange or even course for some, but I like the prescriptive nature of this piece. Also, remember it was from another time.
Existentialists encourage their readers to take full responsibility for the course of their lives, and also to venture beyond one’s self-imposed limits. This is what Nietzsche means when he commands us to ‘give birth to a dancing star’…
Source: What the childless fathers of existentialism teach real dads
My Comments: Really good piece on approaching parenting as a dad – existentialism is way to really probe innerself.
There’s no emotion we ought to think harder and more clearly about than anger. Anger greets most of us every day – in our personal relationships, in the workplace, on the highway, on airline trips – and, often, in our political lives as well. Anger is both poisonous and popular.
Source: There’s no emotion we ought to think harder about than anger.
My Comments: Excellent essay…
The appetite for debt is now back in a furious way. Total household debt was up $63 billion last quarter driven largely by auto loans. Auto loans increased by $32 billion and the amount of auto debt outstanding is stunning. There is now a total of $1.14 trillion in auto loans floating in our
Source: Welcome back debt! Total household debt rose by $63 billion
My Comments: Good read…auto and college loans kicking ass. Don’t buy what yo a* can’t afford.
Think of a time when you sat across from a friend and felt truly understood. Deeply known. Maybe you sensed how she was bringing out your ‘best self’, your cleverest observations and wittiest jokes. S
Source: When a friendship turns sour, more than feelings get hurt
My Comments: Really good piece on friendship…
This has been out for a while, but I really like this dude early approach to music. He has changed it up a bit – you could say that he is evolving; still like this stuff generally.
Keeping the lines of communication open with your college student is key to nurturing a good relationship. Take advantage of the face-to-face time you have with your student this winter break by having the following conversations.
Source: 5 Conversations to Have with Your Student During Winter Break
My Comments: Son will we on his way home; will definitely engage accordingly.
Once you get into the routine of exercising, it can be difficult to stop. You get almost addicted to that endorphin rush and feel like taking a day off is cheating or a sign you’re getting soft. Or maybe you worry that you’ll lose momentum and have trouble starting back up.
Source: 5 Signs You Need a Recovery Day
My Comments: This is a real timely article from mapmyrun.com by Under Armor. I just took a break and then got him by a pretty severe bout of the cold. I can’t wait to get back to the gym. I am already really groggy…
While people argue about what is real and fake news the widening gulf of inequality in the real world only continues to expand. This is actually happening and for the ultra wealthy that hold most of the wealth, all of this distraction is a good thing. The latest wealth report from Deutsche Bank
Source: Nothing fake about the top 0.1% holding the …
My Comments: If you are white, black, brown, pink or whatever the hell you claim, this is the shit you should be worried about. The rich are protected, they are your government and they could give a fat baby’s ass whether you have health care, dying from drug overdose in Appalachia in your rundown mobile home or gunshots in ghetto streets.
But I ramble – what I really intend to say is this – listen up my so called “white” brethren – the rich folks who pander to your ignorance, with nasty racism and bigotry, will grind your neck into the ground. I don’t really give two shits if you believe me or not, but look at the numbers – your numbers are trending down – your life expectancy in trending south – who is responsible for that? Our country is ruled by the rich – how are they working for you? And yeah a self proclaimed rich “white/orange” rapist starts swearing and you call it authenticity (he is mimicking what he sees as your language) – welcome to the world as the top 0.1% concentrate wealth and power.
Black folks have been living in this hell for a long time now – we are a hardy people and we are not going anywhere. We won’t help to carry your body to it’s final rest, if you don’t give a shit right now. Keep it moving.
If you choose foods with low energy density — few calories for their bulk — you can eat more volume but consume fewer calories.
Feel full on fewer calories? It might sound like another gimmick for weight loss, but it’s not. This concept is called energy density, and it’s an important weight-loss tool.
Weight loss with more food, fewer calories
Simply put, energy density is the number of calories (energy) in a specific amount of food. High energy density means that there are a lot of calories in a little food. Low energy density means there are few calories in a lot of food.
Source: How to eat more and lose weight
My Comments: Pretty good article…
As Trump promises a 350-ship fleet, a primer on the U.S. Navy today.
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to increase the size of the U.S. Navy to 350 ships. Since the election, senior campaign advisors Alexander Gray and Peter Navarro have laid out what they say his Asia-Pacific strategy will be, a cornerstone of which is the 350-ship fleet.
Source: Road to 350: What Does the US Navy Do Anyway?…
My Comments: Really good article on the topic. Not sure how Russia, as an adversary, will figure into this. They have the most capable military next to the U.S, but who will it be directed to if Putin is a friend?…the Chinese?
Making sure kids have good muscle fitness might also benefit their school performance, according to a recent U.S. study.
Aerobic fitness has already been linked to better thinking abilities in pre-teen children, but the current study found an independent link between muscle fitness and kids’ performance on memory tests as well as their math and reading skills.
Source: Stronger muscles may mean sharper minds for kids
My Comments: No doubt.
Speaker and author Nicholas Boothman offers tips for making a solid first impression — before it’s too late.
Within seconds of meeting you, people are already making judgments about your personality. Are you hireable? Or dateable? How about friendable? And while it’s technically possible to reverse a bad first impression, it’s not easy. So you’ll want to put your best face forward.
Source: How to make people like you in 4 seconds…
My Comments: Pretty good advice.
Inflation is rarely discussed in the mainstream press. Most people wake up every day and simply believe that prices go up as a natural state. These deeply held assumptions usually crack when new revelations happen like centuries ago with new scientific discoveries showing that our planet is not
Source: The story of inflation between 1996 and 2016…
My Comments: As always, really good stuff!
The first place to start in a low-return environment would be to minimize your investment costs.
Every day, I seem to have a discussion with someone regarding strategies for sustaining retirement income in a lower-return world. Investors, particularly retirees, are looking for solutions, and their frustrations are as clear as their request: Can’t someone help? While I can’t fix low interest rates on lower-risk investments (such as high-quality bonds and bond funds), perhaps I can provide some perspective and a solution. As with the old conundrum—is the glass half-full or half-empty?—the answer to the retirement income puzzle is often about perspective.
Source: Sustaining retirement income in a lower-return world
My Comments: Excellent piece!
A lot of people will probably disagree with me on this, but first of all, yes, elite universities use affirmative action to hold Asians to higher standards. And you know what? I think universities are justified in using it.
Source: Do elite colleges discriminate against Asian-Americans in their admission policies?
My Comment: Really good insights.
Sticking with a regular training routine isn’t always doable—hey, work, family, life happens—and it can be seriously frustrating. …
But when you are ready to ease back into the gym groove that first workout feels insanely tough, right? Here’s what’s going on with your body after taking some time off. If you’re questioning whether all that
Source: How Long Does It Take to Get Out of Shape?
My Comments: I will definitely try not to lose my fitness level.
Many of the highest-paying entry-level jobs are tied to engineering and technology majors.
Engineering and technology are among the most challenging fields of study in college, but all of that hard work apparently is paying off, as many of the top-earning entry-level jobs are tied to related majors, according to a Glassdoor study released Monday.
Source: Want college to pay off? These are the 50 majors with the highest earnings…
My Comments: This really highlights the superior methods of analysis that the study of STEM related fields develops.
Millennials are a critical group in terms of where the economy goes in the next few years. The economy largely relies on younger people to spend and purchase consumption items. Think of a young couple buying their first home. That in itself is a big purchase. Then comes big ticket items like
Source: The Millennial Conundrum
My Thoughts: Very concerning times ahead. For those of us with kids, we have to start the crucial work of helping them navigate the future without full blown economic incare.
It’s a sad fact. The cholesterol count of the average middle-aged American makes most cardiologists cringe.
Cholesterol seems to start creeping up in our 30s or 40s as careers, kids and other obligations leave us more stressed, less physically active and heavier than ever. That’s a problem because high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Source: If you have high cholesterol, the culprit may be sugar…
My Comments: Really good advice.
Despite the fact that runners aren’t repeatedly tackled and buried under piles of bodies and equipment, the numbers tell us that they’re hurt almost as frequently as pro football players. But why are roughly 56 percent of runners nursing injuries each year? The answer is simple: Most runners just don’t train properly. Perhaps because running …
Source: 3 Tips That Can Save You From Running Injuries…
My Comments: Good advice.
A goal is a goal. Whether yours is to finish a marathon or to PR in a 5K, to summit Mount Everest or make it to the top of your local ski hill, it’s awesome that you’ve chosen one.
Here are several benefits to sticking to a training plan: It Gives Your Workouts New Meaning Sometimes, the general goal to staying in shape gets stale. Even if you’re not necessarily interested in smashing a 10K or winning an obstacle course race, adding a specific goal can turn your exercise from a ho-hum workout to training.
Source: The Many Benefits of Training With a Plan…
My Comments: Pretty good article…
Intense physical exertion or extreme emotional upset can each trigger a heart attack, and the risk may be highest if the two are combined, according to a new study.
“Our study is the largest study exploring this issue, and unlike previous studies we included people from many different countries and ethnicities,” said lead author Andrew Smyth of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Source: Physical strain, emotional upset can trigger heart attack…
My Comments: This is good gouge…
In the 2016 briefing, the U.S. Defense Department’s then chief of AFRICOM, General David Rodriguez stated that, “In fiscal year 2015, we conducted 75 joint operations, 12 major joint exercises, and 400 security cooperation activities.” This amounts to more than double the number total missions during in the first year AFRICOM was launched in 2008.
Source: How Many Military Missions Does The US Now Carry…
My Comments: Interesting…
You can retire safely when you have 25x your annual expenses invested in income generating assets
At a time when many struggle to save enough for a comfortable retirement, there are a few people who can not only retire comfortably but can do so earlier than the expected 65 years old.
Source: Securing an Early Retirement: The Blogosphere’s 7 Best Lessons
My Comments: Generally agree with the points here. Primarily start early and stay disciplined (hard for most to do). Do both and you are pretty much guaranteed – I promise.
