Scree

noun : an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff.

Democracy and civic duty →

Published January 19, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 19  ·  

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of not voting because they feel like they would then be forfeiting the only power they have over who governs. But your vote contains no power. It is a virtually inert token of your participation, which does carry some sentimental value to some people. But it has no election-swinging ability. There are plenty of actions that can make a difference but casting your vote isn’t one of them.

In the media, your vote is billed as a precious choice with resounding consequences, which means you should watch a lot of election coverage so that you don’t screw it up. Now think for a moment: who might have an interest in having you vastly overestimate the importance of your vote? The candidates, and the news organizations that talk about them 24 hours a day.

You’ve been had. They don’t want your choice to be logical, they want it to remain emotional.

~ David Cain, from If the election really mattered to you, you’d do more than just vote

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Next election, when you see me not wearing an “I Voted!” sticker, go ahead and ask me if I voted.

I’ve stopped looking at everyone’s lapels to see if they voted, and I’ve stopped asking people if they are going to vote. If and when politics comes up, I talk about topics that matter to me. My civic duty—and I believe it is a duty which I fulfill partly in exchange for reaping the benefits of living in a civil society—is to participate in the demoncratic process. That process includes a tiny, irrelevant show of theatre where some people see me at the local polling place. That democratic process also includes a much larger amount of other stuff; my working to understand the issues that interest me so I have an informed opinion. …and then using my brain to participate in the democratic process by browsing, negotiating, buying and selling in the Marketplace of Ideas. I hope to see you there here.

Thanks for browsing my wares!

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Crowding us out →

Published January 18, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 18  ·  

If chatbots are approaching the stage where they can answer diagnostic questions as well or better than human doctors, then it’s possible they might eventually reach or surpass our levels of political sophistication. And it is naïve to suppose that in the future bots will share the limitations of those we see today.

~ Jamie Susskind, from Chatbots Are a Danger to Democracy

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This is an interesting read surveying a variety of ways that chatbots might crowd humans out of the very spaces we created.

It struck me that while, yes, chatbots are primitive (compared to “real” AI), they are still having a real affect on our social spaces. Not simply, “it’s noisy in here with all these chatbots,” but rather that our social spaces are in danger of being lost to chatbots.

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Ten-years and About that “diet”… →

Published January 17, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 17  ·  , ,

This entry is part 69 of 72 in the series My Journey

That photo? In the “before” photo (the left half) I am the unrecognizable person on the right. :)

Recently a friend of mine emailed me and asked, “Hey Craig, tell me about that diet you went on a few years ago.” He was referring to what I did from ~2008 to ~2016—the photos above were taken in 2008 and 2016. Below is my response and this just happens to all coincide with the “ten year challenge” currently all over social media.

(more…)

Marc Mason | Motivational Psychology →

Published January 16, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 16

On Castbox.fm — Marc Mason | Motivational Psychology

What strategies can educators use to motivate individuals of varying levels and interests to engage meaningfully in physical activities?

Motivational psychology uncovers how to inspire diverse groups to engage in physical activities.

Am I doing enough to get my people, my participants involved in the content?

~ Marc Mason (12:50)

The conversation explores motivational psychology and its applications in sports and education, focusing on strategies to inspire participation in physical activities. Mark discusses his research on eighth-grade students’ reluctance to participate in early-morning physical education classes. He highlights strategies such as incorporating students’ preferences, creating enjoyable activities, and using technology to measure engagement.

A key theme is the interplay between fear and motivation, especially in challenging activities like Parkour. The discussion examines how individuals perceive challenges, and the importance of providing tools to overcome fear. Broader applications of motivational strategies, such as in business or personal development, are also considered, emphasizing self-awareness and active listening.

Takeaways

Motivational determinants — Strategies to inspire individuals to engage in meaningful physical activities.

Fear and motivation — The role of fear in hindering or enhancing participation in challenges.

Listening to students — The value of incorporating participant feedback into activity design.

Engagement through enjoyment — Using fun and relatable activities to foster motivation.

Instruction adjustments — The importance of concise, clear, and meaningful instruction.

Technology in education — Leveraging tools like heart rate monitors to measure and encourage participation.

Autonomy in learning — Creating spaces for individuals to explore and practice without pressure.

Maslow’s hierarchy — Applying the hierarchy of needs to identify and meet participants’ motivational levels.

Universal applicability — Extending motivational strategies beyond sports into other areas of life.

Resources

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — A psychological framework for understanding motivation and personal growth.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Thought experiment →

Published January 16, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 16  ·  ,

We should apply the same ruthlessness to our own habits. In fact, we are studying philosophy precisely to break ourselves of rote behavior. Find what you do out of rote memory or routine. Ask yourself: Is this really the best way to do it? Know why you do what you do—do it for the right reasons.

~ Ryan Holiday, p24 The Daily Stoic

I sometimes imagine that the things I can choose to do can be placed on an aspirational spectrum. It’s not a linear, ordered list, but rather a thought experiment to do the pair-ordering; for any two things I could do right now, which is higher on the aspirational spectrum?

I could go even farther than just the pair-wise comparing and imagine all the things in my life might be orderable as…

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Fortunately—not a typo—the incessant work of ordering things to pick what to do next is exhausting. It forces me to notice that when I zoom out, I could imagine I’m doing things in the “j” through “q” range…

a b c d e f g h i ( j k l m n o p q ) r s t u v w x y z

I can make things better simply by making some space in my life. If I just drop that “j”-thing entirely I can be comfortable in knowing I’m improving, without having to actively micro-worry about everything all day. Dropping that “j”-thing leaves me with…

a b c d e f g h i j ( k l m n o p q ) r s t u v w x y z

Whereas before my average was between “m” and “n”, just by eliminating something from the lower side, my average moves up. Clearly I can improve my life appreciably by occassionally thinking about all the things I’m doing, and identifying a lower-end thing to drop.

Yes, of course things aren’t really this simple. But it took me a long time to learn the lesson that removing something can produce marked improvement. Some would say that removing is the very definition of how to approach perfection.

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The absurdity →

Published January 14, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 14  ·  

We usually (though not always) recognize the absurdity in blaming animals, inanimate objects, or the weather for the annoyances they cause us. Shit happens, and most reasonable people can accept that. But somehow, if we can in any way pin the inconveniences in our lives on a failing of another human being, we are quick to do it.

~ David Cain, from Do You Make a Moral Issue Out of Being Inconvenienced?

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Replace every instance of we with I in the above quote and it once fit me perfectly. I sometime mention the fundamental attribution error and that is a significant part of what he’s talking about. But there’s more to it than just that error.

This is something I’ve managed to transform into a snide condescnesion; for example, when driving, I often think, “…aaaaaand, cut me off,” just before drivers do so. I recall how I used to get angry in such situations. Really angry. Fortunately, more than a decade ago, after a lot of meditation, I learned to first witness the anger, then to know when to expect it, and finally to not bother creating it.

Current project: Witness the condescention. Learn to expect the condescension.

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Fear of failure →

Published January 13, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 13  ·  

But, as it often turns out, author Oliver Burkeman argues for a much more sensible proposition — namely, that we’ve created a culture crippled by the fear of failure, and that the most important thing we can do to enhance our psychoemotional wellbeing is to embrace uncertainty.

~ Maria Papova, from Against Positive Thinking

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There’s been enough global discussion of the ‘fear of missing out’.  You understand what it means and why it is that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  What are you going to do about it?

Are you going to talk to others about these ideas, (Maria’s above, Oliver’s being referenced, mine)?  Are you going to work to be the change you want to see in the world?

…AND WHEN YOU FAIL, what are you going to do then?

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Low oil prices are a problem too →

Published January 12, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 12  ·  

In recent years, we have heard a great deal about the possibility of Peak Oil, including high oil prices. If the issue we are facing is really prices that are too low for producers, then there seems to be the possibility of a different limits issue, called Collapse. Many early economies seem to have collapsed as they reached resource limits. Collapse seems to be characterized by growing wealth disparity, inadequate wages for non-elite workers, failing governments, debt defaults, resource wars, and epidemics. Eventually, population associated with collapsed economies may fall very low or completely disappear. As Collapse approaches, commodity prices seem to be low, rather than high.

~ Gail Tverberg, from Low Oil Prices

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The idea that there may no price where a buyer and seller can agree is patently obvious, right?

Suppose you can only afford to spend $1 on some thing you absolutely need, but I need $100 to cover the cost of producing the thing. No amount of haggling over price will solve this problem. The solution is to add some debt; you borrow some money and buy the thing at some price we can agree on.

What happens if you cannot take on more debt? You need the thing, you cannot afford the price, and you cannot leverage future payment (aka, debt) to purchase the thing…

What happens as more of the world can no longer afford to purchase oil at the price needed by the oil producers?

What happens as more of the world runs out of debt?

…and if you think running out of debt is not possible, please go read more of Gail’s writing.

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How to make life agreeable →

Published January 11, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 11  ·  ,

You’ll feel much less of a need to control outcomes, which — in a brilliant instance of irony — frees your capacity to control your response, and create an outcome you like. If there is some action you want to take, you can take it with grace and cool-headedness instead of frustration and desperation.

~ David Cain from, How to Make Life Agreeable

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This reminds me of my thought about enjoying standing in line at the post office.  Not in the sense of, “I’m great, I have this mastered.”  Rather in the sense that I recall what it has felt like and I recall the impatience and urge to get away from situations which I had decided were disagreeable.

Obviously I’ve not mastered this; there are still plenty of instances where I judge a situation unworthy and begin my squirming to escape.  But, I’m making progress.  I’d go so far as to say that I’m getting comfortable sitting in my inability to sit comfortably in situations I’d normally resist.

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Pascal Lecurieux | Parkour Pentagon →

Published January 9, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 9

On Castbox.fm — Pascal Lecurieux | Parkour Pentagon

What are the key elements of the Parkour Specialization Pentagon System, and how can they help individuals identify and develop their strengths in Parkour?

Identifying strengths and weaknesses through the Pentagon System transforms how practitioners approach Parkour.

I gave them an exercise where they had to pinpoint their own specialization and see where they are right now and where they want to go.

~ Pascal Lecurieux (6:28)

The conversation focuses on the Parkour Specialization Pentagon System developed by Pascal, which organizes Parkour into five key aspects: strength, adaptation, speed, fluidity, and freestyle. Each dimension provides a lens for practitioners to evaluate their current abilities and identify areas for improvement. Pascal explains the unique qualities and objectives of each aspect, illustrating how they connect to both traditional and modern interpretations of Parkour.

Additionally, the discussion highlights the practical applications of the system in coaching and personal development. Pascal shares anecdotes, such as a young student discovering her niche in fluidity, showcasing the system’s capacity to unlock individual potential. The system also fosters community bonding by encouraging practitioners to collaborate and share their unique styles.

Takeaways

Strength — Emphasizes foundational physical capabilities like power moves and scaling higher walls.

Adaptation — Highlights the importance of applying techniques effectively in diverse environments.

Speed — Focuses on refining techniques for real-time execution under dynamic conditions.

Fluidity — Encourages emotional connection to movement, chaining moves seamlessly, and reducing impact.

Freestyle — Celebrates creativity by adding personalized elements like flips or rotations to standard techniques.

Analytical coaching — Provides tools to assess and guide students based on their strengths and goals.

Community-building — Promotes collaboration by connecting individuals with similar specializations.

Practical exercises — Engages participants with activities to assess and explore their personal Parkour styles.

Resources

ParkourBits.com — Pascal’s blog where he shares insights and experiences in Parkour.

The Spot Montreal — The Parkour facility where Pascal coaches and implements his system.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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