Hackneyed

  • How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

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    Luke
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    Wise words: But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands. Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and…

  • Remember

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    Luke
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    It’s not all about luck. “In any great outcome, there is a component of luck. Yet if life were all about luck, the same people wouldn’t repeatedly do great things. When someone repeatedly does great things it is because they prepared in advance to advance to recognize, work on, and fill in the blanks when…

  • Your Team

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    Luke
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    Cannot understate how proud I am of the cast and crew of The Dinner Parting. Like at work, like in life, I only want to surround myself with people better than myself. Always build the best team you can: “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got, back when I was 23 and…

  • “The ancient commission of the writer has not changed…

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    Luke
    in

    He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement. Furthermore, the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit — for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and…

  • “Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space…

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    Luke
    in

    …Every one of us is a part of that jewel. A facet of that jewel. And in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not.” –Fred Rogers

  • Writing Advice to Myself

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    Luke
    in

    Don’t say something is good or bad. That’s subjective. Instead, describe what about it you like or dislike. Probably still subjective. But less so.

  • Dealing with People On the Internet

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    Luke
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    This issue of The Discourse has some great advice on dealing with people online. Reward your “enemies” when they agree with you, exhibit good behavior, or come around on an issue. Otherwise they have no incentive to ever meet you halfway. Accept it when people apologize. People should be allowed to work through ideas and…

  • Vonnegut’s 7 Commandments

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    Luke
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    Reduce and stabilize your population. Stop poisoning the air, the water, and the topsoil. Stop preparing for war and start dealing with your real problems. Teach your kids, and yourselves, too, while you’re at it, how to inhabit a small planet without helping to kill it. Stop thinking science can fix anything if you give…

  • The MFIC

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    Luke
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    Luke, it was great meeting you and hanging out, although we could have spent more time together. I was planning on working on my enigma persona, but you were too much fun. MFIC, RM. That was the first of thousands of emails from my then “new boss” (MFIC stood for “Mother Fucker in Charge,” borrowed…

  • I’ve noticed something.

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    Luke
    in

    On any site where you can ask questions and crowdsource answers (this extends to social media), people will respond regardless of whether or not they have anything to offer. Even if they are wrong. It seems people just want to converse. Don’t ask questions on the Internet. Look for answers, or people you trust that…

  • June 25, 1956 – June 8, 2018

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    Luke
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    Bourdain was a hero to me. Today is a reminder. To travel more. To eat more good food. To have more sex. To really listen to others. To try my best to never lose hope.

  • Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

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    Luke
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    Be kind. Always. – Kate Spade. Rest in peace.

  • Rules for a Knight

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    Luke
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    Just finished Ethan Hawke’s epistolary novel written as a letter from a knight going into battle, to their children, imparting knowledge and what they assume will be their last words. The book is brief and contains simple, effective language and great advice, mostly collected from various sources (credited at the end). A few rules that…

  • Principles & Values

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    Luke
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    Friends of mine own a pair of remarkable BBQ restaurants. The food is great. They are great. Their principles and values are worth a read. Many (all?) can be adapted not only to any business, but life in general: Be the best restaurant we can be, not just the best BBQ restaurant. Produce the highest quality…

  • Tired of not doing the things I want to do.

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    Luke
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    That includes being tired of missing the things I used to do. In the past year or so I’ve built and discarded about five or six skateboards online. I finally pulled the trigger. Mark Gonzales deck, Spitfire wheels, Independent trucks. Life is too short to be missing out. To fear other’s perceptions. If you get any…

  • On Reading

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    Luke
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    Still deleting/sorting old bookmarks. Found several related to reading. Which is something I need to do more of.  One day I’ll read books and not just buy them.  Farnam Street recommends trying to get through 25 pages per day. They see this as a clear path to completing works that might otherwise seem daunting: Then I thought…

  • Unsolicited Advice

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    Luke
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    Been slowly making my way through old bookmarks. Here’s a good one: John Perry Barlow’s list of twenty-five principles of adult behavior. From the recently deceased Silicon visionary/occasional Grateful Dead lyricist’s mouth: “I don’t expect the perfect attainment of these principles. However, I post them as a standard for my conduct as an adult. Should…