Is there really that much of a difference? Insurance began as a wonderful idea. A truly generous, magnanimous and world-changing concept. Someone once told me that the original idea for insurance came from a group of Chinese fishermen, who would each put aside one fish from their day’s haul to give to the fisherman who … Read more
Is there really that much of a difference? Long ago the insurance company was your friend. I just love the ads today about what friends they continue to be. Oh yeah? Well no. They admit it’s very harmful for you to make a claim because your reputation with them will be permanently blackened. You are … Read more
Buy it, even though we’re not going to tell you anything about it. Advertising doesn’t have to be as weird as it is. It could just be companies listing what products they sell. It once WAS just companies listing what products they sell. That ad strategy makes sense, is simple and tells people who want … Read more
Throughout history there have been some really terrible ideas. Some have been harmless and silly: our founding fathers making powdered wigs made from horse hair an essential fashion choice for leading a fledgling nation, hot tub buffets, professional bowling, and the invention and brief popularity of the Unimotorcycle come to mind. Many of these really … Read more
If corporations are people, as the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in one of its shadier, more dangerous, rulings, more than a decade ago, then: How come I can’t hug Exxon Mobil? How come Boeing never sends me birthday presents? How come The Keebler Elves never show up at my house to borrow … Read more
Rigid thought patterns, unshakeable norms, traditions that shrug off any and all questions. Welcome to Orthodoxy Nation, folks. You’re in for an angry ride. ORTHODOXY – noun – authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice. The definition of “Orthodoxy” doesn’t do justice to the reality of the modern world, where it dwells and reproduces … Read more
Parking has gotten all kinds of strange lately. It was kind of strange to begin with. Why we’ve let people tell us that temporarily resting our cars on asphalt needs to cost money is beyond me. Why we all comply with the idea that a resting car must be nestled between two similarly-colored paint lines … Read more
Ok, we understand that we need to change this, but how? With the aid of hindsight, I can’t believe we didn’t see this one coming. Police brutality wasn’t invented a few years ago. Black American anger didn’t just begin to simmer a few weeks ago. This isn’t ALL a Covid thing, but that certainly hasn’t … Read more
Ever since this website began, we felt a strong reluctance to open up posts to commenters. Let’s just say we’ve seen situations where commentability didn’t work out so well. While there are many people who post very thoughtful and intelligent comments, some websites seem to be magnets for commenters who have a loose association with … Read more
We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right now to reform/re-form our society, to tweak it for the better. It’s a chance that probably won’t come again. So, let’s take advantage of this. Some ideas: 1) We can let people out of prisons. Just open the doors and let them go. It will save their lives and … Read more