to learn that beards are the universal logo of wisdom.

Speaking of beards… this guy had a nice one.

I could imagine quite a few careers in which I could have been successful. Or on a less professional level, quite a number of sports that I might be successful in but either never tried out because I didn’t grow up where those were popular or never mastered from an amateur and semi-professional to a professional level. So many things to do, so little time (or so far back in time that the path diverged). It doesn’t help that I’m rather perfectionistic and tend to maximize. If I have made a decision, it can happen that I think about what could have been if I had chosen differently even if that is unrealistic.

To that end, I’m quite fascinated with people who pretty early in life discovered that they have one special talent or were born into circumstances that made them succeed at a young age. Maybe they also could have led completely different lives, but they found out that they can gain a lot of pleasure and/or success (financial or otherwise) from what they did and stuck with it. Since repetition is important to becoming really good at something, I believe that helps a lot to stay focused on the big goals. Some people rebel against clear career paths (could be a reason why many child stars end up rather unsuccessful later), for others it is liberating. While I do have quite some talents and successes and things to do that I enjoy, I’m not sure I have yet found what I’m better at than most people and that would really define me.

Sorry if that misses your topic, but it’s something I’m thinking about quite a lot lately.

I was fascinated with the idea of becoming another person for a few hours while retaining just enough of my own identity to allow me to return to my own life when I wanted to. I used to get lost in conundrums about what constituted my own real identity and how I could retain it even while fully assuming the identity of another. In the end I decided that an identity switching machine would be dangerous because after switching into another person’s identity I might forget who I really am and never return to myself.

Appiah himself is a homosexual and discusses how society recognizes/reacts to/treats minorities and stereotypes. He also discusses how we find out our identities and our journey towards becoming who we eventually will be in life and when we do, how not to make that identity a straightjacket.

of which i want no part! :)

or maybe it’s sunday and no one is gonna log on, in which case I ask, what is YOUR opinion of Apphia’s thesis?

Sophia

It’s hard, if not impossible to imagine the emergence of a sense of self in the absence of social and interpersonal interaction. Who we are may be more a product of the questions we ask, and are asked, than of anything intrinsic to the meat suit we call our body.

Have you guys seen this Taylor Swift video of her dishing Joe Jonas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NyEWGAlFr8

http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2009/2/20/766581/because-it-s-dallas-via-xr

Short interview between Galloway and Nelson about the summer of 2010 with a great Star Trek illustration.

35th comment.

I knew I should have grown a beard! Damn it! I’m so stupid!

Seriously, where do you get that? I have no problem with beards, but I have known some pretty dumb people with them. That just seems like you’re trying to over compensate. Maybe for justification of the path towards individuality that you have chosen? I can’t grow a beard myself, it looks all patchy and scraggly. If I were to grow one, people would probably say "Wow, look at that beard. Why doesn’t he shave it off. Does he realize how stupid he looks?

I have always been quite an “individual”…in terms of not blending in , Lemming-ing out, going with the flow – - never to be contrarian for the sake of it, but never buying into the conventional wisdom – - the sucker born every minute thing can be better avoided if you will think for yourself.

Never been one to buy into pre-determination or singular destiny – - more about identifying talents and potential, and maximizing each with “purpose” in mind . . . Still, I have had 5 careers – - 3 or more still active, and at 46 I am far from done – - just hitting stride…

There are decision points, mistakes, circumstances and such that shape the path – - retrospectively things could always have been different – - If I had been chosen as the Grateful Dead’s keyboard player in 1990 I’d – - -probably be dead now (like the rest of them) but would have flamed out brightly…But life doesn’t leave time for regrets if you plan to get the most out of it..

I teach people about self-actualization, “individuation”, – - If every snowflake is different how different must we all be? and I celebrate everyone I meet – - honestly had as much fun with my hotel clerk in Charlotte as I did talking to the guys on the team..

Sterotypes (of others) will act as constraints – - I usta call my long hair my @$$-ho;le filter cause it filtered out the narrow minded bigots before I had to find out later…but self-doubt and self sabotage at the sub-concious level will hinder many from living out their potential more that outward constraints…

enough for now . . . I better get back to one of my jobs .. .. :-)

Oh, never mind. I’m too afraid.

It’s currently 64 degrees here. I’m going to need a winter coat for Portland next week.