Being My Better Self

Heya Earthlings,

If you're like me, there are two yous. One is who you actually are in the moment, and the other is who you strive to be—your "better self."

Yep, I'm a big fan of Socrates and the idea of "self-development through self-knowledge." This method allows someone to become a more moral and kind person. But I submit to you that being your better self goes beyond that. Or, to say it another way, also includes less high-faluting goals.

Like, being happy. You'll be happier if you head off mistakes and bad choices, right?  Putting together a budget is a great example. Or planning a schedule for how many pages or words you (or in this case, I) need to write on any given day to hit a turnover deadline in three months' time. 

And then there's the day-to-day ways I try to be my better self. Enter sticky notes*.

I'm always writing messages and reminders to myself to improve my life outcomes, such as "lock this!" on the garage door, "Save your sleep, don't eat after 8!" on a refrigerator shelf, "Close this!" next to the toilet, and so on. Over time, I sublimate these, and the sticky notes are (hopefully) no longer needed.

But new sticky notes always show up. Like today, after having spilled my coffee for the 2nd time in six months by swiveling my high-backed office chair, my newest better self reminder on a sticky note: "No coffee here! 

*I also send myself reminder emails every day, but sticky notes photograph better.

Where To Look For Hope

 Heya Earthlings,

I hope you got through yesterday without a single April Fool's Day groaner to contend with or, worse yet, a fake story you briefly thought was real. (Not that entirely true news stories aren't bad enough if you happen to be a fan of economics or the Constitution.)

On a related but more upbeat note, I just finished listening to a great interview that you might enjoy. It was conducted by one of my favorite new energy writers and podcasters, David Roberts. He interviewed a Chicago area congressional representative I've never heard of before by the name of Sean Casten. Wow! Rarely do I hear elected officials speak with such humanity and intelligence, especially in the face of being effectively powerless as a member of the House. The topic: 

The view from inside DC, with Rep. Sean Casten

I talk with the congressman about why Trump is meeting so little resistance, what can be salvaged of energy policy in the next four years, and where to look for hope.

Give it a shot, I think you might find something hopeful in his outlook, and possibly even something useful: https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-view-from-inside-dc-with-rep 

[Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash]

Exactly 20 Years Ago On My Blog

Hey Earthlings!

Did you know I've been blogging since 1999? And even though Apple nuked my original blog when they eliminated web space hosting, the Way Back Machine kept... bits of it. 

But I apparently have kept ALL of it in the dusty recesses of my hard drive. Batgirl says I'm a digital hoarder. I think this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt she's correct.

Anyway, are you interested in what I put on my blog extacly 20 years ago on March 10, 2005 (when I was still about 8 years away from quitting Wizards of the Coast?)

Well... it's not that interesting. Apparently I've been a political creature ever since I discovered the web. I've become a lot less like this in the last decade--but here's me talking about a pending bill that seemed sorta bad to 36 year old Bruce. Luckily, the bill ended up not getting passed, so there's that:

Posted: Thu - March 10, 2005 at 10:59 AM

I did a lot of martial arts in the 2000s

Today, when you, the average citizen reach the end of your financial ability to pay back your debts, you can file for bankruptcy. Debtors currently have discretion as to whether to attempt to get clear of debts and keep some assets, or to pursue a repayment plan.

Why is it that people go into bankruptcy? Is it because they can't control their credit card habit? Sometimes yes. But did you know that 50% of bankruptcies filed in the US are because of medical emergencies? And of those people, 2/3rds have insurance yet they still go bankrupt because they can't pay their deductible?

Ouch! That could easily be you or me! Good thing that you can establish a bankruptcy plan that fits your circumstances (such as if you've suffered through a medical emergency). Man, its good we live in a civilization where people help people, and we're not still out on the veldt.

But, wait for it...

The Senate is moving towards passing a bankruptcy bill that would strip discretionary powers from judges hearing bankruptcy requests. If you're an average Joe, no matter the reason you go into bankruptcy, you'll probably be forced into a repayment plan. Too bad--you're house will fetch a nice price and go to pay the deductibles you couldn't pay even with your medical insurance.

Why is the Senate even considering a bill that is so anti-citizen and pro credit corporation? Hmm, well it turns out that the credit/finance industry is a significant contributor to politicians, both Republican and Democrat. So even many boys and girls in blue are behind this terrible bill.

So... I advise you not to get sick.

I hope my back gets better. [Some context on my sign-out comment: On March 2nd 2005, I post about having really screwd up my back]

Oly Funk Fest 2025

Hey Earthlings!

We took a short break from reality, "funking off" to a festival in the nearby city of Olympia, WA, over an extended weekend and returned last night. Despite being Washington state's capital and just under an hour away, I've never visited. I've passed dozens of times, watching the freeway exit signs blip past on the way to Portland or some other Oregon destination.

Well, that deficiency is now addressed. I've visited Olympia's downtown area, anyway, and it gets our seal of approval (FWIW). I'm sure the three venues playing live funk and funk-adjacent music at all hours of the day during our visit contributed to our great impression. That aside, the downtown area was rich with restaurants, breweries and bars, shops, and other attractions, all in one walkable package. I was surprised and impressed.

The festival itself, as I alluded to above, was great. Two of the three venues were perfectly suited to dancing, and Batgirl and I were at pains to take advantage. We danced so much that my fitness watch decided I'd graduated to a new fitness tier! Well, I don't think I'll soon be able to replicate 3 days of 3+ hours of dancing, sad to say.

Some of the standout bands included Eldridge Gravy, Hillstomp, Clinton Fearon, and the Andy Coe Band, though everyone was great. Not all the musicians were strictly funk (or even that close, really) but all were really amazing. Overall, it was quite a nice, if short, vacation.

Dreamgineering

These last several months, my mental health has greatly improved by restricting my reading to select curated sources. One of those is Scientific American, and in particular, its Today in Science daily newsletter.

One article recently caught my attention because it discussed "engineering" dreams. The article is titled "The New Science of Controlling Lucid Dreams." 

I respectively suggest this alternate title: Dreamgineering ;).

It's so amazing that scientists are learning how to engineer sleepers' dreams to reduce nightmares, treat insomnia, and even just for fun.

In college some years ago, a friend living in a different state and I tried to induce lucid dreams, specifically so we could attempt to meet up the world of sleep. I'm sad to report that nothing ever came of those experiments, but our attempts have obviously stuck with me.

[Photo by Javardh on Unsplash]

Of course, I wonder how much such "dreamgineering" science might have been involved, historically and as an in-world basis for my current Patreon novel, Dreamrider in the Nightland. The novel is a near-future sci-fi-ish story, if you aren't aware. Though it's not hard science fiction, especially as revealed by the Dreamrider's patron in this last scene of chapter 10.