08 Jun

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

When stock market prices rise dramatically and unjustifiably based on the earnings prospects of companies, it's called a bull market; when they precipitously fall it's called a bear market. According to Investopedia: "The terms 'bear' and 'bull' are thought to derive from the way in which each animal attacks its opponents. That is, a bull will thrust its horns up into the air, while a bear will swipe down. These actions were then related metaphorically to the movement of a market. If the trend was up, it was considered a bull market. If the trend was down, it was a bear market." Alternatively, perhaps a bull market is like a bull charging at a matador's red cape. The bull is charging ahead at something it sees as real and alive (the moving red cape, rising prices), but which ultimately is a mirage, a delusion. as there is nothing behind the cape or to justify rising prices. Likewise, a bear market is like a hibernating bear which cannot be enticed to eat food it's offered (like buying stocks that are easy to be had, cheap) because it is sleeping....

06 Jun

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

CAT is an acronym for a sheriff's Criminal Apprehension Team which tracks and arrests offenders wanted for serious felony crimes.  Cats don't scratch when they purr. Cats don't like any sort of water. Some years back, I lived in Westport, CT. One day, as I was driving to play squash, I was on a business phone call and startled by red lights in the rearview mirror. Soon enough, I was parked on the side of the road with a police car behind me. An overweight officer came out of his vehicle. He was livid, screaming: "You were on our cell phone." I said: "Officer, I know I was on the phone, I shouldn't have been, poor judgement on my part. But I'm a bit late for a squash game. How about I give you my license and registration and meet you back at the station house after the game and we'll sort it all out?" He then got even angier and screamed: "You can't do that." As our temperatures were rising, I said: "Officer, I see you are upset. I think you are upset with me. I feel terrible. We are here to take care of each other and I'm not doing a good job of it. Please, tell me, what can I do to make you feel better?" At that point, our minds calmed and he said: "Let's forget about it." A cat doesn't scratch when it's purring. I told this story to a lawyer friend from Spain. He said that he often gets stopped for traffic infractions but never gets ticketed. Simply, when stopped, as the police officer comes asking for his driver's license, my friend puts his right hand finger, which is out of the officer's view, to his nose. From his left side, it appears his finger is sloshing around in his nose. He then takes out his driver's license with his right hand and offers it to the officer who invariably refuses it and tells him to be considerate (perhaps prophylactically) of others. Cats don't like all sorts of water....

02 Jun

Posted at 10:15h in Wow

Life is an entertaining journey as long as we don't forget it's a temporary holiday from where we permanently reside which is heaven. Even those with the most wonderful lives find themselves in hell when they forget they're on holiday....

31 May

Posted at 10:26h in Wow

For crying babies, milk brings peace. As adults, the Milky Way has the same effect. Unfortunately, few can access the Milky Way today. 120 years ago everyone lived under the dark-sky and could see the Milky Way. Today, 99% of people live with some degree of light pollution, precluding their eyes from drinking the light of the Milky Way....

30 May

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

“One of the most uncommon things in life is common sense.” We perceive the world through ideological and personal associations which cloud our thinking. On the rare occasions we are dispassionate, the sun comes out and we can see clearly....

28 May

Posted at 10:15h in Wow

What is within is always the same, the soul. What is without is ever-changing. What is within is essential. What is without we can live without....

27 May

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Happiness is gratitude, optimism and freedom from karmic prisons. Karmic prisons are artificial constructs; stories, descriptions, categorizations and generalizations our mind creates. These constructs control how we perceive and interact in the world. They at times allow us temporary joys but preclude us from long-term happiness. As each mind's constructs are unique, those who are not happy are unhappy in their own way....

24 May

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

By definition, a mutt is a dog of uncertain pedigree. A mutt is also a person who is stupid or incompetent. Those who don't allow a mutt to compete at a dog show are also mutts. Imagine an extraordinarily beautiful, athletic and intelligent rescue mutt; so smart, the mutt masters every trick in the book and even learns to play checkers competitively with a 10-year old. Surely, the mutt would win first prize at any accredited dog show, become instantly popular with the general public and be in great demand for breeding which would improve the genetic pool of dogs generally, be financially rewarding for its owner and allow the dog to have fun. Unfortunately, without a pedigree, the mutts who run dog shows wouldn't allow the mutt to compete, fearing the mutt would outshine them as it would do more to promote general interest in dogs than could they or any pedigree dog.  ...