Aside from my hiking ambitions, another goal for this year has been to develop some critical software and programming skills, many of which involve aspects of computer security. This has led me down a rabbit-hole of YouTube videos about online privacy, and I have some reflections on the things I’ve learned. First of all, it’s […]
The Protestant Stupid Ethic Part 2: The World is Complicated
Years ago I ranted about how the so-called “protestant work ethic” is largely bullshit in this post. But now, I’d like to revisit a few key ideas. First, let me talk about getting hassled in Thamel. It was my last day in Nepal, but most shops in Pokhara had been closed, and now, back in […]
Studying Buddhism as a Christian
I can’t believe it’s July already, and that means it’s been 1.5 months since I returned from Nepal. I’ve had a lot of time to read some of the books I brought back from there as well as new books that I’ve bought since returning. What fascinates me about Buddhism is its rich textual history. […]
Life Lessons from a Failed Museum
I can’t remember the train of thought that led me to this, but just recently I wondered what happened to the Wildlife Experience, a museum that used to be in Parker, Colorado. Despite living not far from there for a time, I never actually went. I knew they had opened the building up for college […]
Should You Buy When Financial Assets are on Sale?: More Thoughts on Investments
With the recent downturn in various financial markets, another cliche suggestion has turned up, namely that you should buy these investments because they are “on sale”. There is a certain logic to this: if an investment is a good investment, it’s generally better to buy it at $30 than at $60, since this gives it […]
Buy and Hold: Various Thoughts on Investments
Economic predictions of doom have flooded every news site, it seems. I’m not too worried about the conditions in the US, but I think China might be going through its own version of our 2008 soon, as their housing market collapsed and they’re now seeing several bank runs. Sounds familiar. But all of the crypto […]
European Philosophy
I’m reading a book called “Seven Types of Atheism” and it’s pretty interesting. The central premise is that many of the various atheistic views are actually religious in their approach to “truth” and “progress”, but if this sounds like some Christian apologetics text, it actually isn’t: it’s written by an atheist who seems tired of […]
Couch Economics
It’s been about 6 years since I bought my couch. When I first moved away from my parents and into my own apartment, I went to a nice furniture store and found it. It was so comfortable that the first time I sat down on that model in the showroom, I knew it was very […]
Christian Attitudes Toward Other Religions
During late high school and then college years, I went through a deep and sincere struggle with what I believed about the world. I had seen some convincing elements in Christianity, but I was also deeply troubled by literal interpretations of Genesis (among other books like Jonah), various aspects of Christian over-proof (dismissing challenging questions […]
Arguments, Debate, and Ego
I wish it was easier to disagree with people. My first reaction when I happen upon a disagreement with friends is to sweep it under the rug, to simply not say anything, or to leave a brief counter-point that summarizes my disagreement. Beyond that, disagreement is uncomfortable and awkward, and I wish it wasn’t. But […]