rogerdb: I am a big fan of Neuromancer... I agree that the "cyberpunk" aesthetic has practically evolved into self parody... IMO the core of cyberpunk is about envisioning a world where advanced technology is useful and ubiquitous, yet humanity is worse off than ever ("high tech, low life"). It's a subversion of the simple tech dystopias where the technology itself is evil or is misused by evil people, and more of a realistic counterpoint to the idea that technological progress leads to inevitab...

Introducing the 2010 Mazda 3 BL Series 1 Neo Hatchback - a car so stylishly silver it makes the Tin Man look like he needs a makeover. This sleek hatchback is so fuel-efficient, you'll think it's running on good vibes and compliments. With a manual transmission, it's perfect for anyone wanting to impress friends with their multitasking skills - because who doesn't love handling a stick shift while singing along to the radio? Under the hood, you'll find a feisty 4-cylinder engine that's ready to...

In a small French village, an old baker still kneaded dough by hand as others switched to machines. "Why waste time?" competitors scoffed. Yet every morning, lines formed at his door. When asked his secret, he wiped flour from his hands and said: "The bread tastes better when it knows you're paying attention." This simple truth introduces The Twelve Monotasks - a revolutionary approach to reclaiming focus in an age of distraction. These 7 lessons reveal how doing less actually lets you achieve ...

Recently I married an unusually mature couple. Both groom and bride were in their late thirties. They had waited with admirable patience. Both were established in life and in faith, and they knew where they each stood: together on God’s word. Few couples, if any, that I’ve married have demonstrated such clear, solid, stable footing together on the rock of what God has said in the Bible. So, it didn’t surprise me that when I asked them to pick a favorite passage or two for the wedding, they shie...

The most unfortunate man in the world is the one who, in trying to maintain relationships with everyone in the family, ends up weakening his bond with his own wife. A man's wife is his goddess, and when she feels honored, the entire home is filled with abundance. She chooses him because she believes in him-not just as a provider, but as a protector of her soul, a keeper of her peace. Yet, when he fails to stand by her, when he prioritizes pleasing others over nurturing her, he unknowingly lets...

A man who is not respected in his own home will find it difficult for others to respect his wife. The way your family treats you sets the tone for how they will treat her. If they disregard your opinions, dismiss your emotions, or manipulate your decisions, it will inevitably impact her as well. If your brother constantly tries to manipulate you, there is a high chance that your wife's days with you will be difficult. She will see you being swayed, doubting yourself, and struggling to stand fir...

When a woman is consistently spoken to with softness and love, she transforms into a new version of herself-one that radiates abundance, confidence, and peace. The simple act of speaking to her kindly can rewire her nervous system, nurture her inner being, and awaken her feminine energy. This transformation, however, doesn't happen overnight. It requires commitment, patience, and a deep understanding of the intricate layers of her being. For a man to consistently embody this level of softness ...

/Write an ode to the demise of the Casio F-91w wristwatch as a flash fiction story/ The Last Tick of the Casio F-91W In a small, cluttered drawer, beneath a tangle of old chargers and forgotten receipts, lay a Casio F-91W wristwatch. Its once-vibrant face was now dulled by time, the plastic casing scratched and faded. Yet, to Sam, it was a treasure—a relic of his youth. He remembered the day he bought it, a summer afternoon filled with laughter and the scent of fresh-cut grass. The watch had ...

I get significantly more work done when I unplug my computer from the Internet. It’s not that my productive output drops to zero when I’m plugged in, but more like 70%. Despite many of the tools that I use requiring a connection, and certainly the Internet containing a wealth of information that might expedite my work, these benefits are drastically outweighed by the wealth of distractions also available. It’s very appealing, when the code is compiling or the docker containers restarting, to s...

These are not only the top rated Leadership TED talks. But also the top 30 that have changed so much for me. And for millions and millions of others. Very wide range of Leadership topics to level up. They are FREE, so no excuses - enjoy! Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders Dan Ariely: What makes us feel good about our work Margaret Heffernan: Dare to disagree Drew Dudley: Everyday leadership Roselinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader...

Taken from a circular letter, addressing many topics, written to three friends and co-workers in the conspiracy against Hitler, on the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s accession to the chancellorship of Germany… ‘Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. ...

It's easy to act tough, talk tough, be feisty and make a lot of noise. In fact anyone can make a lot of noise, carry on and pretend to be strong and brave but true strength comes from within. True strength is the power to be gentle and to act with grace and come from a pure and loving place in your heart. Be strong enough to be gentle and show your courage through understanding and compassion and kindness. The world doesn't need another tough talking fool with no heart, what it needs is more...

Stores are bottlenecks, being distribution centers and not that numerous. You kick them in the balls when you attack their distribution centers. Their stock price drops at news of such attacks, and they have no way to counter that. And their valuations are already at historic lows. Of course, police might arrest and prosecute, but that doesn't bring the share price back up. A hundred thousand dollars of physical damage can leverage a hundred million dollars in lost asset value. Big pension funds...

(From "Take My Advice: Letters to the Next Generation from People Who Know a Thing or Two", contribution by Mary Gaitskill, Writer) My advice here is very specific and practicable. It is advice I wish someone had given me as forcefully as I’m about to give it now: When your parents are dying, you should go be with them. You should spend as much time as you can. This may seem obvious; you would be surprised how difficult it can be. It is less difficult if you have a good relationship with the ...

The 2020s were a crux in human history. They began with the first pandemic, a slap to the face of everyone, as they had to acknowledge that they were a single civilization on a single biosphere, utterly dependent on science to keep them alive. Civilization is a fragile thing. And although people started the '20s hoping to ignore that profound truth, even after the first pandemic, the great heat waves of 2023 torched any such hope. Humans cannot survive combinations of high heat and high humidity...

God, when I cross the truth give me the awareness to receive it the consciousness to recognise it the presence to personalize it and the courage to live it First, we have to put ourselves in the place to receive the truth. This noisy world we live in, with its commitments, deadlines, fix thises, do thats, and expectations make it hard to get clarity and peace of mind. So we have to consciously put ourselves in a place to receive that clarity. Whether that’s prayer, meditation, a walka...

: Technology has stolen our ability to focus. Can we get it back? by Johann Hari | Jan 9, 2022 | 9 min read Our ability to pay attention and focus is in free-fall. The average college student now focuses on any one task for just 65 seconds. The average office worker focuses on any one task for just three minutes. I was so concerned by this slow acid being poured on our attention that for my new book, I spent three years researching the reasons this is taking place, interviewing more than 200 o...

I said at the beginning of the lecture series that the Bible is a hyperlinked text, and everything refers to everything else. There’s utility in reading it in linear order, but it’s not a linear document. There’s an infinite number of pathways that you can use to walk through it. All of the document expands upon and refers to all of the rest of the document. And so I’m going to switch to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is probably the key document in the New Testament. I think it’s the ...

Hello world! The primary intention of this casual micro-blog is to collect other people's writings that resonate with me and are share-worthy. A scrap-book of sorts. I am aware that doing this is not an original idea. Content could be quotes, snippets / paragraphs from books, whole comment sections, blog-posts from others or whole polished articles. Attribution / citation / source link in all cases possible. Permission where appropriate. Usually mirrored here as is. Sometimes with formatting e...