20231223 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY (GG'S BIRTHDAY) - NO D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence my brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Laugh.  Live.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.8  Today's weight.

200.6  Yesterday's weight.

+1.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Saturday, December 23, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 88 (!!!!)
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L45, R35+10
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40 
11. push-ups 38 (floor) + 5 (wall) = 43

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says the 19th & 20th Cs brought many inventions and discoveries that changed the course of industry and warefare (e.g., aluminum, air guns).  If Haber hadn't discovered how to produce amonia out of thin air, the Germans would have lost WWI much earlier.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls lamenting that his Recovery Act was modified by GOP pressure from 4 GOP lawmakers, and it was pretty much all political posturing; he decided against barnstorming in the respective GOP states, anticipating that doing so could badly affect future bills he had in mind.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says the studies he was involved in (there were 10 groups) produced an unusual "group" of subjects who were generally WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich and Democratic), and were from Penn State (like he was/is).  He notes that Americans are more WEIRD than Europeans, and NW Americans are more WEIRD than Americans.

NOTE:  Ho Hum.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says the camp experience taught him that those who would/could survive might have as their creed the statement by Nietsche:  If you have a "why," you can bear almost any "how."  He further learned that the men who had no purpose soon gave up & died, and many died between Christmas and New Years.

NOTE:  This is remarkable to me, since they were Jews, and they attached such a significance to Christmas; however, it is likely the men associated holidays & family & happy times with Christmas, no matter their heritage.

Frankl states that the men (and all people) necessarily need to learn to ask not "what do I expect from this life?" but rather "What does this life expect of me?"  And then he gives the answer to the 2nd question, and in so doing states the ultimate message of his book:

     Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems (i.e., to LIFE'S         problems) and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.

20231222 - SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Woke up a bit later; took my time; tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; better results today.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Live.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

(ADD:  "I, Ken Taylor, am a confident piano player."

VISUALIZATION

200.6  Today's weight 

201.6  Yesterday's weight

-1.0

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, December 22, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 88 (!!!!!!!!)
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L35 + 10, R45
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 37 (floor) + 3 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He say

*NO FURTHER READING OR WRITING AGAIN FOR TODAY.  I VISUALIZE READING/WRITING MORE TOMORROW*

20231221 SLLLAVERS FOR THURSDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Mild effort; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.6  Today's weight

201.8   Yesterday's weight

-0.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Thursday, December 21, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L45, R25+25
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 35 (floor) + 5 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter. 

(DIDN'T DO ANY READING OR WRITING TODAY  - :-(((((  )

20231220 SLLLAVERS FOR WEDNESDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Mild attempt to silence brain for 80 seconds; not much success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.8  Today's weight

201.4   Yesterday's weight

+0.4

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Wednesday, December 20, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L25+15, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 35 (floor) + 5 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says the Industrial Revolution is heavily dependent on electricity, which we use all the time, but hardly know how it works.  Harari wonders how people/governments can be so concerned with "running out" of energy, when there is ample both on the earth and in the sun.  Other forms we consider today beyond hydroelectricity & solar:  nuclear, gravitational, wind.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls how the political landscape post his election began with good feelings & camaraderie, but quickly hardened into a GOP v DEM battleground with clearly defined limits.  Example was Charlie Crist of Florida.  BO hugged/shook hands with him, and the GOP had a field day killing Crist politically:  he lost his next election, switched parties and lost again.  BO's comment is obvious today:  we're still dealing with the enormous gulf between Left and Right in the USA.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says, as he begins part II of the book, that the "righteous mind is like a tongue with 6 taste receptors."  So the metaphor of elephant served by its rider is still true, but he's "moving on" to another one now, it seems.  Haidt got his PHD, in part, by interviewing people at McDonalds, where he asked questions about morality.  These people in general thought he was weird when he asked them about various examples of moral dilemmas (e.g., using the US flag as a rag, etc.).  They reacted in disblief, seeming to say that Haidt should KNOW why such and such is "wrong."

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls dealing with a superior (to him) prisoner, who had a dream that he could ask (of whoever was in the dream) anything he'd like; he asked when the war would be over for HIM.  The answer was a date within the next month.  The war didn't end then, but on that date, the prisoner was deathly ill (typhus) and he died the following day.  The war HAD, in fact, ended for HIM.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231219 - SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Mild success at silencing my brain for 80 seconds.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.4  Today's weight

201.6  Yesterday's weight

-0.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Tuesday, December 19, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40+, R40+
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 34 (floor) + 6 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

(DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BEYOND THIS POINT.

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231218 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Silence desired, but silence of the brain is another thing!

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.6  Today's weight

199.8  Yesterday's weight

+1.8  (PEACH & TOMATO PASTA!!!)

I visualize weighing LESS tomorrow.

EXERCISE
Did my full base-80 routine for Monday, December 18, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40 plus or minus
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretches 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 34 (floor) + 6 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says humans discovered gunpowder, how to harness steam to convert it to energy, atoms/atomic energy, petroleum to convert it to moving people.  The first steam engine 1830 in England changed everything.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He remembers that the GOP and the right-wing media plotted to become LESS bi-partisan, and to "hope Obama fails" (a la Limbaugh).  BO wanted bi-partisan to be a hallmark of his presidency, but the GOP weren't having it.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He summarizarily restates his theory that INTUITION comes first, and REASONING comes second.  However, he acknowledges that he could be wrong, and he's leaving it up to reasoners to point it out (if they can).

NOTE:  I'm not 100% convinced.  But in the next section he'll get into deeper diving about the INTUITION theory (i.e., the elephant rules), so we'll see.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers thinking about what Spinoza said in ETHICS:  "EMOTION, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering when we form a clear picture of it."  (hmmmmm)

This happened to Frankl when he was in camp:  he imagined giving a lecture on psychology to a group of people seated on comfortable chairs; his suffering disappeared (at least for that short time).

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.  

20231217 SLLLAVERS FOR SUNDAY - NOT D-DAY YET - AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success (although I don't really remember)

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Love.  Live.

Bless.  Heal  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

199.8  Today's weight

201.4  Yesterday's weight

-1.6

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Sunday, December 17, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 33 (floor) + 7 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says in England in 1700, the wood burning fires were used to boil water, make a piston move, and....... eventually they replaced the disappearing forests with coal; the pumps were used to pump water out of mine shafts, and to power looms (textiles).  England became the workshop of the world.  Eventually they'd figure out how to make steam locomotives and cars with the steam

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls how his first weeks were fraught with "battles" for/against the press, who, depending on their own biases, would attack the opposition with half-truths.  This was true for both, although the GOP press was far "better" at it.  There seemed (and still seems) to be no regard for reporting a fully complete and true account of the goings-on in DC.  So....... BO got his feet wet early wrt the Recovery Act and how he got it passed.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He what our goal is.  

IF it is to change our thinking (i.e., to make it closer to the truth), then we can rely on reason/science.  

IF it is to change our behavior (i.e., to make it closer to morality), then we can rely on intuition/emotion. 

Nobody expects that students in an ethics class will learn the material, and then behave more ethically.  (WHY NOT, JONATHAN?  I believe that I DID, in fact, learn stuff & then change my behavior, to one degree or another, in one situation or another.  But Haidt might say I hadn't)

If we want to change the BEHAVIOR of a person, we need to change 1)  his elephant, or 2) the path his elephant is following.

SUMMARY

Intuitions come first, reasoning comes second.

There are 5 areas of research that show that MORAL THINKING is more like a politician searching for votes than a scientist searching for truth:

1)  We are obsessively concerned about what others think of us.

2)  Conscious reasoning functions like a press secretary (rider) who automatically speaks supporting the president (elephant)

3)  With the "press secretary" (I.e., the rider) in place, we are able to lie and cheat so effectively that we convince even ourselves.

4)  Reasoning can take us to almost any conclusion we want to reach, BECAUSE......

a)  If we WANT to believe something, we ask "CAN I BELIEVE IT?"  (answer is always YES)

b)  If we DON'T WANT to believe something, we ask "MUST I BELIEVE IT?"  (answer is always NO)

5)  In MORAL & POLITICAL matters, we often show "groupish" rather than "selfish" thinking; I.e., we are part of a team before considering our individual concerns.

NOTE:  I like all this, but I don't have the background to know if there are any flaws in Haidt's thinking and/or research.  But my ELEPHANT likes it, because my RIDER is into it.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says the prisoners met with their situations in different ways:  some rose above it to set a goal, but most gave up.  They generally thought that the best parts of their lives had already passed, so what was the use of trying to set a goal?They were unable to see themselves sub specie aeternitatis = in their essential, natural form.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

**********

It's a good day today, at least it's starting well.  I've been losing weight 0.5 to 1.5 pounds every day; and this morning, I "broke 200" - weighing in at 199.8!!!!!!  I'm VERY happy, since I weighed 208.0 on November 30  (roughly 8 pounds in 16 days, or 0.5 pounds lost per day!!!)

Now it's almost the end of my day (waking hours), and it's been a good day still.  I was able to bake a loaf of bread, make some peach/tomato pasta with George, and then eat it with George, watch a few episodes of TORE on Netflix, practice piano 2 different sessions, do my SLLLAVERS routine 100%, read in 4 books, talk to Bill Laursen.  AND, I broke 200 pounds (i.e., went DOWN below 200!!!!!)

George says I should "lay off" my routine once a week - to reward myself; even if my weight has increased by tomorrow morning at weigh-in time, and can still feel good about what I have accomplished.  He's right, of course.  But I know what I USUALLY do when I go off the wagon - I might very well justify saying off the wagon for too long.

So, I will still VISUALIZE weighing LESS than 199.8 tomorrow morning, after my exercise routine.

20231216 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Woke up w/o pressure, tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Live.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.4  Today's weight

201.4  Yesterday's weight

-0-

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Saturday, December 16, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L25+20, R25+20  (HUH???????????????)
7. blall/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 33 (floor) + 7 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says that one of the major turning points in human history came from converting HEAT into MOTION.  It happened centuries before the Industrial Revolution, when people boiled water to cook vegetables.... the pot lids began to rumble & be thrown off the pots.  Eventually we learned to harness the energy.  Also, the Chinese began to experiment with gunpowder, and used it in bombs... until someone figured out how to grind it down and make it shoot out objects into the air.... leading to artillery (guns + ammo).

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls how his Recover/Stimulus Act passed with -0- GOP votes.  That was to be expected, but he was surprised that it would be so, since the GOP had suffered losses in recent elections.  His comment about all this is telling:  Americans rarely reward the opposition party for going along with ANYTHING the governing party tries to do.  

NOTE:  So no wonder the GOP (or the Dems, when the situation is reversed) still today have no use for Biden or his efforts to govern responsibly.  I suppose that the only thing new today is Trump is blatant about his opposition to everyone, and corrupt to boot.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says that he does not think we should give up on REASONING and always go with our GUT FEELINGS.  But..... he suggests that we should think of INDIVIDUALS like NEURONS.  Neurons are good at only 1 thing:  deciding whether to "fire" when a stimulation enters its dendrite; if it does, it emits a pulse along the neuron network in the brain.  Similarly, an individual should not undertake reasoning by him/herself alone; rather, in a group setting, the individuals as a group can reason with each other, in the effort to find truth (e.g., politicians seeing the best laws, or investigators, lawyers and judges seeing to solve crimes)

NOTE:  After reading him & writing about what he says carefully, I get it.  But I'm not sure I can agree with him 100%.  My initial thought is:  Why can't I tackle an issue, based on my current understanding, and eventually reason out a solution on my own?  It seems to me that I can do that, to some degree (not 100%), with some issues (not all).

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls that prisoners in the camps came to think of the outside world as a ghostly existence, while they were living a "provisional existence" without any indication of when it would end.  Frankl says these men "forgot" (if they ever knew) that their purpose for living came from within.  So, they gave up, and didn't try.

NOTE:  So very angering, and so very sad.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

NOTE:  Today I'm "pushing through" my routines + music..... I'm not having much trouble continuing to do what I plan to do (as I often have had in the past).  But today seems different in some curious way.

what now??

20231215 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence my brain for 80 seconds; counted + mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.4  Today's weight  (YIPPY-KY-YI-YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

203.0  Yesterday's weight

-1.6

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, December 15, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40  (but broken amounts)
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretches 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 32 (floor) + 8 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

CATCH UP:

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He to make the case that REASONING people are not as moral/truth oriented as they might seem.  Haidt says he is an "intuitionist" and as such contends that REASONING people, while thinking they are superior to intuitionists, are not:  a Swiss person did studies and found that REASONING people didn't perform any better when compared to intuitionists in similar social positions.

NOTE:  Really?  IMO, REASONING people, by virtue of their approach, likely address more readily the moral issues of their lives, and are thus more likely to at least DISCOVER the moral truths.  In that sense, I would predict that they're likely to perform better.  But what do the studies show?

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls meeting a young woman in the camp who knew she would die soon; she said to Frankl that she was actually grateful for her new camp life that she had been forced to suffer.  She said she had led a spoiled life before, and this camp experience was teaching her how to look at her life correctly.  Analysts might call this "provisional existence of an unknown limit."  Frankl points out that many former prisoners characterize the most difficult aspect of camp prison life is NOT KNOWING when (or if) they would ever be released.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.  He cites Seery who surveyed 2500 Americans of all demographics, and found that those who faced a somewhat serious challenge in their lives were later better able to cope with life, and led healthier lives (e.g., fewer prescription meds).

Hmmmmm.

TODAY:

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says human being (Sapien) is an "ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICE" - human beings get their energy from PLANTS (ultimately), and plants get their energy from the SUN.  

SOLAR engery => PLANTS => MUSCLE POWER

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He remembers his team being sideswiped by the GOPs who'd worked with him in formulating the Stimulus Package, but then announced, just before he went to Capital Hill, that they would NOT be supporting it.  In the Q & A period following BO's speech, the GOP began asking him seriously challenging and troubling questions.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He offers more "proof" (I'm still not quite convinced) that REASONING philosophers are not more likely to discover and behaviorally adopt the truth than other philosophers.  Haidt implies that "a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."  Cognitive dissonance is deeply implanted in the human psyche.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls how prisoners did not know if/when they would be released, and it was difficult or impossible for them to set any kind of goals for themselves.  It's similar to a patient who has a terminal disease and is isolated in a sanitorium - s/he does not know when s/he will die, and is very discouraged/depressed about his/her life.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231214 SLLLAVERS FOR THURSDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence my brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Love.  Live

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

203.0  Today's weight

202.2  Yesterday's weight

+0.8

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Thursday, December 14, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L35 + 5, R35 + 5
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel wall 15
9. counter stretches 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 31 (floor) + 9 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says we had the Agricultural Revolution, the advent of Capitalism, and then (circa 1700) the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.  He speculates that the energy and natural resources might run out some day, and we'll have more people without the resources to continue the IR.  BUT NO...... he says that we Sapiens look for new materials & new sources of energy which (might) allow us to continue indefinitely.  In 1700, no one had even heard of rubber or titanium.  Yet today they are pervasive.  The IR is giving way to a comprehensive TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION that has no limits.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He remembers gearing up (or trying to) to get his Stimulus Package passed, and wanting to show bi-partisanship with the GOP, even though he didn't need their buy-in to get it passed.  But the GOP began to show signs of withdrawing from even discussing the plan.

NOTE:  this is a foreboding of today's massive gulf between the Dems and the GOP.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Victor Frankl.  He remembers

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter. 

20231213 SLLLAVERS FOR WEDNESDAY - D-DAY? - I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Love.  Live.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

202.2  Today's weight

203.4  Yesterday's weight

-1.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Wednesday, December 13, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R 30+10
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 30 (floor) + 10 (wall)

READ, WRITE

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says, in the same way that there was not turning back after the Agricultural Revolution began (12000-8000 BC), we are now not able to go back to a time prior to the advent of Capitalism (500 AD).  He says Communism tried, but life in Communism was MUCH worse than under Capitalism.  He asks, however, what might happen to Sapiens when the resources that support Capitalism run out, or are otherwise made unavailable.  What then?  (Harari does not answer his question).

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls preparing his Recovery Act legislation for the House & Senate consideration, and how it was all good except for the support he needed from Republicans.  Democrats were in no mood to negotiate and/or compromise with the GOP since they had finally gained control of both houses after years of being minority players.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says Western (a researcher) evaluated 2 theories (Jefferson - where the reasoning brain is in control, and Hume - who says the heart/emotion controls), and found that Hume was correct.  Haidt continues his careful wording about these studies, and concludes something - but his wording would require a focused evaluation which I'm not willing to do right now.

NOTE:  I will continue reading 80 seconds a day, and hope to gain some new insights into how the mind works and interacts in society.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls thinking about life & death, and how younger and older meet the reality of them.  Younger people are likely to greet the possibility of death more valiantly than are older people, he says.  He saw a film (RESSURECTION based on a book by Tolstoy) that addressed these things; he discussed it with friends.  But now that he is older & has seen many films, he says, the film (or a similar one) might have a different effect on him.

NOTE:  I'll try to see the film.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231212 SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; foggy success.

LLL- BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also, said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

203.4  Today's weight

204.4  Yesterday's weight

-1.0

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Tuesday, December 12, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 30 (floor) + 10 (wall) = 40

READING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter

20231211 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL-BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

2  Today's weight

2  Yesterday's weight

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Monday, December 11, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED, PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40+, R40+
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 29 (floor) + 11 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter

202231210 SLLLAVERS FOR SUNDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

204.4  Today's weight

203.4  Yesterday's weight

+1.0

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Sunday, December 10, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L30+10+10, R20 +25
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 28 (floor) + 12 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says, and I quote:

    Some religions, such as Christianity and Nazism, have killed millions out of burning hatred.  Capitalism     has killed millions out of cold indifference coupled with greed.

NOTE:  WOW!  I'd never thought of it like this, but I agree with Harari!

Harari gives other examples of how the Atlantic Slave trade grew without the direct supervision/intervention of the investors in the plantations of NA; and the East Indies Company similarly exploited the peoples of Indonesia, while the mostly white European (Dutch & British) investors benefited handsomely from the profits of their distantly owned companies.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls getting ready to attempt his first major legislative effort (the Recovery Act), and how he fine-tuned it to within 90% of what they originally wanted.  But then, they needed Republican support to make it happen, which is the most difficult challenge (and continues to be so today!).  In Pelosi-life fashion, BO sought to win over Republicans, one by one, until they had the votes they needed.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says a person named Drew Western did a study of Democrats & Republicans in the presidential election of 2004 (W Bush v J Kerry); he found that strong Democrats would cringe when informed about Kerry's embarrassments in contradicting himself, but then feel better when they saw W Bush dealing with the same thing.  The reverse was also true for the Republicans.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers observing that in concentration camps, OR in a more normal life, a MAN (he includes women, too, I suppose) might, or might not suffer, both inwardly and outwardly.  In the camp, the prisoners were faced with deprivation of freedom, to the extent that most of them "gave up" and went along with the suffering.  The PHYSICAL suffering was largely unavoidable.  But the MENTAL suffering was optional to those prisoners like Frankl who were able to control it.  "Am I worthy of my suffering?" Frankl asks.  I take this to mean that he's asking himself that his mental torture was severe, but was he "up to it" to combat it and control it.  His answer was "yes;" he adds that ANY MAN must confront his mental suffering.  At least until he dies.  Suffering and death were constant companions to the concentration camp prisoners.  Frankl, it seems, learned how to cope, but would have understood this even without being a CC prisoner.  

NOTE:  I could be wrong about that - after all, he's written this book to illustrate his point.  One wonders if he'd never been subjected to those horrors, if he'd have written a book with a similar message.  I think probably not.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231209 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; not much success today (kept falling asleep).

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

203.4 Today's weight.

204.8 Yesterday's weight.

-1.4

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Saturday, December 9, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L30+15=45, R?+?+?=45
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 27 (floor) + 13 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says in earlier Europe, sugar was a delicacy, and very expensive; Europeans ate very little; but after NA & SA were discovered, entrepreneurs in Europe invested in plantations in NA, and bought & sold slaves to run them.  They invested in ships that brought sugar (and other commodities) from NA to Europe, sold the goods, and then sent the ships to Africa to buy more slaves (10M slaves were shipped to NA during the heydays of slavery).

NOTE:  I'm appalled at how the US (and world) economy developed on the backs of African slaves.  It's no wonder the South resisted giving it up.  I wonder how many people looked at the Black HUMAN beings being sold, and felt any guilt for being so involved.  Sheeesh!

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the 1st week in office when he & his team were able to create & prepare for processing the bailout plan they'd been planning; there was some pushback from Dems who said it was "too this" or "too that," but BO thought it was quite a minor miracle to have gotten that far that quickly.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says people will not act (or conclude) on what the issue might hold for them as individuals; rather, they will lean toward their GROUP (political party, religion, social group, etc.)  No matter which study they might have read about.

NOTE:  Perhaps this is why the group called "Magas" will not release their clutch on Trump.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says that the outward and inward sufferings of the prisoners of the camp comprise the whole of a concentration inmate.  But Frankl is led to ask if there had been (or now is) anything that could remain that is indestructible, and he says "yes!"  He is an example of how ALL of us are able to be and identify and rely on something that can't be destroyed:

    Dostoevski once said:  "There is only one thing that I dread:  not to be worthy of my sufferings."

    And Frankl adds:  "Even though conditions such as lack of sleep, insufficient food and various mental        stresses may suggest that the inmates were bound to react in certain ways, in the final analysis it                becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not        the result of camp influences alone.

    "Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of        him--mentally and spiritually.  He may retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp."

    "It is this spiritual freedom--which cannot be taken away--that makes life meaningful and purposeful."

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231208 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; better luck tomorrow..

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

204.8  Today's weight

206.6  Yesterday's weight

-1.8

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my almost full base-80 routine for Friday, December 8, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. ---DID NOT DO BICYCLE CRUNCHES TODAY
4. (MADE BED)
5. WALKED 1.8 MILES (returning from auto mechanic)
6. (PIANO - 1.5 hours)
7. shoulder rolls 80
8. flamingo L40, R40 (with shoes on)
9. ball/wall 15
10. angel/wall 15
11. counter stretch 15
12. squats 40
13. push-ups 26 (floor) + 14 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says that as Capitalism rose - initially UNRESTRAINED - it replaced the "HELL" that was wrought by greedy kings of the Middle Ages.  Harari is gearing up to explain why CAPITALISM cannot be justifiably unrestrained.  He says that as CAPITALISM grew in the early Modern Era, so grew the Atlantic slave trade.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the adjustments he and his family were "required" to make as the new First Family; the help, in general, were all minorities; the 2 head butlers were black and tried to treat BO & family like any other FF; however, as time went on, they traded their tuxes for plainer clothes, and became more like family members.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says studies show that you can almost always find a study that supports what you believe.  "Must" is not the same as "Can."  Science is always subject to questions, but if you don't WANT to believe something, you can usually google your view and find a supportive study.

NOTE:  what's the answer, then?

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers that the inmates of the concentration camps were deprived of almost every freedom they had previously known.  Frankl asks if it's possible that ALL freedoms can be taken from any human being, and he answers his question "NO" since even in those dire conditions, inmates exhibited freely the will to comfort others.

202312207 SLLLAVERS FOR THURSDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to remain silence for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

206.6  Today's weight

208.4  Yesterday's weight

-1.8

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Thursday, December 7, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2.  toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED, PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 25 (floor) + 15 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says the most important aspect of the finance world is TRUST in the future.  Not taxation or small government.  The Mississippi Bubble (17XX) (which led to the French Revolution), and the 2007-8 Recession are both reminders that government and capitalism must coexist.  

NOTE:  But the trick, IMO, is to find the proper balance for a given country, year, and age of the planet (i.e., what's going on with climate change, etc.).

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls how the First Family was, to his surprise and pleasure, pampered beyond expectations.  But the FF also had to buy their own groceries and furniture (if they wanted it).

NOTE:  I'm wondering how this would square with the mansion/villa we lived in in Vienna, where Dad was an FSO (but not ambassador).  I wonder who paid for all the household furniture (and there was a LOT), or replacements and/or repairs to same.  I'm guessing there was a similar policy.  Barbara's salary?  I think Dad & Mom paid it.  Certainly we paid for all the groceries for our family, but not for official dinner parties we hosted.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He, along with all the other people he quotes, finds that when we WANT to believe something, we will spend a longer time looking for evidence that it's true.  And vice versa.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls observing fellow prisoners, for whom he was playing the role of doctor, who might be suffering from any possible kind of malady.  They'd be apathetic, or completely non-responsive to his demands, which made him want to strike them.  However, he was able to suppress his irritation.  Frankl means to describe human nature within the microchasm of the camp.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231206 SLLLAVERS FOR WEDNESDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also

VISUALIZATION

208.4  Today's weight.

207.8  Yesterday's weight.

+0.6

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Wednesday December 6, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED/PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40 (many "falls"), R40 (many "falls")
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 24 (floor) + 16 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says after the British "wins" in China (Hong Kong) and Egypt, London investors put money into the Greek economy; the Turks tried to conquer Greece; but the Brits ended the war by bombing the remainder of the Ottoman army, and Greece became free.  But they had enormous debt to pay, with little natural resources to do so (i.e., no oil).  Even oil-rich nations faltered under autocracies.  In sum, the financiers of the world's economies began to wield stronger influence that the stronger nations did.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls how, confined to his presidential space, he was able to get the kind of support from his immediate assistants that made his new life tolerable (photographer/friend, valets, mail clerks, etc.)  BO is saying he would likely have had a terrible time without the support of these folks.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says studies show that people generally cheat to some degree or other.  If they are offered a situation in which they can plausibly deny their cheating, then they will cheat.

NOTE:  I've tried to be honest in every way, but failed for many years while presenting myself as a "straight Mormon" - knowing full well that I was probably NOT that; and also, I would lie to maintain my reputation as such.  Further, there were many times when I would conveniently omit information that would otherwise indict me in some mis-deed.  While these were not frequent, they have bothered me my whole life.  And so, I advise young people to establish a self-policed code of honesty.  You have to live with yourself... as the poem teaches.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers in camp life when irritability led to physical fighting; the prisoners witnessed beatings almost constantly.  Frankl was able to control his periodic rage impulses.  But mentally, he fought against the "sub-injustices" he experienced:  he stole potatoes and charcoal, and roasted himself some illegal dinner late at night (as a doctor, he was charged with keeping a stove lit all night to assist with his typhus patients (I do not know why a burning stove all night would help them); after his midnight feast, he'd feel sad and irritated the following day.

NOTE:  I suppose his moral compass wouldn't let him simply enojoy the good fortune of the potato feast.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231205 SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D-DAY, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Love.  Live.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

207.8  Today's weight

207.6  Yesterday's weight

+0.2

 I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Tuesday December 5, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED, PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40 (but not all at one time)
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 23 (floor) + 17 (wall) = 40

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says the British took opium to China, leading to 40M Chinese becoming addicts (that was 1/10 of their population at the time).  When the government "fought back" the "Opium War" took place, and the Brits, being militarily superior, won the war.  China agreed to allow the merchants to trade drugs.  Britain maintained control of Hong Kong until 1997.  Britain and France lent large sums of money to Egypt, leading to a similar outcome:  Egypt rebelled, and Britain controlled Egypt until after WWII.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He remembers his Press Secretary (Gibbs) strongly advising he NOT go outside the compound on a date with Michelle, or anything like that; he also appreciated the WH Press pool leaving his 2 daughters alone for the duration of his presidency.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says when the subjects of the studies of the behavior of people involve every day things, there isn't much chance of throwing much light on moral issues.

NOTE:  I don't care much about this stuff, and I don't want to be a psychologist or sociologist or anything like doing these studies.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says the physical limitations imposed on the prisoners took their tolls - sometimes they took their lives.  But there were also mental tolls; most prisoners lost their sense of who they were; and the lucky ones (Capos, policemen, doctors, etc.) would often become more self-aware, in a comical way.

NOTE:  I'm looking forward to hearing what the lessons Frankl learned are, and how he sees that they might apply to free people.

20231204 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

207.6  Today's weight

207.6  Yesterday's weight

-0-

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Monday, December 4, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger circles 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40 (actually X + X + X = 40)
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 21 (floor) + 19 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says that the monarchies of Europe (along with their armies) were no match for the VOC (Dutch) and East India Trading Company (British), and the monarchies which didn't participate lost ground, and wars (e.g., Napoleon).  Marx and others quipped that European governments were becoming a capitalist trade union, because they nationalized their respective country's financial entities.

NOTE:  I'd like to know when there were first stock exchanges (I probably read it, but didn't retain the dates & circumstances).

〇

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He remembers the first few weeks in Office, when he realized there were "codes" in play for the SS to describe his every move - even to the bathroom.  He had no privacy when he left the WH, mostly because of the WH Press Corps, who followed him everywhere in a van.  Gibbs (Press Secretary) wouldn't allow the idea of BO & Michelle leaving WITHOUT the press corps.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says another researcher, Perkins, who brought subjects to the lab & asked them to think of reasons Pro & Con that would support their own POV, or NOT support their own POV.  They were HS Seniors, Undergrad Grads, and Graduate School Grads.... Perkins found that IQ was the best predictor of how well people argued.  And the higher the IQ, the longer the list of reasons pro their opinions.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls his final days as a prisoner in the camp; they tried to escape again, but the battle line had reached the camp, so they stayed put for a few days.  Eventually they were greeted with a white flag on the camp gates.  They were finally FREE!!!!!

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter

 

20231203 SLLLAVERS FOR SUNDAY - NOT D-DAY, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence my brain for 80 seconds; a bit better luck today.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal. Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

207.6  Today's weight

206.6  Yesterday's weight

+1.0  (I ate & drank at Sikoki & Richard's party last night; no wonder)

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Sunday, December 3, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R 20 + 20
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 20 (floor) + 20 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says in the late 1700s, England and France both vied for financial supremacy, but, due to the Mississippi Bubble (in which John Law and most of the French middle & some upper class lost everything), and it's "bursting," France's Louis XV borrowed more and more money and at higher and higher interest rates.  "No one" (meaning financiers in Europe) would give France loans without exorbitant interest rates, etc.  Louis XVI (Louis XV's grandson) ascended to the throne, and realized that France was headed for bankruptcy.  And thus began, per Harari, the French Revolution.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the content of his first "Tops" meeting (i.e., BO, JB, Nancy P, John Boehner, Harry Ried, Mitch McConnell.  Although the country was in dire straits and seemingly continuing in that direction, and although the GOP people didn't support ANY measure proposed by the Dems, and although BO's Recovery Act was pretty much the only solution anyone could propose in this mess.......... BO perceived that the GOP had no intention of giving BO a free ride, and the Dems merely wanted to solve the problem, along with claiming the credit (of course).

NOTE:  Politics!!

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says that Wason (1960s) did an experiment in which subjects showed a leaning toward wanting the truth to conform with their pre-conceived notions.  E.g., they wanted the solution to a numbering sequence study to conform to what they already thought.  Later, Kuhn (female) studied children AND adults, who all thought (for e.g.) that CARROT cake was healthier for you than CHOCOLATE cake.  When confronted with pictures of people eating CARROT cake, and getting sick. they STILL thought the carrot cake was healthier. 

Wason introduced this as CONFIRMATION BIAS.

NOTE:  I come across this term in discussions about Mormonism, in which people will first assume that the LDS Church is "true," and then later refuse to accept contradictory evidence.  The same can be found in politics:  people are VERY reluctant to change their parent-given, society-given, God-given rules to live by.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers how he had a chance to escape the camp with another doctor prisoner.  When a very sick prisoner looked at Frankl and guessed that he was about to try an escape, he gave Frankl a very sad look.  Frankl decided then that he would NOT attempt to escape, since he had been troubled by the sadness in the face of prisoners/patients who were feeling abandoned.  The unhappy feeling left Frankl when he changed his mind and decided to stay.  He chose HOP (helping other people) over his own freedom.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231202 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; didn't do that.  Maybe tomorrow.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

206.6  Today's weight

207.8  Yesterday's weight

-1.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Saturday, December 2, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED, PIANO!!)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 20 (floor) + 20 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says (recalling history) that the Dutch WEST INDIES Trading Comapny (WIC) "ruled" the development of trade in North America.  The Dutch set up operations at the mouth of the HUDSON RIVER, on an island they called New Amsterdam, in the early 17th Centruy.  But in 1664 they were attacked by the British, and they lost the island, which the British renamed New York.

The British and the French vied for control of North America; the British were smarter.  King Louis V of France appointed John Law as head of the Central Bank.  He orchestrated the purchase of stock in what would later become New Orleans; it was highly over-rated; in a few short months in 1717, stocks of the Mississippi rose from 1000 livres to 10,000 livres, and then plummeted back to almost nothing; French people lost everything and some committed suicide.  This was later called "The Mississippi Bubble."

NOTE:  I'm amazed at how someone could place a level of importance on his/her financial portfolio greater than his/her own life!  I obviously have no such experience in my own life.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls his first "TOPS" meeting in the LBJ Room off the Senate Chamber, attended by Pelosi, Boehner, Harry, and Mitch.  These meetings are held regularly (monthly?), and are attended by the staffs of each key person, along with the Press.

The first meeting was focused on introducing the Recovery Act legislation, which BO considered to be the political action needed to be taken in the worsening receding economy.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says the RIDER is like a PRESS SECRETARY for the ELEPHANT.  The press secretary always finds a way to justify the policy of the President.  In like fashion, the rider always finds a way to justify the actions of the elephant.

Study in 1960 asked participants to guess what the "rule" was in seeing 3 numbers which were following a basic rule.  (The rule was, the 3 numbers must be in ascending value).  When given 2-4-6, they guessed it was even numbers, or sequences increasing by 2.  They did not consider 2-3-4 was also a "yes."

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls the days in camp when prisoners had to make decisions quickly that could lead to continuing to live, or death.  Frankl retells the story of "Death in Tehran" in which a servant tells his master he's met death and must flee to Teheran to escape Death; the master gives him a horse, and he rides to Tehran.  Death speaks to the master, and tells him that he told the servant he would meet him in Tehran.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.

20231201 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY YET, BUT I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Live.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

207.8  Today's weight

208.0  Yesterday's weight

-0.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, December 1, 2023:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. shoulder rolls 80
6. flamingo L40, R40
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 20 (floor) + 20 (wall)

READING, WRITING

RUMI

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says the Dutch approach to global economics was much more sound than those of conquering kingdoms:  they established the Dutch East India Company ("VOC") in 1602, and over the next 250, began strengthening their mercantile operations, often through military battles (they had their own ships and soldiers).  This led to the establishment of the Indonesian Empire.

NOTE:  And THAT'S why my friend Eric Lefrandt is "Indonesian Dutch" (as is Monique Killian).  Their ancestors came from Indonesia, but they were both born in Holland.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the initial interactions with the then leaders of congress:  Pelosi (a force to be respected), Boehner (party liner, made little agitation), O'Donnell (not respected by most) and Harry Ried (who couldn't stand O'Donnell).  Quite a difficult group for a new President of any race, let alone the first Black President.

(Finally finished WORKING WITH ONENESS - yesterday!)

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says he will examine 5 ______ to address what motivates us to act in certain ways.  These are supportive of what Glaucon said centuries ago - that we are motivated by what we think others think of us, and not merely by the truth.  In the 1st theory, Haidt says a person named Leary did studies of groups (A) group claimed that no one influenced them in any way, and (B) group claimed that they were mostly influenced by others.  He had them all talk about themselves for 5 minutes, into a mic while alone in a room.  They had a screen w; hich flashed numbers while they talked; the numbers indicated the scores which others who were listening in from another room gave them.  1 meant not interested in talking to the speaker, and 7 meant they strongly desired to talk to the speaker.  But Leary rigged the results.  If he allowed Group A speakers to see lower numbers flashing, those speakers didn't care.  And if he allowed Group B speakers to see lower numbers flashing, those speakers became disillusioned.  And if he allowed Group A speakers to see higher numbers flashing, they were eager to talk to the listeners.  And if he allowed Group B speakers to see higher numbers, they were also eager to talk to the listeners.

NOTE:  I might have messed up my summary.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He remembers how he was faced with making decisions (e.g., should I go with the "Transfer" (which could lead to either the ovens, or to a "rest camp")?, or should I stay in the current camp?)  He allowed "fate" to make many decisions, and he made his best decisions when he did so.

He also made his last will, and made a fellow prisoner memorize it, adding that he should tell Frankl's wife (if the friend ever met her) how much he loved her.

NOTE:  The miserable life these prisoners led seems almost unimaginable.

Read for fun in THE COMFORT CRISIS by Michael Easter.