Monthly Archives: June 2026

The Table I Wish I Hadn’t Sat At

Sometimes the greatest lessons in life are not taught by mentors. Sometimes they’re taught by people who accidentally show you exactly who you never want to become. Recently I found myself seated with three seasoned managers. They had all spent … Continue reading

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The Curious Case of Gold: A Brick Looking for a Greater Fool

A friend of mine told me something dubiously profound the other day. We were talking about the state of the world, which is always a dangerous conversational trailhead, and he leaned in with the intense, hushed tone usually reserved for … Continue reading

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Juneteenth and the Dangerous Lie

There are holidays that celebrate victories. There are holidays that celebrate sacrifices. And then there are holidays that exist because humanity made a terrible mistake. Juneteenth belongs to that last category. But for many, Juneteenth has already been neatly packaged … Continue reading

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100 Things I’ve Learned from Writing 100 Tales

Fourteen months ago, I started a blog called Tales of Many Things because I have never been particularly good at focusing on one project at a time. Normal bloggers pick a lane. Travel. History. Science. Politics. Food. Technology. I looked … Continue reading

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Take the Extra Minute to Respect the Dark

We have reached that magical point of the year in the northern hemisphere when daylight feels almost infinite. Summer solstice brings us the longest days of the year and with them, an irresistible urge to squeeze every drop of adventure … Continue reading

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The True Value of a Milestone and the Devil You Know

My manager retired this week. Twenty-eight years with the same company. Let that number sink in for a moment. She was a tough woman, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, an absolute hard-ass when the mission demanded it, but a … Continue reading

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A Civilization Poisoned by Progress: From Lead Pipes to Microplastics

History rarely repeats itself perfectly, but it often rhymes in chilling ways. We often look back at the giants of the past and wonder how a civilization so advanced, so structured and so dominant could simply dissolve. No collapse comes … Continue reading

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