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Category Archives: Culture
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
Posted in Culture, Leadership, Philosophy
Tagged business, corporate culture, ethics, integrity, leadership, morality, servant leadership
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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
Posted in Culture, Economy
Tagged business, civilization, economy, finance, gold, greater fool theory, investing, prepper, society, speculation, survivalist, valuation
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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
Posted in Culture, Economy, Society
Tagged African Americans, America, Civil War, emancipation, farming, freedom, history, industry, institutions, Juneteenth, oppression, religion, serfdom, slavery
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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
Posted in Culture, Philosophy
Tagged anniversary, milestones, opinion, philosophy, writing
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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
Posted in Culture, Leadership, Philosophy
Tagged career, celebration, experience, fine dining, leadership, life events, luxury, mom and pop, restaurants, retirement, things that matter
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How We Forgot the True Meaning of Decoration Day (and Found a Great Deal on Mattresses)
There was a time when Americans looked at a field full of graves and thought, “We should bring flowers.” Now we look at a three-day weekend and think, “Forty percent off patio furniture!” Progress is a mysterious thing. Mostly, it … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Holidays, Retail
Tagged Civil War, Decoration Day, history, marketing, mattress sale, Memorial Day, remembrance, sacrifice
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Take the Extra Minute: An Imperial Safety Briefing for the TK-Trooper
As search and rescue volunteers, we live by the creed of preparedness, planning and visibility. We preach the gospel of readiness, the wisdom of planning and the essential need for high-visibility gear. The Empire, on the other hand, apparently skipped … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Humor, Search and Rescue
Tagged armor, Dark Side, Galactic Empire, May the 4th, New Order, Rebel Alliance, safety, search and rescue, Star Wars, stormtroopers, TakeTheExtraMinute
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Hug Your Cat Before It Plots Against You Day
Last November, amidst the noble surrender of Chaos Never Dies Day, I stumbled upon a dark whispered necessity, a holiday so vital to the survival of the human race, that I promised to research it further, the “Hug Your Cat … Continue reading
Friday the 13th: The Double Feature
Last month, we survived the first Friday the 13th of the year. We checked our blind spots, avoided ladders and perhaps felt a smug sense of relief when the clock struck midnight as the calendar rolled over to the 14th. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Holidays, Society
Tagged 28, calendar, déjà vu, Friday the 13th, Gregorian Calendar, horror, Rule of 3, science, sequel, superstition, trilogy
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International Women’s Day: Beyond the Bouquet
If you look at International Women’s Day on social media, you might think it’s a holiday for bouquets, compliments and being told how nurturing you are. The world pauses, at least briefly, to recognize half of humanity, often with flowers … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Holidays, Society
Tagged culture, equality, equity, family, gender, girl power, glass ceiling, International Women's Day, unyielding floor, women
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