It does seem like a daily assault on our well being, doesn’t it? But there is something that helps with this - read history broadly. It helps give you a deeper understanding of current events that lessens the impact of the current moment. And consider the quote “this too shall pass”. It’s attributed to Sufi poets about impermanence. If times are bad it gives you hope that those times will one day, eventually but certainly, be gone. If times are good it makes you relish the moment deeply and do what you can to make it last.

I have nothing to brag about.

My wife and I have been binging a show called The Last Ship. Supposedly came out a number of years ago. It’s a Michael Bay production and kind of a post apocalyptic scenario but well worth a watch.

And of course there’s Always Sunny.

What has happened since then?

Gary Marcus has a Substack everyone should read. It’s sobering.

This article is from 2015.

Not at all, actually.

Your manager is an uptight prick.

What kind of job is this? Why are you concerned about people calling in sick or who goes smoking or that you might be bullied? I’ve never thought about any of these things or have ever been impacted by them.

I’m sorry, who is discriminating against asexual people?

$40.

I can’t say this is completely baseless because there’s too much out there about it but it will be disclosed that aliens do exist, they’re not from other planets but other dimensions, and they’ve been manipulating mankind for thousands of years.

Sea urchin.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I just don’t understand misogyny. I absolutely love everything about women.

Good luck.

Ok, great. I understand the position you’re in. It can get lonely being by yourself and can be a heavy weight. And just about everyone has been stung by rejection and it can hurt like hell. But it’s so important to temper your expectations until you can draw things out naturally. And even if this person does like you and would like to date you, you’re going to put a ton of pressure on them if you burst out and say “I love you” right away. And even if you’re in a group with them it should be easy to find a moment when just the 2 of you are together and start a conversation about something. Or open a door for them, or offer them something you’re eating. Be attentive but not overbearing. And then maybe see if they’re open to doing something just with you. See a movie, play a video game together, go to a museum … Just be cool. So instead of saying “I love you”, say, “I had a great time”. See what happens from there!

I’ll probably be dead soon so that’s my plan.

Midsommar freaks me out the more I think about that movie. I mean, the guy in the bear suit at the end about to be burned alive but he’s completely paralyzed but can see, hear, and feel everything?

You can explain everything about the world to a child by reason alone. And once they become rational themselves they’ll be able to determine that since there is no evidence at all for any god ever existing they can dispense with that fairytale.

Your post really made me laugh for some reason.