Seven Billion Reasons

If you believe the experts (and how could you refute them?) there are today seven billion humans on planet Earth. Wow! That is 7,000,000,000 of us. Think about how many of them you or I will ever come in contact with. Even if we starred in the greatest movie or television show of all time, only a small fraction of those people we share the planet with would ever see it, much less understand it.

Guess what, though. Each one of us is unique and talented and capable of great things. If only we could all work and play together.

There are many reasons why we can't do that. And there are now seven billion reasons why we should.

Peace.

Smartphones, continued

Since I wrote my last blog entry, I already knew that I was going to order a smartphone. Not because I need it, but because I want to know what I am missing. Well, my new iPhone is on its way now.

What I will do with it is only a guess. I'm sure I will be a lot smarter with a smartphone!

You can be the judge!

Peace.

On smartphones and taxes

I have been considering getting a smartphone. I am sure I would be a much better person if I had one. I am also pretty sure I do not need it, but maybe I do and I just don't know it. At the same time I have been paying attention to those in political life who debate whether rich people should pay a higher percentage of taxes than the rest of the people. I think we need to understand what wealth is before we say those people should be taxed at a higher rate than everyone else.

To my simple way of thinking, everyone who owns a smartphone and pays its monthly associated data plan is wealthy. My definition of wealthy is that you can spend money on extravagant things you do not need. Like smartphones and other gadgets that we cannot live without. So I urge all those who rally for adding an extra share of tax on the wealthy to get ready for your higher tax rate. Especially if you are viewing this on your smartphone!

peace.

Big Announcement!

I have a big announcement to make about a new business venture, but it is not quite time just yet. So stay tuned to the blog and you can be one of the first to know! (how's that for suspense?)

peace.

On Steve Jobs

With all the furor over the death of different thinker Steve Jobs, I am most affected by the speech where he talked about his impending death sentence actually freeing him to be alive in his remaining time. Here is an excerpt of his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford:

"Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

thanks, Steve