Last week's blog was about freedom of speech. This one is about restrictions. We don’t let 13-year-olds buy alcohol, cigarettes, or lottery tickets because those products carry risks that require a certain level of maturity. So why are they allowed to sign up for social media? Social platforms aren’t harmless playgrounds; they’re engineered to …
America once thrived on a spirit of working together for the greater good. When people wanted change, it came from individuals banding together, mostly within the law. The America I grew up in was built on freedom, shared purpose, diversity, compassion, law-abiding, and peace. It was okay to disagree and argue, so long as we ultimately compromised …
I uploaded an old photo of me when I was much younger, with a giant afro, into a new AI application from Google, Nana Banana. Seconds later, I was a professional basketball player. A life I never lived, yet looked oddly believable (see photo). The funny thing about AI is it can bend the truth, but it can’t fake how we feel. My chuckle, wonderme …
It’s something we do about 25,000 times a day without even thinking. It keeps us alive, but it can also be one of the most powerful tools we have for reducing stress, sharpening focus, and improving overall well-being. The surprising truth? Most of us aren’t breathing the right way, and it’s quietly taking a toll. Shallow, unconscious breathing c …
Is your glass half full… or half empty?Honestly, some days it feels like it depends on how much sleep I got. Here’s the truth: you don’t have to pick a side. You can be the dreamer and the doer.The hopeful heart and the practical planner.The one who believes in miracles, but also budgets for groceries. I switch between both depending on the d …
(True story) In New Zealand, a new breed of cat has emerged. We don't know why or how, but the facts are irrefutable. It all started in the quiet seaside neighborhood of Mairangi Bay, Auckland, where one unlikely outlaw is stealing. Meet Leo, a 15-month-old feline with a taste for the finer things in life. From silk boxer shorts to a $300 cashmer …
China continues to enforce some of the world’s strictest internet censorship. Its "Great Firewall" has evolved into a sophisticated digital barrier, using AI and keyword blacklists to block foreign websites and ideas. Even searches like “freedom” have been flagged and restricted. While many had hoped younger leadership would change the system, th …
I found an old note yesterday while leafing through my phone. It's a quote I typed in over 5 years ago. I’m not sure where it came from originally: “Effortlessly flowing through life doing what I love to do.” Now that is a state of being worth striving for. Lately, life has felt a bit heavy for me. Pressures, deadlines, distractions, etc. But t …
Not long ago, the South Shore Mall on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore was a bustling hub of activity with families shopping, teens hanging out, and department stores like Macy’s anchoring the experience. But two weeks ago, the Macy’s sign was taken down. A metaphor for the shifting landscape of retail. It’s not that people have stopped shopping. The …
Last Saturday, I asked my 94-year-old mother what she had for breakfast. She paused and said with complete sincerity,"I forgot to remember." And honestly… I didn’t know whether to laugh, put it on a T-shirt, or adopt it as my personal life motto. At 94, she’s earned the right to forget a few things. Breakfast, lunch, or even a thought. …
It's true, elephants know where to shop. In Thailand this week, one named Plai Biang Lek casually wandered into a grocery store. Surveillance and social media videos show the elephant strolling in, as if he had a shopping list, calmly stopping at the counter, and helping himself to nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich, and some dried banana …
It’s kind of wild to think about—early humans worked because they had to. If you didn’t grow it, build it, or catch it, you didn’t survive. Your labor was life. Today, most of us are far removed from the work that sustains us. Our food, clothes, and everyday essentials are made by hands we’ll never see, on farms, in factories, in different countr …
Over a year ago, I wrote about being at the cusp—an inflection point in the evolution of artificial intelligence. I referenced Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of AI at Microsoft, who described AI as a “new digital species.” Since then, AI has become deeply embedded in nearly every aspect of our society. It monitors our clicks, movements, and scrolling …
Last weekend, I smoked ribs and grilled chicken. Then on Monday, I smoked a chuck roast using the same method I would for brisket — and let me tell you, it’s my new go-to! It’s much cheaper than a brisket and way smaller, which is perfect for just two people. As usual, I used my homemade rub on the meats — the same one my uncle and sister have be …
Waking up on a sunny Saturday morning, brewing some coffee, and venturing out my back door to feel the sunshine and listen to the sounds of suburbia waking up. Here's a video so you can share in my experience. (BTW, there were three of them in my neighbor's yard)
It's Saturday...and anything goes.
