Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born into slavery at Hierapolis. His masters became angry at his annoying intellect and constant philosophizing on the immmoralty of slavey so they threw Epictetus to the lions. The ampitheater was filled with a howling mob screaming to see the annoying slave philosopher torn to pieces. A great lion...
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Imaginary Enemies
Imaginary Enemies Go back through history of talk shows from when television began, talk shows like Johnny Carson, Comedy Roasts, sitcoms . Study it for yourself, it’s all out there. Some of it justified, sure but regardless a steady drumbeat against individual initiative, private property ownership, self employment, small businesses, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, autonomy...
Continue reading...2D Thinking vs 3D Thinking
Fast Thinking vs Slow Thinking Ever listen to a fast talking person and wish they’d just take a freaking breath long enough for you to process what they said before they go charging into their next subject? We find fast talkers exhausting to listen to and find our mind wandering within seconds. Do fast talkers realize their...
Continue reading...Speech Buds 50 Scenario Thought Joggers
Speech Buds The items here are speech and table topics and ideas we have jotted down over the years through listening to others speak at Toastmaster meetings. We like to refer to these notations as “Speech Buds” because we hope they will flower into wonderful speeches eventually. Some already have, but ideas may be used and reused...
Continue reading...Resist the Call of the Crowd – Table Topics
Non-Conformity or the Herd? We’re constantly told what shows to watch and which books to read. Movies use background music to inform who are the good, bad and ugly guys and to set over all mood, comfort level and character development. Carefully crafted, ideological-leaning messaging delivered by Internet, radio, television, social media, tech, politics inform as to...
Continue reading...Make a Resolution – Be Yourself, Table Topics
2023 Incoming Year. Make a resolution to be Yourself Question: Are New Years resolutions reasonable? Question: Is it reasonable, or possible to ‘be yourself’ regardless the situation? Question: What “Be Yourself” decision may have changed your life path? Question: What are you going to do to be yourself when you retire? Question: On your Be Yourself island...
Continue reading...Define Right and Left
Define Right and Left – My How They Have Changed History of right vs left dynamics: “The terms right and left refer to political affiliations originating early in the French Revolutionary era of 1789–1799 and referred originally to the seating arrangements in the various legislative bodies of France. As seen from the Speaker’s seat at the front...
Continue reading...Chaos Asks: Quora Questions
We Ask the Wicked Questions These are among the many things Chaos ponders. Whether ‘rightly’ or ‘wrongly’ only the Shadow knows… At this point, Chaos distrusts the Quora social platform entirely. When we were invited to take part in the forum to earn pennies for our thoughts, Chaos believed the forum wanted our input. After several hundred...
Continue reading...Where Oh Where Did Liberty Go?
We have a lifetime of hearing the words of French writer, wit, and philosopher Voltaire as drilled into our head, like at the meetings for Free Thinkers… “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltair’s ‘common sense’ crusade against superstition and prejudice...
Continue reading...Wicked Issues – Table Topics
Wicked Problems, Issues Wicked problems, issues or questions, are problems that are difficult or impossible to solve. Efforts to solve wicked problem usually create new problems additional problems combinations of problems Questions in the Wicked Problem category are not for the faint of heart. Many a kind, emperor and politician has tried and many have died upon...
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