I will acknowledge, however, that the golden age of blogs and journals is behind us. That’s one of the reasons I incudes a video in most posts, whether directed related to the writing or not. Blogging is a losing business monetary wise, and those of us still writing are just happy to share our thoughts and discoveries with the world.

Let’s look at some more thoughts on the subject: “I don’t believe there’s a reason for everything, and having faith doesn’t mean I’m blind. I believe people make poor choices. I believe bad things happen to good people. I believe there’s evil in the word that I will never understand, but will never stop fighting. – Tammara Webbe

Peter Kreeft says there are no good people: “That’s what’s so striking about the title of Kushner’s book: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. How is that fair? Well, the answer to that is that there are no good people.”

Nicola Yoon is getting closer:

“People just want to believe. Otherwise they would have to admit that life is just a random series of good and bad things that happen until one day you die. – Nicola Yoon

“Don’t Expect What Goes Around to Come Around. Total jerks and evil people often get all the good breaks. Being nice guarantees nothing. Good things happen to bad people. Sometimes, things just don’t “balance out” or “work out for the best.” – Paul Pearsall

Paul Pearsall hit a home run. Let me explain. I know, as do you, plenty of rotten people are not only wealthy, they live glamour lives: money and health galore. Yes, their dog and squirrel sometimes die and they cry out for their misfortune, but let’s face it, they’re like Tesla, their stock only goes up. You’re asking yourself: “Is their karma this f-ing good ? Is my karma this f-ing poor ?

Myself and the 19th Century mystic G.I. Gurdjieff are the only people who said that time does not exist.

Here’s what I do:

I shit on rich and powerful front lawn (hopefully, not literally). I stand up for the underdog. Not like fake underdogs (hello, Chamath Palihapitiya). Welcome to the only website in the world for the oppressed, underserved, unappreciated and unlucky.

I am Spartacus [hello, Grand-Father]

For the girls in our lives we have a video today:

“According to experts at the university’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, two thirds of the time, Americans respond to compliments with something other than, or in addition to, “Thank you.” We shift credit (“My mom picked this dress out for me.”), make a historical comment (“I bought it on sale.”), question the complimenter (“Hmm, you think so?”) or lob back a compliment (“I like your outfit, too.”). Other times we downgrade the compliment (“This thing is so old I was about to give it to Goodwill.”), reject it outright (“I feel like I look like a hobo.”) or treat the compliment as a request (“You want to borrow it?”).” -Carolyn Bucior

Ms. Bucior seems to think “the compliment is a coded invitation to chitchat, and simply saying, “Thank you” linguistically slams the door in the complimenter’s face.” She shuns the simple, yet wholesome “Thank you” for reason of shutting down on chitchat/conversation.

She is wrong. Of course, I don’t write about women codes or coquetry. I write about a winner’s etiquette.

The smart way, my way, is exactly that “Thank you !” without any explanation or reciprocation. Do not reciprocate, not because you are rude or lacking manners. There is subtle exchange of energy your way when complimented you are throwing to the garbage when you respond on automatic reciprocating with a compliment or explanation. They don’t teach you that at Harvard. Old wolves know it. You now know it, too. Accept the compliment wholeheartedly, openly (always accept, again, don’t ignore). Do not dismiss or look down upon the compliment. In fact, we should say “Thank you” more often than we do, such as when catching the train or subway on time. You can accept it with a smile and say nothing. Or say “Thank you”. The conversation can still go on if the complimenter follows with an opening story. What’s important here is to accept the compliment fully, without excuses or remarks.

Quote of the day:
“When passion for vengeance overtakes caution, even the keenest of mind is easily deceived.” -Solonius , Spartacus, The Bitter End

Reading today: Cricket flour: is this the next thing for your health ? Boss Magazine

Whole issue for those that are interested