The most important invention in your lifetime is... Albeit in the case of the Internet, it turns out it’s more of a double edged sword. As for the lux meaning light thingie, one may say the Internet has revolutionized all walks of life and everything on Earth. I call bovis stercus on this bold claim. … Continue reading Fiat Lux! Fiat Internet!
On Laws
“People crushed by law have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws.EDMUND BURKE” I believe in this wholeheartedly. I also think we already live in such a world whereby the law has become an instrument of torture of the regular honest folk out there. I think … Continue reading On Laws
A Shakespearian World
Do you ever see wild animals? Yes, I do. I see them all the time. Every time we go to work, we all see them. There’s 8 billion of us competing for a better job, better pay, more recognition, and more of everything there is. What else might we be reduced to if not wild … Continue reading A Shakespearian World
Globalization = Communism
Something became apparent to me today. I was listening to some podcast interview or whatnot, when the thought occurred to me. If the Nazi and fascists were nationalist movements affirming the superiority of their respective nations over all the rest, and if the Bolshevik and in general Communists were firmly established Internationalists, as in their … Continue reading Globalization = Communism
Regrets are not mandatory
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live? There is absolutely no part of my life I’d like to relive. Regrets, I had a few, and some continue to linger. https://youtu.be/qQzdAsjWGPg?si=1B5hIUJO6U6Zv5pD But none are so heavy to make me want a do over. Life is meant to be lived at normal … Continue reading Regrets are not mandatory
The Funny Guy from Ukraine
Zelensky dropped the balls again. Whose balls? Why of course, Putin’s. Now Vladimir has to start again. Life is so hard sometimes.
Fortunate
FU’IO SOL COLÀ DOVE SOFFERTO FU PER CIASCUN DI TORRE VIA FIORENZA, COLUI CHE LA DIFESI A VISO APERTO
Who will work for Whom
Daily writing promptWhat notable things happened today?View all responses Today I realized one awful thing. Today I became aware that humans are truly stupid. I was watching Season 3 of The Mandalorian, when I had an epiphany. Something that Samuel Butler hinted at about 160 years back. No, scratch that. He wrote about it in … Continue reading Who will work for Whom
On Loneliness
What’s the one luxury you can’t live without? The second most expensive gift nature or Providence provided you at birth, right after the gift of Life, is the luxury of company. They say that you need to make yourself indispensable if you want to be appreciated by others and never lack for work. But what … Continue reading On Loneliness
On The Basis of Memory
Do you have any collections? Memory not Sex is what made Humanity Strong. Memory is the recollection of time. It’s the raison d’être of Ab Memoriam, those slaves or freedmen who used to follow around, like Dune Mentates, accompanying Roman Emperors, generals, powerful people in their daily dealings. Memory is the only thing that makes … Continue reading On The Basis of Memory
Abandoning my Mother
What sacrifices have you made in life? The biggest sacrifice I made is when I left my country of birth: Romania. I had to do it for my life was going nowhere. I left behind a middle aged mother, an ailing grandmother, my friends some of whom were about to get married... and I crossed … Continue reading Abandoning my Mother
Heavy is the head that carries the Crown
What's the oldest things you're wearing today? The oldest thing I wear today is my soul. It is also the heaviest. The burden of my soul is crushing. To be a moral person today is difficult. People around you confuse responsibility for themselves with that towards the nation they belong to. We are born as … Continue reading Heavy is the head that carries the Crown
Anarchy is Freedom
I often ponder upon the nature of Freedom. Is Freedom unobtainable in this little world of ours? Is Freedom even needed when some perhaps are right to think that it can easily be replaced by a sort of balance. Like you give some of your security to the State, some to the police, some to … Continue reading Anarchy is Freedom
On Inhumanity
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why? I refuse to visit any places where people are made to suffer more than per usual. That is to say where cruel and unusual punishments or imoral/amoral regimes contrive to make the lives of their subjects a living hell. Life is complicated enough … Continue reading On Inhumanity
No Pain No Gain
When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out? Peter L. Bernstein wrote a series of books dealing with market forces, capitalism, and the value of dealing and trusting gold. What struck me as cliché was the repetitive mantra that there can be no reward without risk. One of my … Continue reading No Pain No Gain
Artificial Intelligence Corrupts the Mind
Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind. AI is the single most dangerous technology we’ve ever created and allowed to corrupt the minds of our youth. What other technology makes people believe they can solve the complex problems of our world in the time you take to have dinner with your family? … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence Corrupts the Mind
The Gift of Life
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you. That is the only thing my mama got me. And it’s the only one that counts. Nothing else matters. https://youtu.be/tAGnKpE4NCI?si=XekirvMPAgWTFjvl Literally. Nothing else matters. I am grateful, Mother. As for my family, my grandma gave the modicum of manners I possess… or don’t. Depending … Continue reading The Gift of Life
On Rituals
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like? I am a lazy guy. I hate mornings. That is, unless I’m about to go hunting, leave for a vacay, or for work. But usually I detest rising early. It is not unusual for me to show a leg around … Continue reading On Rituals
Life is about Belonging
What's a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had? I wish I had come up with this realization on my own. Alas, I read about it in a book. Not even a very good book. Just a book. One of the most important things one can find in life is meaning. Think … Continue reading Life is about Belonging
Getting along with people
What are your biggest challenges? One of the nightmares polluting my resting hours is that of being bed-ridden and unable to move. I guess this is a common theme for most of us. Somewhere the unconscious mind builds a narrative whereby our lack of objective agency in our own fate becomes a subconscious presence or … Continue reading Getting along with people
Romanian is Not the Mother of Latin – Part III
I am fascinated by the spectacle of morons trying to prove that which cannot be proven. There is a school of imbecilic thought in Romania that argues that Romanian somehow predated and was the source of Latin. Beyond absurd. Historicity, linear physics, the laws of cosmos, all these rules and laws, are not even considered … Continue reading Romanian is Not the Mother of Latin – Part III
On Stage Fright
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech? Stage fright is real, folks. I once knew, intimately knew, a young man who was not afraid to try new things. To him, the sky was the limit. Whether good or bad, he wanted to sample life to his fullest. In this, he was not … Continue reading On Stage Fright
The Majesty of the Palaestra
What are your favorite physical activities or exercises? Myron’s Discobolus. To me there is nothing more worthy of one’s constant lifelong efforts than making sure one’s soul was trapped in a healthy body. The Romans used to say Mens sana in corpore sano. I echo that sentiment every moment I push my body to the … Continue reading The Majesty of the Palaestra
The Path
Frank Herbert once wrote these interesting words: “Seek Freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek Discipline and find your liberty.” It took me almost 45 years to get it. Freedom is not the Point. Liberty is the Path. Discipline, self-control, silence - this is how you walk the Path.
On Boldness
What is one thing you would change about yourself? If I could go back in time and change one thing about myself, I’d live my life with conviction, authority and trust in my own path. Being hesitant is the hallmark of a smart man. They say only the uneducated are certain of themselves. But boy, … Continue reading On Boldness
On Virtues – Holding Fast
Tell us about the last thing you got excited about. Many, many centuries ago, the Philosopher-Emperor Marcus Aurelius famously wrote that any leader must be imbued by four chief virtues. Wisdom Justice Fortitude Temperance Many people may agree to disagree on which, if any, of the above ought to be part of their character. I … Continue reading On Virtues – Holding Fast
Foresight is Key
Create an emergency preparedness plan. SHTF - Shit Hits The Fan This is exactly what survivalists have been stocking, preparing, and some perhaps even prayed for a long time. I for one care less for such histrionics. I’m penetrated all the way through the bone marrow with the faith that we either make it together … Continue reading Foresight is Key
Friendly and Trusting
How would you describe yourself to someone who can't see you? Despite my best intentions, I am unable to distrust humanity. Perhaps my trust is misplaced. Perhaps I am naive and yes, even simple. But I also know I’m right. To spend my life doubting others because I am unable to trust myself, which is … Continue reading Friendly and Trusting
On shouting at impolite strangers
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being? My favorite strategy I use to maintain my mental health is shouting at impolite strangers. I came upon this discovery not five minutes ago at a downtown hotel in Çanakkale just across the Dardanelles from the Gallipoli Anzac beach that made Australia and New … Continue reading On shouting at impolite strangers
A New Beginning
What are your future travel plans? A long time ago in a galaxy far away… Thus the Star Wars debuted back when Dallas the TV series was making a splash, in 1977. Just like Lucas’ game changing show, my future travel plans started back in 2006. Back then I had decided to move out of … Continue reading A New Beginning
On Transcending Immanence
Some time a long time ago, Man discovered that fulfilling basic needs, rinsing and repeating was not enough any more. A need for more arose from the fulfilment of the basics. Aesthetics, art albeit primitive art, gave rise to culture. Culture morphed into civilization. Religion followed suit. You add civilization and religion, and you have … Continue reading On Transcending Immanence
Faith is the Redeemer
I saw something today that made me realize two things. That Faith is the great Redeemer of the World. And that Türkiye has a future. Let me be clear. I saw a man pray today before this relic here. It was a very small enclosure situated behind the Harem of the Sultan inside the Domalbahce … Continue reading Faith is the Redeemer
On Alpha and Omega
I have always believed in Something greater than myself. I have always felt intuitively, empirically that the Universe must have had a beginning (alpha). And that consequently it must also have an end (omega). Never before though was I sure, I mean 100% convinced that God existed. For 44 years I was an agnostic willing … Continue reading On Alpha and Omega
Materialism v. Meaning
How important is spirituality in your life? I hate the word ‘spirituality’. It’s so imprecise. It can mean anything… and nothing. Why not be precise? Let’s take ‘materialism’ for instance. It covers the whole spectrum of the material world. It also lacks precision but it doesn’t need it, now, right? Materialism is unfocused by design. … Continue reading Materialism v. Meaning
Italy
What countries do you want to visit? Having gazed upon Tivoli’s hills and valleys, walked Rome’s Via Apia Antiqua, wandered among Florence’s many artistic displays, there is only one place on Earth where I want to go back to. My mind often goes back to Rome. And I left my heart in Florence for a … Continue reading Italy
The Capacity to Change
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? Change is hard. But it is also a fact of life. The capacity to roll with the punches is what separates Man from everything else around us. Now I’ve been known to hate change. In the past, I was as reluctant to change as the most conservative old farts. … Continue reading The Capacity to Change
Where is a Shrink when you need One?
Omnes te moriturum amant. Everybody loves you when you are about to die. An interesting saying, wouldn't you agree? Here is another interesting factoid about who else loves you... and your secrets. Given the amount of hype, time, and money spent in the field and realm of psychoanalysis, one would imagine therapy would by now … Continue reading Where is a Shrink when you need One?
A Grave Danger
War has always been the bane of Humankind. We started like this... Ended up thus... Violence has always been our Dark Passenger, to quote Dexter Morgan. We have always had a fascination with killing our brethren. Whether we did it piecemeal or in retail fashion or in bulk, via mass-murder and genocide, matters little in … Continue reading A Grave Danger
La Revanche
If you live in North America, you surely must have heard about the fentanyl crisis that has taken the lives of 100,000 young Americans. Some of the media pundits point to China as the source of this powerful and merciless drug. Western social media is awash with lamentations calling for measures to be enacted against … Continue reading La Revanche
Darwin Lives On
Darwin was right all along. We adapt to changing stimuli… or we die. One cannot fight change. In the long run, the Search for Meaning is meant to validate it. Its intrinsic value is part of our genetic legacy. We carry the Mortality-defying spirit of our Ancestors in our allele. We live on because we struggle to adapt. We stop struggling, we die. The Choice is Ours.
The Absolute Good of Amicitia
What quality do you value most in a friend? The Romans used to value amicitia or friendship above all other institutions. In their book, the familia extended beyond the uxorial network or blood kinship that define today our notion of what family means. Back then, familia encompassed one’s wife, offspring, parents, cousins & al., and … Continue reading The Absolute Good of Amicitia
Religion v. Sauces
Daily writing promptDo you practice religion?View all responses Yes, I do practice it but not religiously. Hahahaha! You know how much I enjoy a pun, eh. But in all seriousness, I am not a church-going man. I do believe in a higher power. I believe that everything is fixed, and we cannot change it. I … Continue reading Religion v. Sauces
The Bad Internet
Daily writing promptDo you remember life before the internet?View all responses Internet could have been a Force for Good. As designed and purposed by its originators, it was supposed to bridge the gap between knowledge and people. It was supposed to bring a brighter future closer to our generation. It was supposed to make our … Continue reading The Bad Internet
The Disappointment of Diaspora
Immigration is not the solution. Not for the individual. Not for the masses. As a great educator once said, ‘You must first put your own house in order before you go out and change the world.’ Stay home. Work hard. Apply yourself. And you will change your life where you belong. Near your kin. With your own folk. Moving to a distant land is disappointing. Especially now when governments are turning authoritarian. Owning a home is not easy without the government dictating the terms. You’re not a homeowner if you must pay taxes on top of taxes for the privilege of owning a house. If you want to be free and dispose of your property as you see fit, Canada is not right for you.
On Talent
Some people are born to talent. Others inherit it. A few lucky ones strike gold by being born into artistic families with the right gene makeup. Ioachim Ciobanu is one such fellow. The man is indomitable. He’s been around and in some big Hollywood flicks such as Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Dragonheart, Black Mirror, … Continue reading On Talent
On Fortitude
Daily writing promptWhat's one small improvement you can make in your life?View all responses The Best Way to move forward is by constantly reaffirming your life goals and the judicious and constantly renewed repetition of the right actions towards achieving them. One must strive to be resilient, hard on oneself, and set in one's good … Continue reading On Fortitude
The Absconding Freedom
Do you vote in political elections? No. Almost never. Why would I? To choose from two or more political candidates vetted by an establishment that has nothing in common with any of us?! It would be crazy. No way. So many people continue to act on the delusion that their choice really makes a difference. … Continue reading The Absconding Freedom
On Robber Barons
Funny thing how the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Let’s consider knighthood, for instance. It all started like this, which was the ideal of the valiant knight who would sacrifice his own life to protect and succour the weak, the feeble, women and children, in short those who couldn’t protect themselves. Modelled … Continue reading On Robber Barons
On Cravings
A few days back, at work, us colleagues were talking about some entrancing smells coming out off someone's lunchbox. I noted in passing that just because I was no longer partaking in certain foods or sweets, that didn't mean I was immune to temptation. In fact, I went as far as to say that I … Continue reading On Cravings
Happiness as a Vicarious Commodity
Daily writing promptWhen are you most happy?View all responses If you live long enough, you realize how lucky you are to have a family and friends. But once you do, you also realize that you are responsible for their safety and joy. Soon thereafter you also understand that your happiness is incumbent to theirs. And … Continue reading Happiness as a Vicarious Commodity
Non draco sit mihi dux. Vade retro Satana
The devil is not my master. Go back to whence you came, Satan. Temptation is the devil. The flesh is weak but the will is a sea deep enough to drown all sorrows and weakness.
The Immoral State
Government is immoral.
The Price of Beauty
The Price of Beauty is eternal damnation moderated by good works and acts of contrition. Peccat fortiter, Luther said. Peccat, brother, but also build in the name and for the Glory of God!
To Care or Not to Care – that is the Question now
Caring is not optional. We are born to care. And we die when we stop caring.
Cappax Imperii – Part 1
To be a Leader takes balls, smarts, and discipline. These are values as scarce in politics today as an honest man in the Temple at the time of Jesus of Nazareth.
Born Too Late for Honor and Glory
This day and age makes me sick. In fact, it makes us all sick. It sickens me to live in this ignominious world inhabited by so many ignoble creatures. If I had a time machine, I'd use it.
Götterdämmerung 