THE ONE: The New York Times prophetic 1983 warning about the NSA.

Probably on the actual day i was conceived (whatever), the Times' David Burnham warned of the silent power of the National Security Agency.

Every day, in almost every area of culture and commerce, systems and procedures are being adopted by private companies and organizations as well as by the nation's security leaders that make it easier for the N.S.A. to dominate American society should it ever decide such action is necessary.

I know that Miley Cyrus is apparently a hot mess right now and someone is dating someone else and someone is cheating on someone else and someone's bag cost a lot of money. But, darlings, it is time to go back to the part of the world where you actually have to pay attention to the things that affect you and not to the things that don't. I KNOW. I am such a buzzkill. But thinking is a generative process. After you do it, you should have an opinion that belongs to you. (Not your school, not your employer, not your church, not your government...etc.)

Media is a very compelling sedative for precious little brains with empty spaces to fill. And the less you think, more compelling it becomes. I don't mean to be an alarmist, I'm just busy planning my expatriation. Think about it! Love you!

THE GAME: The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship

Here is something that will make you cry. I am basically unemployable having mish-mashed about 7 different careers before the age of 30. A few years ago, I realized that being independent was the only way to make my life work. However, it has not been so easy -- and mostly because I do not know what I am fucking doing at least 50% of the time. I mean....

We idolize the Mark Zuckerbergs and the Elon Musks. And we celebrate the blazingly fast growth of the Inc. 500 companies. But many of those entrepreneurs, like Smith, harbor secret demons: Before they made it big, they struggled through moments of near-debilitating anxiety and despair--times when it seemed everything might crumble.

Oh. yes. Now, who wants some ramen? I'll cook.

THE BEAUTY: Second Skins by Miguel Vallinas

The borderline of cute and creepy is exactly where I hang out most of the time.

THE SOUND: Song for Zula - Phosphorescent.

You know, because everything can't be all dark and angsty. This is from the winter. and it's about love. So it's like a pole-reversal from the rest of this post (and life right now).