Hi Tynan. I haven't commented in some time because I deal with the issues you talk about here rather than the stuff you address most of the time. I am the only one of seven children who graduated from high school and eventually got a bachelor's degree. The bachelor's degree is a massive waste of money. I had no way to understand going in what the term "communication" means to those in charge. For me, it's exchanging information, feelings and ideas with others. For the people designing the courses, it means a form of marketing (lying, basically). I never made a worse financial move. Of course, my non-understanding goes back to my background (poverty, alcoholism, etc.). I really like the comment someone made about people like me needing mentors, but I would expand that role beyond moral support to helping us understand the world people have made.

I count it as survival, not virtue, that I presently ride the bus 3 1/2 hours a day to do a temporary assignment using skills I acquired during my earlier college work, which involved effort but no loans. I lucked out on that one, although I'm the "wrong" gender for the Secretarial Science courses I took. I really don't see others as obligated to use their backgrounds, skills, etc., especially well. I know a wide variety of people, and I think some of them basically deprive themselves by staying in misery or inertia, but I don't seem them as harming me. Its serious enough that they harm themselves.

I left the beaten track kind of a long time ago. I'm used to it but other people keep have "startle reactions."

If you share your name with only one person, she's certainly a great one. Beautiful, talented, and with a house full of wonderful friends.

I share my first name with just enough people to be confusing. I'm Calvin, but not Hill, Klein, or Coolidge and especially not John Calvin. This has given me a bit of interest in names. I can only wonder what an ordinary name would bring a person.

Tynan, I disagree with you on this one.

First of all, you seem to intelligence as a barometer of ethical behavior. I see no way to support that.

Second, you seem to assume that knowledge hidden from the public is used for the benefit of the public. I believe history shows the tendency to be the opposite of that. Even in the example you give, your hidden knowledge was used to take money from the casinos by unethical means.

While I don't expect to reach your level with clothing, I agree with the direction, and I have been in the position of having too much more than once, which involves 1-bedroom apartments in my case. This last time, my wife and I got rid of several things that we later needed, so our attitudes are coming back to a balance. I would not do without some furniture/appliances; when I travel I ordinarily bring simple stuff with my and camp. The other choice is to use others' stuff, as in anything from couch surfing to 5-star hotels.

To return to the subject matter, thanks to Tynan for a piece of real, useful wisdom. Learning when to bravely share myself has been a very useful lesson for me. I believe that I have more close friends than most people because I know to be open with the "serious" things when the time comes. Of course, listening for signs of emotional danger is important, too, so that I don't get attacked. All the same, this is one of your best posts; it's simple, has good, clear examples and addresses an important subject.

On this one, I differ because I have, apparently, a lower tolerance for frustration. In the situation you described, I would end up doing something radical, like scrapping an otherwise-fine vehicle.

An important part of my growing up has been all of the "daily" things, including maintenance. I'd rather fix the spokes (or get them fixed) one time, then go have fun. Another time, I'll change the tube (replacement on hand, with any luck). Other times I'll maintain the brakes or whatever. In between, I'll do business and have fun.

Thanks for the book reviews. Time Paradox has been particularly useful. I'll make time for The Talent Code, too, I think. That sounds like useful information to me.

Soccer is a sport that Americans might as well go ahead and learn. The rest of the world plays that kind of "football," not the USA kind.

I would like to know more about your electric skateboard, especially its range and any negatives that might arise. I have considered buying one of those, and I don't deal with any part of Homeland Security on any regular basis. I already knew they were irrational.

Given the cost of airfare, that "fly all you want" deal had to have a few strings attached. All the same, it sounds as if you did very well with it.

Excellent post. I support the idea that the underlying values are more important than today's position. For example, you have written about valuing health above your stance on being vegan. The courage to make that change gives you an important voice in any discussion of eating for health. You have learned from your experience, not merely followed someone's theory.

Openness to change also gives me a reason to avoid extremism; I might learn something tonight and have to eat my words tomorrow if I say extreme things. That makes me a saner person than I once was.