David Boles: Human Meme
Friday, July 4, 2025
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Bold Persistent Experimentation: History, Meaning, and the Future of Innovation
Now, that phrase: "Bold, Persistent Experimentation." It strikes you right in the heart, doesn’t it? There’s something stirring about it. It’s a challenge, a rallying cry, a promise that our greatest work isn’t behind us, but ahead, waiting to be discovered if only we dare enough. If we try enough.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
From Omens to Godwinks: Tracing 1,000 Years of Divine Signs Across Cultures and History
hYou know, the concept of a "Godwink" is really quite fascinating when you delve into it. At its core, a "Godwink" is one of those moments that feels like more than just a coincidence. It's as if the universe — or a higher power — is giving you a little nudge or a wink to let you know you're on the right path or to provide guidance when you need it most.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Why 'Don’t Speak Ill of the Dead' is an Outdated Cultural Tradition
The idea of "not speaking ill of the dead" is a deeply rooted cultural and historical construct, and its origins and evolution provide significant insight into the ways societies shape their collective memories. This concept, often summarized in the Latin phrase -- De mortuis nihil nisi bonum -- ("Of the dead, nothing but good should be said"), has existed for millennia, emerging from an interplay of morality, religious beliefs, and the need for social cohesion.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Prometheus and His Myth: Fire, Knowledge, and the Price of Defiance
The myth of Prometheus, the fire giver, is a rich and layered tale that has traversed cultures, ideas, and interpretations for centuries. At its core, the story is one of defiance, suffering, and enlightenment. Prometheus is a Titan in Greek mythology, whose name means "forethought," and he is best known for his daring theft of fire from the gods to give to humanity—a gift that symbolizes knowledge, technology, and civilization. But beneath this act of rebellion lies a story of suffering and sacrifice, a warning about the boundaries between human ambition and divine will, and a reflection on the eternal tension between freedom and authority.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Factitious Disorder: Navigating Complexities of Illness and Identity
Factitious Disorder, often complex and deeply misunderstood, involves individuals deliberately fabricating, exaggerating, or inducing physical or psychological symptoms to assume the role of a sick person. This disorder is distinct from mere malingering, where an individual feigns illness for personal gain such as financial compensation or avoidance of responsibilities. In Factitious Disorder, the primary motivation is to acquire the identity of a patient, receiving attention and care in a medical setting.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Jean-Paul Sartre's Insights on Anti-Semitism: Understanding Prejudice and Shaping Our Future
Sartre's reflections on prejudice reveal not just the mechanics of anti-Semitism but the broader patterns of hate and bad faith argumentation that persist through time. We’ll explore how these dynamics might evolve over the next 50 to 100 years, anticipating new forms of prejudice that could arise as our world changes. From technophobia and xenophobia to potential discrimination against genetically modified humans or off-world colonists, the targets of hate may shift, but the underlying tactics and impacts remain.