You gotta love Newsome-Harlow. The single vineyard Zins are to die for. Today though...I decided to pop and pour their Syrah offering from 2015. This Zin comes from the Dalton Ranch Vineyard in San Andreas, CA. Per the winery, here are the details: Grapes: 100% Syrah Alcohol: 14.9% Vineyard(s): Dalton Vineyards Aging: 24 months is... Continue Reading →
I Want Students to Play on Their Phones During My Class
I had a teacher in college. He would tell the class on the first day that, "if they were late to class, then they would need to sit in the hall until the break", which was in the middle of this 2.5 hour class. He also regularly removed people from class who were playing on... Continue Reading →
Yes, You Can Retire in 2 Years!
If you are like me and you are interested in personal finance, then you probably have at some point encountered the Financial Independence/Early Retirement community. Maybe you stumbled across Early Retirement Extreme, maybe Mr Money Mustache, maybe even Our Next Life. Maybe, just maybe...you have dreamed about doing this. Although it seems difficult, you imagine... Continue Reading →
Let Me Tell You How to Be Normal About Giving
I was at a meeting with friends (some young and some old) the other day and an elderly friend was talking about getting involved both time-wise and financially with a local cause. He was extremely passionate about the project and had clearly been in a number of meetings recently about this project. It appeared he... Continue Reading →
Epicureanism and America
This article is interesting for a number of reasons. In the good ol' USA, it seems to me that pleasure is the end goal of most things. At some level Jeremy Bentham was right about mankind beingĀ a slave to the 2 masters of...pain and pleasure. Mr. Bentham says it best: "Nature has placed mankind under... Continue Reading →
Why I am Smart, Despite not Getting My Phd.
I remember walking into a teachers office hour and requesting of him a letter of recommendation, because was going to apply for my Phd in Philosophy. The typical discussion ensued about where I was applying and what I wanted to specialize in, but it was the last question that has stuck with me the longest.... Continue Reading →
Existential Work and the Quest for Meaning
During each semester, I often ask my students what is the most important thing about life? This discussion usually happens during a Meaning of Life discussion/dialectic within our classroom and the students usually come up with all sorts of answers. We may have even just finished discussing Susan Wolf's article about the meaning of life.... Continue Reading →
What is Philosophy?
Imagine teaching a subject that is very hard to describe. So hard, that almost every student that enrolls in the subject has no idea what it is. So, Forester... What is Philosophy? I don't get this question often in everyday conversation, but I suspect it is for quite a different reason.... Continue Reading →
The Opposite Position of People like JL Collins and Millenial Revolution…
So, I have been amused by the arguments for and against owning a primary residence with this niche market known as the FIRE (Financial Independence/Retire Early) community. It seems that there is a lot of traction on the side of not owning a home. So, let me give you some perspective of my own before... Continue Reading →
Why Do Philosophy and Limbless Men Lead to Financial Independence?
So...I carried around a man with no arms and legs for a couple years. I also majored in Philosophy. I believe it is these 2 things combined that have given me the perspective of life I have currently. I won't say much about them in this post, other than the fact that they started... Continue Reading →