Category Archives: Cogs ZH Posts

(Conditioned) Human Nature within the Insane Asylum

I wish I had a silver dollar for every time I’ve heard the phrase “It is human nature……” or some such derivative or derivation. Alan Greenspan recently popped to the surface of his personal cesspool to proclaim that it is human nature to create financial bubbles, thus absolving himself of any blame for a runaway fiat candy machine. His exact words were Bubbles are functions of unchangeable human nature.”

I will stifle the urge to flush Greenspan back down the commode where he belongs and instead focus upon the mistaken belief that we can actually determine exactly what is ‘human nature’ after hundreds if not thousands of years of social conditioning and manipulation. Continue reading (Conditioned) Human Nature within the Insane Asylum

Rethinking The Concept of Retirement

It’s a funny thing how certain concepts have permeated throughout our culture and are just simply accepted as ‘normal’ without question. Even when faced with the reality that a given ‘normal’ situation is in jeopardy or worse, may all together cease to exist, we as a society still measure and plan our lives based upon what we thought was supposed to happen. If we feel we are entitled to it, then not only do we cling to it, but we do so with anger and righteous indignation. Continue reading Rethinking The Concept of Retirement

Of Baling Wire, Chewing Gum and Sinking Ships

It sounded like a good idea at the time, ‘the time’ being a drunken outing with the other boys in the crew. The next day everyone would get up real early and head over to the local slip for a morning cruise on Joe’s ‘new’ boat, a 24’ Boston Whaler he picked up for a song from the dealer at the mariner. In between Tequila shots he had raved about the two hundred horse power Mercury outboard motor and the pretty railings and deck fittings. Shaking off the morning hangover I gulped down some coffee and donuts, then headed over to Joe’s place to meet up with the rest of the crew. Continue reading Of Baling Wire, Chewing Gum and Sinking Ships