SeekingPlumb

As an agnostic atheist, do I have a moral imperative to speak to Believers about their faith? Or would I just be proselytizing my own beliefs?

I recently witnessed a wondrous display by a murmuration of birds. What do you think they're thinking while they fly? So closely aligned with each other, almost performing? Do you think they're just living in the moment? Flying for the love and joy of it? Resources: Stunning starling murmuration by Paul Dinning: https://youtu.be/4LDtvU8kymg Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/SeekingPlumb

Robbin Milne & I share in our excitement for this book & trees!

Trees! Did you know they can "smell" & "taste?" Or that they share & support each other? That they're stronger, healthier, & live longer when they live in community, aka in a forest? Resources: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/SeekingPlumb

A new trend is emerging on social media; virtual models/influencers. What are they? What are the ramifications of their existence and growing popularity? Show Notes: link.medium.com/N1DrIKJv4S Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/SeekingPlumb

If our brains are "organic computers", if we were to look at our base coding/the operating system, what would we see? How would it affect our day to day? Show Notes: link.medium.com/WEqoHmpnkS Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

In this episode, we revisit "It isn't futile." From a valid point, to a poignant comment/question, to a book recommendation, to another area that needs sweeping change. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

Famous last words: "we've always done it that way." There's a sense of helplessness or feeling stuck floating around. Some cling to the idea that change is impossible. Or if it can occur, it has to happen a particular way. But what about breaking the mold? What drives us? Can we use this to move off the game board, outside the playing field to create change? Show Notes: bit.ly/2A8HFbZ Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

Computers, more specifically Artificial Intelligence, have made a pretty significant stride, recently. Christie’s is auctioning off the first AI generated piece of art today, 25 October 2018, for between $7,000-$10,000. This sparks many questions! What is art? What does it mean to be creative? To use imagination? If AI can develop creativity and imagination, this significantly decreases areas where humans can compete competitively. Doesn’t it? Show Notes: link.medium.com/afwEu5RriR Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

I read an intriguing theory for the basis of patriarchy, that seems to make sense. But if it’s true, there are some interesting observations in and around this framework. That said, how can we change this incredibly long lived behaviour? Can hierarchies exist in a productive and healthy way? Or is it possible to operate without hierarchies? Show Notes: medium.com/@SeekingPlumb/show-notes-hierarchies-patriarchy-69f53e32046d Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

Maybe more family secrets exist than we've ever considered! Fun, interesting, or tantalizing secrets! A few calls come in wondering about the origin of the word, "FUARO," with a never before shared secret of her own.

A few calls from a new listener encouraged me to understand kindness & politeness slightly differently. Another caller brings up questions around empathy & the role of social media/news in our culture. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb

It’s a family secret that's spanned decades & lifetimes, never to be uncovered. But curiosity still keeps us guessing. • Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com • Instagram: @seekingplumb • Music: "Touch of Ice" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Touch_of_Ice/

Follow up discussion from "Why are you kind? What motivates you?"

Seth Godin highlighted three motivators for learning in a recent Akimbo podcast. Although it may be debatable, whether being kind to each other is something we need to learn or something we already know how to do, I wonder if these motivators play a role in whether we actually behave kindly or not. Can this list of motivators be expanded upon? Or rather, must we be motivated to be kind? Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb Music: "Memoir of Solitude" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Memoir_of_Solitude/untitled_1306

From a young age we are trained to be cookie cutter workers, to give correct answers, to be compliant, and to follow the rules. The longer we're in the system or the more we seek to fit in, to be accepted or approved of, the more this system narrows our perspectives and squashes our innate curiosity, creativity, and imagination. The ability to consider ideas, people, the world more broadly. I think the future will require a different system. Show Notes: bit.ly/2JB1dsq Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seekingplumb Music: "Last Day of High School" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Last_Day_of_High_School/Last_Day_of_School

Life is picking up speed like never before, because science and technology are advancing at an incredible pace. It’s shaping how we think, interact, and how we behave. Stopping a speeding bullet might be easier than slowing a culture. Instead, maybe we can adapt. Show Notes: bit.ly/2NcUmYz Instagram: @seekingplumb Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "We Are Saved" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/We_Are_Saved/We_Are_Saved

I recollect my first impressions of Raj, a stranger in a random Starbucks, and the surprising and fascinating conversation that followed about the cultural and economic history of India. These communities didn't simply trade. They essentially served/altruistically gave to each other and their personal roles. Their way of thinking and behaving was built into their culture, their beliefs. It simply was the way it was. Instagram: @seekingplumb Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Sense of Music" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Sense_of_Music/Sense_of_Music

With the constant influx of information & the set rules of government and rules of social engagement, we've fallen into default patterns of operation. We assume that things are done a certain way because someone else has told us so or because they've "always" been done that way. We're left feeling frustrated and impotent, because some have gamed the political system which has affected us socially, as well. It's long past time we adapt to now, today, and rewrite the "rule books." (Recorded the day after "Can we deviate as a nation?" Or 22 June 2018.) Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Snowflake" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Snowflake/Snowflake

After a few weeks back in my birth country, it's taking some adjusting to. In Canada we do see a lot of US news, but there's still a lot we don't see. Almost as an outside observer but still invested, I see the overdramatization of the already disturbing news. I see patterns in what's being consumed, & wonder how it affects the brain - the individual and the societal. I also reflect on the difficulties faced in attempting to move towards change, let alone how it might be approached. Music: "We Are Saved" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/We_Are_Saved/We_Are_Saved

The Sophists & Socrates had differing perspectives on how we determine right & wrong, while Aristotle saw things a little differently. Inadvertently, my journey seems to land me in Aristotle's neighborhood. Along the way, you'll hear snippets from my day to day here in Las Vegas.

Just over 48 hours ago I arrived in Vegas for the 11th consecutive summer. This year feels very, very different.

Live. Now. We all say it; know we should. Yet, we usually only begin to get serious about "seizing the day", when our days are suddenly numbered. Perhaps, it's because we do our best to avoid thinking about "the end." But if we don't consider it... how can we truly appreciate what it means to be alive? Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Memoir of Solitude" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Memoir_of_Solitude/untitled_1306

A phrase caught my eye this weekend: "Enforced Monogamy." To say it made me bristle even in the context presented would be an understatement. After recently hearing phrases like the "deregulation of the sexual marketplace", well, I needed to know more. How closely did each of these fit with the Red Pill Movement, "incels", & others of their ilk? Do the arguments of these groups make much or any sense? Are there other ways to look at their concerns? Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Show Notes: bit.ly/2GFnLqE Music: "We Are Saved" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/We_Are_Saved/We_Are_Saved

Preparing for another summer, I share how the Vegas glamour has fallen away. But maybe I've been looking in all the wrong places, & the magic isn't completely absent from the city. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra "Bewitched" by Frank Sinatra "Cheek to Cheek" by Frank Sinatra "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Frank Sinatra

In the book, Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder, Sophie Amundsen receives a question by mail: "Where does the world come from?" Sophie asks a couple of interesting questions. Can something be created out of nothing? Can something always exist? I have a few questions of my own to add to the mix, taking into consideration things like what type of expanding universe we might exist in, the "Arrow of Time," & a few other tid-bits. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Show Notes: bit.ly/2Ibrqhb Music: "We Are Saved" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/We_Are_Saved/We_Are_Saved

I've done us both a disservice under the guise of wanting to conquer misconceptions, but really it was done from a place of fear. I wanted to be seen, to be heard, to be accepted. Not labeled, dismissed, reviled or deemed despicable. I wanted to encourage & learn from conversation. I wanted to avoid painful situations, but I only set myself up. In this episode, I attempt to hit the re-set button, to determine a new way of doing things going forward. I hope you'll stick with me. So... this is my confession: I'm gay. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Snowflake" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Snowflake/Snowflake

Yesterday's "dance", a la Alan Watts, took me to the park, to soak up the rich environment. A little later, Grimm's The Fox & The Geese make an appearance.

When & why do we decide to stop asking “why?” Why do we decide to stop investigating? Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com ShowNotes: bit.ly/2Ia8TVU Music: "Last Day of High School" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Last_Day_of_High_School

As Georgie Dee requested, two more stories from Alan Lightman's book, Einstein's Dreams. While the book's theme is time, these particular selections look at freezing or being stuck in time from slightly different angles. I rather enjoy the journeys into the imagination and the opportunities for reflection these tales offer. Twitter & Instagram: @SeekingPlumb Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com Music: "Sense of Music" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Sense_of_Music/Sense_of_Music

We seem to have an obsession with time. We’ve built our lives around whether we believe we “don’t have enough” or have “plenty.” We’re so focused on measuring time, we’ve forgotten why it’s vitally important to us. We’ve lost sight that it’s actually ancillary to everything else. Whether it’s about the concept, the definition, how much or how little, to what end is time our focus?  Time is another one of those words. Depending how you personally define it, can shape your entire outlook. Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com ShowNotes: bit.ly/2FdAkIT Music: "Snowflake" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Snowflake/Snowflake

When you interact, when you say something positive or do something positive for me, is it because you mean it? Or do you want something in return? Are you seeking to use me? To what end? Are you looking to “succeed?” What is “success?” We expect there are pros to just about any answer to this question, but what are the cons to your definition?  Digging deeper, the idea of success permeates every layer of our psyche — individually and culturally. It’s reflected in our language, how we interact, & how we deem each other worthy. But… what is it we really want? Email: seekingplumbpodcast@gmail.com ShowNotes: bit.ly/2Hn2hmJ Music: "Snowflake" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Snowflake/Snowflake

Where have I been? Is the podcast dying?

Why must the nation conform to their rigid, dated point of view? In an attempt to save lives, average citizens are required to use band-aid "solutions." Living in fear so others can cling to a flawed illusion of "safety?" When do we decide rhetoric & money no longer reign? That people, simply by their mere existence, are valuable. Worthy. Music: "We Are Saved" by Borrtex From the Free Music Archive CC BY NC https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/We_Are_Saved/We_Are_Saved

When we’re children, we spend those initial awkward years exploring and learning, but as we mature we condition ourselves to choose from pre-fab menus or patterns, to give appropriate responses, to attempt to fit in. It may appear nuanced and even complicated, but it isn’t as complex as authentic thinking, per Jordan Greenhall. We look at what Greenhall calls authentic thinking and simulated thinking. Then, we touch on how this may affect us as a society and as individuals. Show Notes: bit.ly/2HNMOso

Picking up where we left off in the previous episode, we dig a little deeper into how the scientists determine the "texture" or structure of a city. Then, we discuss how Hyperloop engineers may address the safety issues involving the tunnel's vacuum. Followed by, how the Loop may be designed beneath the surface of a city. Show Notes: bit.ly/2pnnxxv

Building on the People-centric City Design episode, I consider new information to add to or aid in revising those previous ideas. Scientists have determined that the layout of a city affects the temperature it will be, come night, relative to its daytime temp. Elon Musk's Hyperloop will offer speed and safety for distance travel, but the Loop will ideally replace subways & local buses while decreasing traffic congestion. Show Notes: bit.ly/2p9RDWc

(Caution: This episode may be triggering and/or offensive.) At first, we may have said Bill & Susan were in love, but would we say love is present in that relationship, now? We shift perspectives to look at a very familiar but very old tale. By comparison, is this a prime example of fatherly love or an exception to the rule?

There are many reasons, ways, & typical places to debate. I peek at just a couple, after brushing with a live scenario. If I were to attempt a public debate, I theorize a possible approach - but would it be effective for my goal(s)? Can these ideas translate to online interactions?

"Stay in your lane." Should science strictly stay within the borders of science? Should app developers stick with the tech and product trends? Should science shun philosophy, or religion or philosophy shun science? Should the tech industry focus on data and profits while giving less credence to sociology, psychology, and the human needs of their users? And on and on... Or are there potentially better ways? I've got theories. Show Notes: bit.ly/2FnGqas

Often, I wish I could wave a wand, and give a friend exactly what they need in that moment to solve a problem, to offer a break from reality, or a moment to heal. Unfortunately, I've never acquired a magical wand. So, I'm looking for the next best thing. Let's play with a mix of the imagination and the power of words. · Following the first portion of this episode, a friend gave me a gift beyond measure.

When life turns stressful or I just need a break, reveling in the music of the moment, I step into my imagination and visit one of my happy places. In this episode, I take you on a bit of a tour through a couple of my faves. Where is your happy place? Is it real or imaginary? What does it feel like, smell like, look like? Who's there with you? Will you take me there with your words?

SeekingPlumb brings the thinky & Georgie Dee brings the spice, as they ponder Anchor, audio, language, & communication.

Scientists are mapping the connections between our brain cells. If successful, they will "uncover the basis of personality, identity, intelligence, memory, and..." more. Other scientists are developing an artificial womb, while yet others are cloning primates in such a way that will allow for the incorporation of CRISPR gene-editing. In light of all of this, I ponder what it means to be me. Show Notes: bit.ly/2F17P51

Perceptions, our ecology, the language we use, and the stories we tell; these have all been churning in my mind not only in how we communicate but in how we face conflict. But then, I'm reminded that these things and the conclusions I've come to, really apply to any form of communicatio. Which seems obvious, after the fact.

Continued conversation on the topic of gun violence, but now we get into mental health. We also discuss whether a 19-year-old is a boy or man. I ask questions regarding personal responsibility vs others being responsible for us. We touch on racism and surprisingly, even the #MeToo Movement.

This episode includes more of the gun violence conversation we've had over recent days. From the #CeaseFire movement in Baltimore, to universal Health Care, to somehow communicating with individuals like the NRA elite. Next episode, the gun violence & mental health.

Three days after the high school mass shooting in Florida, and things were proceeding as per usual. Frustrated, I attempted to find a different approach to this massive issue. A first step in a major undertaking. From there, the conversation moved into the topic of mental health, the possibility of using psych evals, and the potential consequences of going that route plus more. In the meantime, the youth determined and are planning a far less complicated & more immediate "solution."

Does morality hamper our ability to truly live? Is morality a cage that sickens and weakens us? How, when, and why did morality come to be? By the end of the episode, my views on morality's purpose and existence had shifted.

"Less is more." This phrase is supposedly the basis for the Limor name, but is it entirely accurate? I go on to list some of the features I love or hate on each platform. Plus a call from MoMacAttack.

My friend "Sarah" & I chatted about the fears we have as women and the precautions we regularly take. Then, we dipped into the topic of boundaries. Afterwards, you'll hear a few responses from men. For me, the day's journey was encouraging and worth taking note of, especially in today's confrontational environment that continues to brew. #metoo