Monday, March 11, 2024

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0229

11401.  Sometimes life requires us to be agile in the part of ourselves we are selecting.  To move beyond “self.”  Our relationships are a sacred learning ground; a place to fall and get back up, time and time again;

11402.  Maybe today is an opportunity for a positive interaction where there may be a pattern for a negative one;

11403.  Maybe your gift for your loved one today is the gift of your state; one that is loving and passionate;

11404.  Maybe this is an opening for your words or actions to be a healing balm to another human who is struggling;

11405.  Maybe this is an opportunity for you to release and soften and to say “yes” to the possibility of welcoming love into your life;

11406.  No matter the situation, there is always room for love.  That’s experiencing this life at a higher level.  That’s spiritual growth.  And that’s how we heal the world;

11407.  Bob Marley died from acral lentiginous melanoma, a form of skin cancer, at the age of 36;

11408.  (Putting) olive oil in coffee(, specifically Starbucks’ Oleato); I don’t get it;

11409.  Apparently, Jodie Foster was offered the part/role of Princess Leia in (the original) Star Wars(: Episode IV – A New Hope).  She turned it down because she had a scheduling conflict with a Disney movie she had already signed a contract for;

11410.  We each have a unique past and a unique way forward;

11411.  There is no one “right” path only the “right” path for you at this moment;

11412.  When you discover the value of your journey past and future, you no longer need to measure yourself against others and you can recognize your worth;

11413.  Locate and celebrate your individuality;

11414.  You’re empowered to be you and nobody can beat you at being you;

11415.  If you aren’t trying to be anybody but yourself, it is impossible to be an impostor;

11416.  When we strive to be like someone else, we might even do a pretty good job of it, but, as long as we are trying to imitate someone else, we are lessening our power;

11417.  If you don’t realize you’re a masterpiece; that you have something to offer that nobody else has, you limit yourself;

11418.  Yet another byproduct of being yourself is that it frees you to truly celebrate others;

Monday, January 29, 2024

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0228

11351.  Getting older is automatic, getting better is not.  Growth is intentional;

11352.  Fail your way to success;

11353.  Self-doubt is the biggest killer of dreams;

11354.  Act as if your success is for certain;

11355.  If you must doubt something, doubt your limits;

11356.  Your doubts are not the product of accurate thinking, but habitual thinking;

11357.  You get to choose how you behave.  Your thinking is what it is and it’s riddled with doubt, it’s ravaged with doubt, you still get to choose how you behave;

11358.  You are the most powerful person in your life.  You have the power of choice;

11359.  You have an amazing capacity for change;

11360.  You are the solution to your future;

11361.  Sweet potatoes are (a lot) harder to cut than Russet potatoes;

11362.  Don’t make French toast in a microwave.  The egg doesn’t brown and crisp and the bread dries out and gets hard;

11363.  The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do;

11364.  Some things are worth spending money on . . . like a warm, winter jacket (i.e., Marmot, The North Face or Patagonia);

11365.  The D(ow)J(ones)I(ndustrial)A(verage) is made up of (only) 30 stocks;

11366.  I can say I saw John Carlson’s 500th (career, regular season) assist;

11367.  Vir Das (the Indian comedian) lived in Chicago;

11368.  Vir Das (the Indian comedian) likes the song, Yellow, by Coldplay;

11369.  Lillet Blanc tastes like a syrupy Chardonnay;

11370.  Panama used to be a part of Colombia;

11371.  Don’t dip your tater tot into your bourbon/whiskey . . . just don’t do it.  It’s not good;

11372.  Don’t bother drinking your Starbucks latte after taking a bite of your stroopwafel.  The sweetness of the stroopwafel drowns out the flavor/taste of the latte;

11373.  Although it was officially founded in 1896, Newport News, Virginia, had been a city long before then.  It first showed up in print as “Newportes Newes” – with eight alternate spellings – in the Virginia Company’s 1619 records.  Newport News is named after Captain Christopher Newport, who led settlers to Jamestown in 1607.  When the colonists left Jamestown in 1610 after a period of intense starvation, they reunited with Captain Newport on the James River.  He told them supplies and reinforcements had arrived so they returned to Jamestown to await them.  From then on, the point at which they met Captain Newport, at the junction of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay, was referred to as Newport’s News.  It was eventually shortened to just Newport News;

11374.  Kecoughtan, Virginia, was settled in 1610 by the same English colonists who founded Jamestown.  It was originally home to the Kikotan Algonquin tribe and was the place where English settlers first made contact with Virginia’s Indigenous population.  While initial meetings were relatively peaceful, the English settlers soon drove away or tragically killed the Indigenous population.  By 1690, Kecoughtan was absorbed by the larger city of Hampton, Virginia, and remains a part of its municipality today;

11375.  Hampton, Virginia, found in 1610 is the oldest continuously inhabited English-speaking settlement in the United States.  It is significant because of its military history.  After the United States became an independent country, Hampton became a major military outpost due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources.  Hampton had easy access to both the Chesapeake Bay and the James River, making it a great port for shipping weapons and other supplies.  This also made it an ideal defensive location.  During the Civil War, Virginia itself was the capital of the Confederate States; however, Hampton maintained its status as a part of the Union during the entire war;

11376.  Dogs can eat potatoes as long as they are plainly cooked and offered in moderation.  While potatoes won’t kill them, they are not healthy for dogs.  Potatoes have too many carbohydrates and will lead to obesity and diabetes in dogs;

11377.  Ice cream isn’t toxic or seriously harmful to dogs; however, they’ve lost the enzyme (needed) to digest the lactose in milk.  It could lead to diarrhea or vomiting;

11378.  You may generally view the other person as someone to joke around with, as opposed to making a professional first impression on.  You don’t need to give people straight, exact answers.  People are usually far more attracted to interesting and noteworthy answers.  Unless you are giving an oral report, it’s not a stretch to say that they would always prefer something to catch their attention versus being dry and accurate;

11379.  Word of caution: be sure to actually answer someone’s question.  You can be both humorous and informative.  Make sure to occasionally check in with the other person to make sure that you aren’t going overboard with the lack of substantive content if they’re seeking it;

11380.  Remind yourself that being witty is not necessarily about entertaining other people.  If you think, “Quick, they’ve asked you a question.  Think of something funny to say about the weather or something,” then you’re anxious and that’s the furthest thing from a playful mindset.  You don’t have to impress or amuse anyone.  Instead, think about being that 5 year-old again and just amuse yourself first;

11381.  If it’s a bad situation, a witty comeback can diffuse the tension and bring emotional levels back to normal.  If it’s a good situation then a witty comeback can make it even better;

11382.  If you don’t want money to create resentment in your relationships, ask yourself, “How will I feel about this person if s/he doesn’t pay me back?”  Let that answer guide you;

11383.  Cheapest day to buy groceries: Wednesday – According to Instacart, Wednesday is the most common day for grocery stores to start their weekly specials.  New items will be on sale and in stock.  If you wait a few days, you risk missing out on sale items.  Retailers also tend to mark down perishables on Wednesday evenings – you might get a great bakery or deli deal on this day.  The store will also be less crowded as only 19% of consumers shop for groceries on Wednesdays.  Avoid grocery shopping on Saturdays when stores are busiest and more items are out of stock;

11384.  Cheapest day to buy gas: Monday – According to GasBuddy, an app that tracks gas prices, the best day to buy gas is Monday.  This comes with exceptions, but, historically, Monday gas price averages are the lowest in 17 states and Tuesday is the second-cheapest day.  Consumer demand tends to be lower at the beginning of the week so to stay competitive, gas stations lower their prices to draw people in.  However, avoid getting gas on Thursday as it is the most expensive day to purchase gas across the U.S.;

11385.  Cheapest day to go to a restaurant: Monday – According to Nasdaq, Mondays are generally the slowest days at restaurants.  They often offer significant discounts such as complimentary appetizers, drink specials and discounted entrĂ©es to draw customers in.  Restaurants likely have unsold inventory from the weekend, especially appetizers and desserts, so asking about these might score you some discounted grub.  Tuesdays and Wednesdays are also good options for dining out, while Fridays and Saturdays are the most expensive;

11386.  Cheapest day to book a flight: Sunday – Tuesday used to be when airlines released their new weekly deals making it the cheapest day to book a flight.  However, there is no set schedule when airlines release deals and they don’t usually match their competitors’ prices either.  According to experts, Sunday is generally the cheapest day to book a flight saving you around 6% on domestic and 13% on international flights;

11387.  Cheapest day to buy a car: Monday or Tuesday – Heading to the car dealership when the crowds are low gives you more inventory and less competition resulting in lower prices.  Mondays and Tuesdays are the best time to purchase a new car.  Go during the morning for even better luck.  As Investopedia points out, you’ll likely be one of the only customers in the dealership because almost everyone else will be at work.  This gives you more time to test drive, ask questions and negotiate the price.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that Saturday is the worst day to go car shopping.  Many people have the day off so car dealerships are at their busiest, which could drive higher prices;

11388.  Cheapest day to see a movie: Tuesday – The average movie theater ticket price in the U.S. is around $10.50, but on Tuesdays, Cinemark and AMC, the largest movie theater chains in the country, offer ticket discounts at around 50% along with other deals such as popcorn and drink combos.  Downloading a free rewards program app can earn you even more discounts on Tuesdays and points toward tickets and snacks;

11389.  Cheapest day to go shopping: Thursday – Head to the mall on Thursday evenings for early access to weekend specials and take advantage of recently marked down inventory that will soon leave the store.  According to Investopedia, most retailers prepare for the weekend on Thursdays so the stock will be replenished giving you the most options without fighting the weekend crowds;

11390.  Cheapest day to book a hotel: Friday – Like airfare, hotel prices fluctuate dramatically based on consumer demand and each brand follows its own discount schedule.  However, according to data collected by Skyscanner, booking a domestic hotel is about 2% cheaper on Fridays, which might sound like pennies, but it adds up for long trips.  As for international hotels, try to book on a Thursday when prices are about 6% cheaper;

11391.  Casa Tequila Bar & Grill (CasaTequilaRestaurant.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria has (a) $11.99 fajitas (special) on Thursdays;

11392.  Apparently, Rod Langway, the Washington Capitals’ “Secretary of Defense,” hangs out/has a beer at Clyde’s (of Gallery Place) before (Washington) Capitals games;

11393.  The Cubano (i.e., roasted mojo pork, Virginia ham, Swiss cheese, fried pickles & dijonnaise on toasted Vienna bread) at Clyde’s (of Gallery Place) is (pretty) tasty;

11394.  The space you create for others can often be the very thing that draws them closer;

11395.  Love; it’s our essence, the very core of what it means to be human.  It’s not a “you have it or you don’t.”  The capacity to love is already there inside of you.  It’s not something you do; it’s simply who you are;

11396.  Love is already there, waiting to be a balm to a weary world . . . waiting to heal, bless, renew and restore;

11397.  Family love, romantic love, the love of an old friendship – it’s not only in our nature to love, it’s our evolutionary advantage.  It’s also our highest calling as human beings to love another person fully and completely;

11398.  Relationships are our biggest opportunity for spiritual growth.  We all come to relationships with different wiring, conditioning, cultures, belief systems, biochemistry and a blueprints for what love looks like.  People think relationships are about selecting the right person, when they are actually about the part of yourself you select to bring to the relationship every single day;

11399.  The state of any relationship is the state you bring to it.  We all have a choice in the state we bring to our relationships.  While playing with your kids, picking up the phone for a friend in need, collaborating with colleagues at work or lying next to your partner in bed at night, there is a choice in what part of yourself you bring to the table;

11400.  There are many different parts of ourselves to offer.  Are you selecting the critical one?  The complainer?  The playful one?  The sensual one?  The problem solver?

Monday, January 8, 2024

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0227

11301.  Judah Akers (the lead singer of “Judah & the Lion”) is (pretty) ripped;

11302.  Apparently, Judah Akers (the lead singer of “Judah & the Lion”) likes to go into the crowd( and sing);

11303.  Apparently, Bear Rinehart (the lead singer of NEEDTOBREATHE) also likes to go into the crowd( and sing);

11304.  Why do you have to justify any prosperity that may flow into your life by limiting it to the kind that comes from “hard work?”  If you want freedom, choice and abundance in your life, does it really serve you to believe that the path to that has to be one of struggle, hard work and sacrifice?  If your belief about the attributes of the path is at odds with the attributes of the destination then the destination will always remain just out of reach for you.  Here’s a little-known truth: the path and the destination are one and the same.  And the fastest way to get to a life of freedom, choice and abundance is to believe that those things are available to you now and always.  If you have a deeply held feeling that you are undeserving of money or if you’re not convinced that it can come easily to you, this will be reflected in your outer circumstances now and always.  On the flip side, if you truly believe at a deep, internal level in your own deservingness of wealth then money has permission to flow into your life easily now and always.  The subconscious mind always prevails in the end.  It also prevails at every stage along the way;

11305.  Sometimes we label frustration and blockage with respect to attaining our conscious goals as “failure,” but you can come to see this kind of frustration as a friend.  Why?  Because it’s a key indicator that shows you you have a subconscious belief, which is out of alignment with a conscious goal.  It shows you where your blocks are;

11306.  We can only change when we admit reality;

11307.  It’s (pretty) easy to make a pecan pie.  The hardest part is the crust;

11308.  Just because you forgive someone, it doesn’t mean you won’t feel pain from his/her actions in the future;

11309.  Apparently, “The Machine” (i.e., Bert Kreischer) is friends with Snoop Dogg;

11310.  Apparently, Snoop Dogg gave Bert (Kreischer) parenting advice when his daughter, Ila, smoked his marijuana/weed, when she was 15;

11311.  Bert Kreischer said he’s been in a shower with Snoop Dogg;

11312.  When arguing/fighting, Lucy Rowett, a certified sex and relationships coach, says that it’s always best to stay with “I” statements, rather than “You” statements.  This means avoiding statements like “You always/You never” and instead saying, “I feel like you don’t do X;”

11313.  Constructive fighting is taking responsibility for your opinions and feelings and not blaming the other person, but making more of a statement for yourself: “When you don’t wash the dishes, I feel hurt because I enjoy a clean kitchen.  It is important for me to share tasks in order to feel respected.  If I cook, I would like you to wash the dishes.”  Compared to: “You haven’t done the dishes yet again, you’re useless.”  Basically, the blame game just makes us defensive and that is not productive;

11314.  When having an argument, it comes down to priorities.  Constructive fighting is about problem solving and sharing feelings, not making the other person feel like shit about themselves.  Real intimacy isn’t the absence of conflict; it’s the recognition of conflict and the willingness to address it as a team when it arises.  It is important to address the ongoing issues in the relationship, but focus on resolving the problem instead of proving your partner wrong;

11315.  Even in the midst of a heated fight, you need to remind yourself that this is a person you love and respect and work to find the grain of truth (there is always one) in what s/he is saying;

11316.  Once you’re finished with the blowout, it’s important to then find a post-combat, neutral place.  You should take some time, regroup and calm down before you attempt to reconnect.  Next, both parties need to take responsibility for their actions and be willing to apologize.  Apologize properly if you raised your voice and said something hurtful and then start the conversation again in a calmer state.  This is a great time for physical affection – in whatever form works for you.  Hugs, kisses, cuddles, etc. all help to get the oxytocin flowing and recreate intimate connection with those we love.  Then, you can choose what’s next together – a walk, a movie, time alone, sex.  There is no right or wrong – whatever works for the both of you, individually and as a couple;

11317.  The best way to safeguard for future conflicts is to first set “absolute limits.”  You make an agreement with each other when you’re both connected of what is absolutely off-limits when you are fighting, such as hurling anything at your partner that you know will hurt them or hit a pain point, because this can cause real damage to your relationship and you may not be able to rebuild trust;

11318.  4 unhealthy fight red flags: 1.  Criticism – It’s perfectly fine to tell your partner if something they did upset you, but don’t point the finger (of blame) and try to tear them down.  Instead, focus on the impact their behaviors or thoughts have on you instead; 2.  Defensiveness – If you’re on the opposite side of this and you’re receiving feedback, don’t jump on the defense straight away as it encourages more conflicts.  Instead, take a deep breath, try to understand her/his point of view and invite her/him for brainstorming to resolve the issue together; 3.  Contempt – Contempt arises when you genuinely believe that you are superior to your partner.  You might be better at some things than your partner, but s/he has her/his strengths too.  If you have contempt for your partner, this builds resentment over time and this is very toxic for a relationship; and 4.  Stonewalling – If your partner does something that pisses you off, don’t shut down or blow her/him off.  These kinds of counterproductive reactions only fuel anger and resentment.  If it is not the right time for you to have an argument, just tell your partner that you’re not ready for it and that you commit to address the issues later, when it’s more convenient;

11319.  At the end of the day, everyone fights.  We just need to have the emotional maturity to understand why we’re fighting and to be able to apologize and take responsibility where it’s needed.  We all want beautiful, healthy and happy relationships and they start with taking steps to engage in conflict in a positive way;

11320.  Emotion isn’t changed by logic; it’s changed by action;

11321.  I can say I was at Matt Duchene’s 1,000th (career, regular season) game and Evgeny Kuznetsov’s 700th (career, regular season) game;

11322.  I can say I saw Dylan Strome’s 100th (career, regular season) goal and Alexander Ovechkin’s 1,500th (career, regular season) point;

11323.  Alexander Ovechkin is the 16th player in NHL history to score 1,500 (regular season) points;

11324.  You can do anything you want; you just might not be able to do it on the timeline you want.  It may happen faster than expected and it may take longer than expected;

11325.  The number 1 rule in likeability is to make people feel that you are like them.  Regardless of skin color, religious, ethnic and other differences, we prefer people who are similar to us at some level;

11326.  There are 4 components to fallback stories: 1.  The bridging sentence; 2.  The story itself; 3.  Your opinion of the story; and 4.  Asking for the other person’s opinion in a few different ways;

11327.  The first component is the bridging sentence and while it is short, it provides a simple, plausible transition from whatever the previous topic was into your fallback story;

11328.  “You know what I heard recently?” is a fairly flexible option, while others you can use include “Want to know something interesting that happened recently?” and “You won’t believe what happened the other day.”  All 3 of these evoke some curiosity, giving you the perfect segue into your story;

11329.  The second component is the actual story itself.  Now, notice that it’s not long and the story details don’t even matter that much here;

11330.  Introduce the premise, try to focus on the 1 or 2 primary emotions that you want to evoke and move on from there;

11331.  If you tell the story right, the reaction isn’t about the story itself, it’s about the questions it poses (and that you pose);

11332.  “What is the primary emotion and point of the story you are trying to tell?” and distill that into 1 sentence.  If you can’t, your stories are probably rambling messes that make people scream internally;

11333.  The third component is your opinion (as the speaker) on the matter.  For most of these fallback stories, you want to provide a positive opinion; otherwise people may not feel comfortable opening up and sharing if they happen to disagree with you;

11334.  Just share how you feel about it and try to place yourself in the context.  This component is key to opening the other person up because you’ve shared first and made yourself vulnerable.  The other person will feel safer after you’ve disclosed your position first; that’s just a facet of human psychology;

11335.  The fourth and final component seems like a series of inane questions, but there is logic to the chaos.  When you ask someone to generally comment on a situation, most people have a tough time with this request because it is so open-ended and broad;

11336.  Fallback stories are best when concluded with a series of questions;

11337.  When you are thinking of what fallback stories to put up your sleeve, interpersonal situations tend to work for that reason.  Other prompts that make good fallback stories include asking people what they would do in certain hypothetical situations and asking for opinions on moral dilemmas (as long as they aren’t dark and depressing);

11338.  One of the best ways to break out of interview mode is to engage in role play.  Taking on a character, leaving yourself behind and engaging in the ultimate type of conversational play;

11339.  “Archer Oh” reminds me of The Smiths/Morrissey;

11340.  Dogstar is (actually) decent;

11341.  John Wick/Keanu Reeves/Neo is a decent bass player;

11342.  Apparently, Robert Mailhouse (the drummer for Dogstar) grew up in the (Washington,) D.C. area;

11343.  Apparently, John Wick/Keanu Reeves/Neo grew up in Toronto(, Canada);

11344.  John Wick/Keanu Reeves/Neo seems to be enjoying himself playing bass for Dogstar;

11345.  Whitlow’s DC (Whitlows.com) automatically adds a gratuity to your bill;

11346.  Role playing: 1.  Make a “judgement” statement about someone; 2.  Give them a label based on the statement that you made; and 3.  Start playing the roles;

11347.  All of conversation is an opportunity for playful interaction.  It just takes a shift in mindset to see that and the world will open up;

11348.  Breaking the 4th wall is a simple, yet effective move to make any conversation more interesting.  Often used in movies, this technique essentially involves commenting about the conversation you’re having in some positive way.  This is generally something that both parties are thinking, but has gone unacknowledged;

11349.  The “Us Against the World” technique entails forming an in-group with the person you’re talking to based on some common experience or emotion that both of you share;

11350.  If a conversation seems to be dying out or droning along, you might want to have some fallback stories to reinvigorate your interaction;

Monday, December 11, 2023

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0226

11251.  It’s cheaper (and more convenient) to order takeout( from restaurants), groceries and stuff from pharmacies through Rappi (Rappi.com) than it is to take a taxi or Uber to their stores;

11252.  If you have Rappi Prime, deliveries are free;

11253.  There are a lot of bars and clubs in the Barrio Provenza area of El Poblado in Medellin;

11254.  Going out in Medellin is very casual.  Wearing a t-shirt, jeans/pants and sneakers is perfectly acceptable;

11255.  I’m actually taller than most Colombians;

11256.  The most criminal thing about Criminal Taqueria (Instagram.com/CriminalTaqueria) in Medellin is the (speed of) service;

11257.  Security at music festivals in Colombia seem more concerned with finding weapons than they are with finding drugs;

11258.  I can say (that) I’ve been to an EDM festival in South America( specifically Ritvales 2023 in Medellin, Colombia);

11259.  Apparently, they’ll test your drugs at music festivals in Colombia;

11260.  Apparently, tusi is a mix of MDMA and ketamine;

11261.  Latin American EDM is a thing;

11262.  Medellin Papas has really crispy, crunchy, French fries;

11263.  Amber Heard’s birthday is on April 22(, 1986);

11264.  There doesn’t seem to be “turn on red” in Medellin;

11265.  There are wild dogs in Medellin;

11266.  Apparently, the wild dogs in Medellin like chicken bones;

11267.  The Medellin Metrocable gondolas are considered to be the first urban cable propelled transit system in South America;

11268.  Apparently, the Santo Domingo Metrocable station (in Medellin) is closed on Mondays unless Monday is a public holiday then the station is closed on Tuesday;

11269.  I can say I’ve ridden in a Metrocable gondola;

11270.  Real City Tours (RealCityTours.com) has a really good, free walking tour of downtown Medellin (i.e., El Centro Medellin);

11271.  Colombians like to skirt the line between legal and illegal;

11272.  Colombians don’t talk about Pablo Escobar;

11273.  Pablo Escobar built homes for the poor to curry favor in Medellin, but he also set off 400 or so bombs killing 4,000 people;

11274.  Apparently, Colombians have selective memories and only remember the good and forget the bad;

11275.  Apparently, Colombia today produces 25 times the amount of cocaine it did in the 1980s;

11276.  Medellin is (actually) a pretty safe city.  There are more murders per capita in New Orleans.  There was a 98% drop in crime when the distribution of cocaine/drugs moved from Colombia to Mexico;

11277.  Pre-COVID(-19), there were 3,000 or so homeless in Medellin.  Since COVID(-19), there are now more than 10,000 homeless in Medellin;

11278.  Apparently, a third of the population in Medellin doesn’t have a job;

11279.  Colombians are friendly and curious people.  Don’t worry if they stare at you (i.e., a foreigner);

11280.  Locals in Medellin call themselves “paisa;”

11281.  Locals in Medellin call foreigners and tourists/visitors “gringo;”

11282.  Apparently, Colombia produces a lot of knock off apparel. . . . They have Mike( shoe)s instead of Nike( shoe)s;

11283.  Apparently, the (Colombian) Supreme Court ruled that people have the right to control their own bodies.  In doing so, the ruling made prostitution legal as long as it is among/between adults (i.e., at least 18);

11284.  Pimping, however, is not legal in Colombia as it amounts/equates to slavery;

11285.  The (court) ruling also made abortion legal.  So Colombians can get an abortion any time after 5 days and up until 24 weeks of conception/pregnancy.  Afterwards, it is only allowed in case of risk of death to the mother, fetal malformation or rape;

11286.  The (court) ruling also made euthanasia legal in Colombia;

11287.  Drugs are illegal in Colombia, but the use of drugs is not (i.e., the right to control one’s own body);

11288.  Apparently, the paisa of Medellin take great pride in the MedellĂ­n Metro (i.e., Metro de MedellĂ­n).  They keep the stations very clean and pick up any garbage.  They also don’t scratch the windows or damage the train cars;

11289.  Apparently, there’s nothing to do in downtown Medellin (i.e., El Centro Medellin) at night.  It’s mainly an industrial area;

11290.  The Paisa platter (i.e., Bandeja Paisa) is a traditional Colombian dish in Medellin.  It includes Colombian style beans, white rice, chicharrĂ³n, carne en polvo, chorizo, a fried egg, ripe plantain, avocado and arepa;

11291.  Apparently, you shouldn’t be afraid of the homeless in Medellin.  You should be more wary about pulling your phone out at night and walking around alone at night in a deserted area;

11292.  Apparently, you shouldn’t walk around Medellin with your passport or a lot of cash.  Most places take credit card;

11293.  If you want to take a walking tour of the Comuna 13 Medellin area, Zippy Tour Comuna 13 (ZippyTourComuna13.com) is supposed to be a good one;

11294.  Apparently, you shouldn’t walk to the Medellin Botanical Gardens (i.e., JardĂ­n BotĂ¡nico de MedellĂ­n).  You should either use the (Medellin) Metro or take a taxi(cab) or Uber;

11295.  Apparently, you shouldn’t go to Botero Square (i.e., Plaza Botero) at night;

11296.  There’s no reason to cancel your plans because of weather in Medellin.  Most storms will pass within 30 minutes;

11297.  Apparently, Uber is illegal in Colombia;

11298.  They have green and red (traffic) lights in Colombia, but no yellow ones.  However, the green (traffic) lights count down showing you how much time is left for the (traffic) light;

11299.  There are not a lot of Asians in Medellin.  In a week, I saw 5 and 2 were in the airport;

11300.  I didn’t see any Indians in Medellin;

Monday, October 30, 2023

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0225

11201.  Your engaging conversations shouldn’t be a mere replica of someone else’s style.  Embrace your unique personality, quirks and perspectives.  Inject your own flair into every interaction and watch as people are drawn to your authentic self;

11202.  Whenever you make a mistake, own up to it;

11203.  The more you heal, the less you see attention as affection, attachment as connection, codependency as support, disagreement as an attack, enmeshment as intimacy, lack of boundaries as empathy, external validation as internal self-love and trauma bonding as healing;

11204.  There’s no advantage in college sports or minor league sports that don’t have a draft to lose/tank;

11205.  Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign/warning of current or future heart disease/problems;

11206.  Perfectionism is the response of anyone who’s had to work to be loved;

11207.  How do you tell what has special meaning to a person?  Focus on how much time and effort are normally involved in these decisions;

11208.  When you compliment things that reflect individual choices, your compliment can have quite an impact;

11209.  Other characteristics you can compliment people about are their manners, the way they phrase certain ideas, their opinions, their worldview and their perspective;

11210.  The converse would be complimenting someone on something they have zero control over, such as their height;

11211.  Your compliments have to zero in on something that provides a measure of validation.  For instance, an unusual hairstyle that makes them feel special and unique.  By directing your compliment there, you highlight their own self-perceived sense of how special they truly are;

11212.  If you truly want to maximize the effect and impact of your compliment, it all starts with being observant about other people.  Pay attention to how you think they want to be perceived because that will give you some insight into their insecurities and you can use your compliments to build their confidence in those areas.  If someone constantly goes to the gym and makes fitness a large part of their lifestyle, it’s pretty certain they want to be perceived as fit, active and invested in health.  Call that out with a compliment;

11213.  Compliments that target things the person has put great effort into will pay huge dividends;

11214.  Pay attention to other people and ask yourself what emotion they want to evoke.  Then give it to them.  Don’t take too long to reply, but being too quick isn’t advisable either.  This is all to make others feel that you are present and engaged;

11215.  If your mind goes blank, use a technique called free association to generate a response.  These are words that immediately come to mind upon hearing something;

11216.  Owen (Cook) said he helped get a (U.S.) president elected;

11217.  Apparently, Tony Hsieh (the former CEO of Zappos.com) was a friend and former client of Owen Cook;

11218.  Apparently, word free association/vomiting sounds like rapping;

11219.  Apparently, Owen (Cook) has friends in the State Department that told/warned him to take his (video) content down;

11220.  Owen (Cook) thinks A(rtificial )I(ntelligence) will be the “mark of the beast;”

11221.  Ken Burns (the documentarian) has ditched the beard;

11222.  Ken Burns’ idea of dressing up is still a blazer with jeans;

11223.  In the early 1800s, (it has been estimated that) there were about 30 million (American) buffalo roaming from the east coast to the Great Plains;

11224.  The (American) buffalo is the national mammal of the U.S.;

11225.  I can say that I’ve chatted with W. Richard West, Jr., (the founding director of the “National Museum of the American Indian”) and his wife, Mary.  I ran into them, after a(n) (WETA) event in Washington, D.C., as they were about to cross the street.  They were very kind and gracious;

11226.  Ken Burns is 70;

11227.  What you’re drawn to tells you who you are;

11228.  The truth is that things don’t really get solved.  They come together and fall apart.  They come together again and fall apart again.  It’s just like that.  The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for mystery, for joy;

11229.  U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to enter Colombia for a tourist or business stay of 90 days or less or cumulatively for stays of 180 days or less per calendar year.  Before your 90-day stay expires, you can request an extension of up to 90 additional days from the Colombian immigration authority (i.e., MigraciĂ³n Colombia);

11230.  When looking for (airline) flights, try Capital One Travel (CapitalOneTravel.com).  I found the same flight for a $110.00 less than what I found it for on Google Flights;

11231.  Kung Fu Tea (KungFuTea.com) uses Lactaid (lactose-free) milk;

11232.  Coca-Cola (Zero Sugar) Y3000 does have a (fake) tropical fruit flavor to it . . . (it) maybe coconut;

11233.  The “Hot Wawa Gobbler with stuffing & cranberry” is tasty, but, it’s not as good as Starbucks’ “holiday turkey and stuffing panini;”

11234.  I find it sad, the number of companies/people, who try to prey on/scam you, when you buy real estate( with home warrantees, insurance and up-charging for property deeds);

11235.  Fill out your immigration registration at CheckMig (apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en) anytime between 72 hours to an hour before you get to Colombia.  It’ll (significantly) speed up the immigration control process;

11236.  The taxi(cab) and Uber pickup is upstairs on the departure level at JosĂ© MarĂ­a CĂ³rdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellin(, Colombia);

11237.  The TĂºnel de Oriente connecting Medellin with the JosĂ© MarĂ­a CĂ³rdova International Airport is the second longest vehicular tunnel in Latin America.  It cuts the commute/travel time to the airport from 1 ½ hours to 30-45 minutes;

11238.  Medellin is very mountainous.  It sits in a valley;

11239.  Most of the roads in Medellin are two lanes with one lane going in each direction;

11240.  Residential buildings in Medellin have (metal) fences with barbed/razor wire or electrified fencing on top.  Most storefronts have garage doors;

11241.  You can drink the water in Colombia;

11242.  Most of the buildings in Medellin are made from red(, clay) bricks;

11243.  McDonald’s has (bone-in) fried chicken in Colombia;

11244.  Apparently, Colombia has very little coffee culture;

11245.  Colombians seem to like avocado, beans, (ham)burgers, fried chicken, fried potatoes, grilled meat, hot dogs/sausages, plantain and rice;

11246.  There is Burger King, Domino’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hooters, KFC, McDonald’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Starbucks in Medellin;

11247.  Apparently, only foreigners and people working out wear shorts in Medellin;

11248.  Colombians start decorating for Christmas in November;

11249.  Davivienda (Davivienda.com) (in Colombia) doesn’t charge a fee for taking out money from their ATMs;

11250.  Apparently, they’ll deliver party favors to your door in Medellin;