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 Medellín Metro (i.e., Metro de Medellín).  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, chicharrón, 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., Jardín Botánico de Medellín).  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;

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., Migración 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 José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellin(, Colombia);

11237.  The Túnel de Oriente connecting Medellin with the José María Córdova 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;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0224

11151.  Montreal has a nice mix of old and new architecture;

11152.  I can say I’ve been in an Olympic venue(, specifically the Montreal Olympic Pool);

11153.  You can live in the Olympic Village.  The (1976) Olympic Village in Montreal has been converted/turned into apartments;

11154.  One of the fundamental rules of likability and charisma is the concept of reciprocity.  Put simply, we are kind to people who are kind to us first.  Rarely do you see somebody who reacts very negatively when somebody gives them a gift or dresses their wounds or otherwise helps them;

11155.  You have to choose things to praise others for that will have the greatest impact.  In other words, it has to be something that they actually care about.  Otherwise, your compliment will come off as less than genuine and you will give the impression that you’re fake or manipulative;

11156.  Massaging/working on one place on the body can affect a different area of the body;

11157.  Apparently, I’ve got a lot of tightness in the pelvic region of my body especially in the buttocks/glutes;

11158.  Apparently, I have a shy scrotum;

11159.  Apparently, the circumcision scar on the underside of my penis towards the tip is very sensitive;

11160.  Apparently, I should try relaxing when I climax/orgasm;

11161.  Comfort is the worst addiction and a cheap ticket to depression;

11162.  Don’t tell people more than they need to know; respect your privacy;

11163.  The family you create is more important than the family you come from;

11164.  Train yourself to take nothing personally to save yourself from 99% of mental problems;

11165.  There can be knots and tight spots inside the body;

11166.  An internal massage is a thing;

11167.  It’s possible to stroke/touch a woman’s cervix;

11168.  The keys to giving an internal massage are communication (i.e., what feels good and what doesn’t), going slowly and being present and really paying attention to the other person;

11169.  The cutlet sandwich (i.e., breaded chicken cutlet, provolone, coleslaw, hot peppers, marinated eggplant & mayonnaise) at “BOSSA Pret a manger” (Bossa.ca) (in Montreal) is tasty;

11170.  Apparently, a Montreal(-style) bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter, denser and with a bigger hole than a New York-style bagel and it’s always baked in a wood-fired oven;

11171.  The view from the Mount Royal Chalet in Montreal reminds me of the view from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong;

11172.  The smoked meat sandwich on rye (bread) with (yellow) mustard from Schwartz’s (SchwartzsDeli.com) (in Montreal) is so good. . . . It’s tender, flavorful, a little salty, but so good. . . . Their (French) fries are good too;

11173.  The (French) fries at Le Darling (instagram.com/Bar.Darling) (in Montreal) are great.  They have a slight sweetness to them;

11174.  Plattsburgh(, New York,) is known for the Michigan hot dog/red hot.  It’s a steamed all-beef hot dog on a steamed bun topped with a meaty, bean-less chili;

11175.  I can say I’ve had a Michigan hot dog/red hot( from Clare & Carl’s Hot Dog Stand in Plattsburgh, New York);

11176.  Abundance is not impressive when you have a lot of whatever it is you want to have a lot of.  Abundance is impressive when you don’t have what you want and you choose to believe the opposite of what reality is showing you at this exact moment.  If you can stay abundant in the face of scarcity then it shows your beliefs are immovable;

11177.  Scarcity and abundance aren’t based on numbers.  They’re based on beliefs;

11178.  According to Blake, I have a sweet nature about me . . . not exactly the vibe I’m looking to project to women/the ladies;

11179.  The lu rao fan (i.e., slow braised, 5-spice pork belly bits on rice, soy egg, scallions, ginger & arugula salad) at Bar Chinois (BarChinoisDC.com) in D.C. is tasty;

11180.  Here are the 2 key areas that are important as far as the focus of your compliments goes: things people have control over and things people have made conscious and specific choices about;

11181.  If you have to choose from many things to compliment someone about, pick the one that is least obvious;

11182.  Appreciating the things that go unnoticed makes people feel extra special because it tells them that you took the time and effort to pay close attention to them;

11183.  The iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte at Starbucks is tasty;

11184.  An Odesza concert is a spectacle.  It’s like a Vegas show.  There’s a good use of visuals, flame mortars, fireworks and lasers;

11185.  Odesza (sure does) love(s) a drumline;

11186.  Feelings drive action.  Feelings drive change.  Feelings drive connection;

11187.  People often claim to buy things because of logical decisions, but, most of the time, they buy based on feelings and then justify their decision with logic;

11188.  Logic doesn’t build deep connections.  Feelings do;

11189.  If you write in a way that doesn’t make people feel things, they won’t bond with you.  They won’t buy as much from you.  And they’ll likely stop paying attention to you overall at some point;

11190.  Don’t be afraid of upsetting people.  Don’t set out to piss people off, but don’t let someone else’s anger stop you from saying what you believe in.  Or stop you from having fun or doing things your way;

11191.  Marcello Hernandez (from “Saturday Night Live”) is pretty funny;

11192.  Not surprisingly, Michael Che is dirtier doing stand-up( comedy);

11193.  Colin Jost went to Harvard( University). . . . Michael Che didn’t go to college. . . . They ended up with the same job;

11194.  Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions;

11195.  In life, lots of people know what to do, but few actually do what they know.  Knowing is not enough!  You must take action;

11196.  If you talk about it, it’s a dream, if you envision it, it’s possible, but, if you schedule it, it’s real;

11197.  The path to success is to take massive, determined action;

11198.  Persistence overshadows even talent as the most valuable resource shaping the quality of life;

11199.  Engaging conversations require active listening, the kind that makes the other person feel heard and understood.  It’s about giving your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact and genuinely empathizing with their words.

11200.  One of the most powerful tools in your conversational arsenal is the art of asking thought-provoking questions.  These are the kinds of questions that dig deep, spark curiosity and invite the other person to open up on a whole new level.  It’s through these questions that you’ll unlock hidden stories, passions and insights, forging a connection that goes far beyond surface-level chitchat;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0223

11101.  The Peruvian (rotisserie) chicken at “Chicken + Whiskey” is good, but I still like the chicken at Nando’s Peri-Peri more;

11102.  The Trader Joe’s raisin rosemary crisps are so good.  I ate the whole box in a day;

11103.  Apparently, you can make oat flour by putting whole oats in a blender or a food processor;

11104.  Emily Haines (the lead singer of “Metric”) has nice legs;

11105.  (Surprisingly, )Emily Haines is 49. . . . She was born on January 25^th, 1974;

11106.  A conversation without reactions from the other party is like a movie without background music.  At first, things seem fine, but you quickly notice that it feels empty and something is missing.  You feel as if you’re speaking to a wall you can’t read and one that you’re not even sure is listening to what you are saying.  You’re not sure what to feel and how to proceed because there are no cues given;

11107.  Reactions show people that you are more than just physically present; you are emotionally and intellectually present;

11108.  If you match the energy of the person you’re talking to, you’ll also make them feel like you understand them better than you actually do;

11109.  As with many things, reactions have a cumulative effect.  If during a 5-minute conversation, the other person does not react to 1 or 2 statements you make, you might not notice.  But suppose that person doesn’t respond 10 times in a row to something you’ve said?  Wouldn’t you start to feel anxious, as if you’ve said the wrong thing and they are punishing you with their complete lack of reaction?

11110.  There are a few different levels to reactions that make it clear you are listening and present.  You don’t have to be an expert at reacting or make a big show of it; you just need to let the other person know you’re engaged;

11111.  The first element is to make sure you react with the appropriate emotion;

11112.  The easiest way to make sure you react appropriately to a story, statement or question is to take a step back and ask yourself, “What is the primary emotion being shared here?” and then give that back to them;

11113.  Keep in mind that the intensity of your emotion matters as well;

11114.  As such, once you recognize the emotion they’re looking for, take care to also return it in equal measure as they expressed it to you;

11115.  Here’s a tip: the vast majority of emotions people share and want reciprocal, congruent reactions to are: joy, annoyance, anger, sadness and humor.  Note that 3 out of 5 are negative;

11116.  When your responses accurately fit what the other person is saying (and feeling), it tells them you understand them – that you can walk a mile in their shoes.  You create a lot of subconscious comfort when you react in a way that accurately corresponds to their feelings;

11117.  To reinforce such expression of understanding to the person you’re talking with, take it up a notch by also mimicking their facial expression and gestures;

11118.  The second way to make your reactions great is to react just a little slower than you think you should;

11119.  If you are stone-faced and unreactive, people fell as if they are speaking to a wall.  But reacting too quickly can impart a similar frustration;

11120.  If you react too quickly, no matter your reasons for doing so, it make you look dismissive;

11121.  When you react too quickly, it also makes people feel rushed;

11122.  If you have a problem with reacting too quickly or overreacting, try the 2-second rule.  Wait 2 seconds after the person is done speaking before you say anything.  It makes it look as if you are processing and considering what they’ve just said.  Moreover, people are likely to perceive you as smarter if you take a few moments to respond;

11123.  Noel Gallagher (from the band, “Oasis”,) is crotchety;

11124.  When you’re ordering food at “Jimmy John’s,” get your sandwich with French bread.  You get more food than if you ordered it with thick-sliced wheat;

11125.  Always have these double explanations prepared (i.e., 1.  a short, witty, layman’s response; and 2.  a more detailed, expert’s response).  Lead with a layman’s explanation because these make you look interesting and prevent you from missing a chance to make an impression.  They make you appear witty and they open the conversation to deeper levels of engagement.  However, ensure that your responses do not seem rehearsed.  It can be fairly easy to spot someone who is mechanically repeating lines they’re rote learned so pause for a moment or 2 before replying;

11126.  Once you know the conversation won’t remain superficial, you can unleash your expert explanation on people to create engagement and immediately capitalize on a common interest);

11127.  Compliments can help your conversations last longer and make you the object of someone’s attention and affection.  The trick is you need to know how to use them properly;

11128.  I can say I’ve been to an MLS All-Star Skills Challenge;

11129.  I can say I’ve seen Arsenal F.C. (from the Premier League) play/practice;

11130.  Compliments from someone who gives them out easily and frequently have little value.  However, if you’re perceived as the kind of person who compliments or appreciates things only when s/he genuinely sees value in them, your words will carry much more meaning;

11131.  People like to feel validated and appreciated.  Paying compliments can go a long way in producing these feelings;

11132.  In conversations, compliments create an air of positivity, which can boost the overall level of comfort people have with you;

11133.  When somebody says something positive to you, your brain produces neurotransmitters that are associated with a sense of well-being and happiness;

11134.  If one of your friends constantly compliments you and never fails to make you feel better about yourself, you probably start looking forward to seeing that person;

11135.  What has actually happened is that your brain has paired this friend with the positive feeling of being complimented, thus creating an automatic reaction of feeling good every time you’re with that person.  Eventually, this positive conditioning becomes somewhat addictive;

11136.  If you come across people that are predictably negative and put you in a bad place mentally and emotionally, your tendency is to run away from them;

11137.  You don’t get what you want by wanting it.  You get it by becoming it in your mind before you become it in reality.  Reality follows energy;

11138.  Accept what is.  Let go of what was.  Believe in what will be;

11139.  I can say I’ve taken a road trip to Montreal;

11140.  Most of the buildings in Montreal are brick;

11141.  Most of the apartments in Montreal have balconies;

11142.  There are Wal-Marts in Montreal;

11143.  There are not a lot of Starbucks in Montreal;

11144.  They have very steep (entrance) staircases in Montreal;

11145.  Montreal has a lot of public parks;

11146.  You may want to have a deeper relationship with someone, for example, your father, but, at this point, he’s set in his ways and probably won’t change. . . . And that’s okay;

11147.  Apparently, I had a lot of repressed/suppressed anger/hatred against/towards God;

11148.  Apparently, I had a lot of repressed/suppressed anger/hatred against/towards an old girlfriend;

11149.  The left side of the body is regarded as the feminine side and represents(, among other things,) the mother.  It’s also the channel of our past emotions and memories;

11150.  According to Igor, I have a calming energy about me;