The Hopeful Humanist Cafe

Join me, The Hopeful Humanist, for a blethering trite conversation about the apostrophe's demise, a "This, that, there ..." challenge and an invitation to take and make the invented, silly, post-modern tradition of 'Festivus' your own.  Check out the resources below:  

Videos:

1) Watch these clips of the Seinfeld episode called "The Strike" to learn more about "Festivus,"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX55AzGku5Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdnqjnegEs

Festivus

 Books

1) Here is a great book (I borrowed it in audio form from my local library) about the history of the sitcom called "Seinfeld."

Seinfeldia - attached is the link to Amazon

https://www.amazon.ca/Seinfeldia-About-Nothing-Changed-Everything/dp/1476756104/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31EIJOCPZ1X8P&keywords=seinfeldia&qid=1575412624&sprefix=Seinfeldia%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1

2)Festivus: The Holiday for the rest of us - Again, I borrowed this book in audio form from the local library, but here is the link to

Amazonhttps://www.amazon.ca/Festivus-Holiday-Rest-Allen-Salkin/dp/0446540668/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=festivus+book&qid=1575412700&sr=8-3

To learn more about the apostrophe's demise go to the following link:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.5380932/apostrophe-protection-society-shuts-down-after-18-years-blaming-ignorance-and-laziness-1.5380935

Peace and Take Care

On October 21, 2019 Canadians will cast votes for the next federal leader of Canada.  In this episode, I encourage Canadians to get informed, engage in respectful conversation and get out to vote because voting is a right.  I provide a number of resources to explore to prepare for the upcoming vote.  So please, check the sources, check the images, and check the claims, and stand up to the "Why vote?" meme, because choosing not to vote allows those who do vote to double-down on the weight of their vote.  Let us use our critical thinking skills (i.e. know your bias, suspend judgement and ask questions) so we can make the wise decisions and send the message that we will not fall into the role of "emotionally provoked persuadables."   

Resources:

1) Learn about logical fallacies (i.e. hasty generalizations, appeal to emotions, bandwagon effect, etc.) at these two links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IawIjqOJBU8

2) And: https://thebestschools.org/magazine/15-logical-fallacies-know/

3) Explore the expansion of Democracy from 1816 to 2016 at: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/its-2016-here-is-the-state-of-voting-rights-around/

For voting Canadians:

1) First time voters uncertain of your leanings - check out Vote Compass - Canada Votes 2019 at: https://votecompass.cbc.ca/canada/

2) Feeling like you don't have any clarity about campaign positions go to: https://pollenize.org/en/elections/canada-2019

3) Want to learn about the Canadian Democratic system and how to get ready to cast an informed vote access "classroom resources" at https://studentvote.ca/canada/

Lastly, feeling creative?  If so, before October 21, 2019, make a concrete prediction about the overall voter participation rate (68.5% in 2015) and the final election outcome (i.e. Liberal minority government with surges in the Bloc and NDP?) by putting pen to paper.  It is a healthy way to put those automatic thoughts we have into check and an invitation to be open to surprise. 

Remember, voting makes a difference!  Thank-you for joining me in another "tip of the ice-burg" conversation.  Take care & peace from the Hopeful Humanist, just some guy, attempting to share inspiration and inspire creativity.      

Welcome to another "make you think," "one take," blithering moment at the Hopeful Humanist Cafe.  In this episode, I invite you to step into the nuts and bolts life of Bruce as he struggles with social acceptance.  The focus of the episode is this novel first sentence: "Bruce's silicon synapses spontaneously started sparking with a gnawing curiosity. Would they accept him? What if they didn't? Hmmm, how could he test the waters with his kids? MAYBE he should tell them: 'Your mom is a robot'"  

Suggested song to enjoy as background theme by Supertramp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=low6Coqrw9Y

Peace and take care

Welcome to this Hegelian synthesis of Blithering Thoughts at the Hopeful Humanist Cafe, a post-post modern, surrealist, phenomenological, first person, empirical exploration of ideas in flow, the good life, T-shirt notions, etcetera moments and resources for your spiritual toolbox.  #okaythen. In this episode, I invite listeners to think about what competencies or meta skills we need to equip our children with to prepare for the 21 century.  

Showcase Resources:

1) Listen to Yuval Noah Harari summarize his book called, "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" in a Ted Talk at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzj7Wg4DAbs 

2) Listen to Yuval Noah Harari give a Google talk about lessons we need to keep in mind for the 21 century at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw9P_ZXWDJU

Games to play to foster creativity ... Don't take my word for it - experiment:

Codename Words, Codename Pictures, Taboo, and the game I struggled to recall called, "Ticket to Ride."  Let the creative spring erupt!

"Learn to fail or fail to learn" - Tal Ben Shahar (Lecture 6 from his Positive Psychology course available on Youtube).

Peace & Take Care ... until our next meeting of the minds

The "crumple basket," the joy of nonsensical words, and "dialoguing memes" are explored in this final episode of the three part series called, "Pass the salt, I'm in France."  It concludes with this novel first sentence for your free-writing pleasure: "Back there, I had everything but nothing; here, I have nothing but everything." And in the non-sequitur spirit of Blithering Thoughts about T-shirt ideas, novel first sentences, and etcetera moments, remember to "Give your head a shake, concussions are serious!"  Trying to share inspiration to inspire creativity.  Peace and take care. 

In this 2nd episode of the 3 part series called, "Pass the Salt, I'm in France," it becomes clear that T-shirts can be controversial and create feelings.  One is invited to imagine two T-shirts engaging in an open conversation to discover if there could be a common ground.  The novel first sentence to play with in your journal goes like this: Life is not a fairy tale but it is full of everything that makes one ..." Peace and take care ... Sharing inspiration and inspiring creativity!

Let me introduce the first episode of my re-boot for my sister podcast on the Anchor platform called, "Blithering Thoughts about T-shirt Ideas, Novel First Sentences, and Etcetera Moments." This episode is the first of a 3 part series called, "Pass the salt, I'm in France."  My hope is to share inspiration to inspire creativity in an unscripted, raw flow of blithering conversation with all the sounds of life in the back ground.  To prevent confusion and help distinguish Hopefulhumanist episodes and Blithering Thoughts episodes, I will number Blithering Thoughts episodes with a "T-shirt #" designations.  Tune in next week for "Dialoguing T-shirts" - T-shirt #5, part 2 of the "Pass the salt, I'm in France" series. 

Boompf and Bugadoo   ...

In this awkward episode, I will provide some resources to explore a possible link between happiness, mental health, sexual health and -- yes, the "M" word -- MASTURBATION.  The showcase resources are as follows:

1) www.teenhealthsource.com - A great resource for teens and parents that provides information about birth control, sexual identity, puberty & the body, relationships & self-esteem, and sex.  

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvSJE9n0GfA&t=623s - In this Ted Talk, Jane Langton both provides a true confession account and research findings connected to masturbation.

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRkPU1fKchI&list=PLrQBzEPbi1wRL5NRzlRVSe2muIBTZRmfA - In this Ted Talk, Teesha Morgan explores masturbation myths and provides ideas for different words we can use for the "M" word to make the conversation more comfortable. 

Additional on-line article links:

1) https://greatist.com/happiness/masturbation-health-benefits#1 - This article looks at the question about whether-or-not it is good for us?

2) https://www.healthline.com/health/masturbation-and-depression - This article looks at the link between masturbation and depression.

3)https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18581/10-reasons-to-make-masturbation-part-of-your-wellness-routine.html - This article looks at the benefit of incorporating masturbation into your wellness routine.

Ideas for a music playlist:

1)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0 - How about some #metime with Bruno Mars

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-34w8kGPM - A song by Divinyls called, "I touch myself."

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFq4E9XTueY - Who was to know what Cindy Lauper was singing about?

How about a comedy sketch about the terrain:

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V13rRz05uBM - An uncomfortable moment between Donna and Eric on "That 70s Show."

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jze7b5cG8dw - The Seinfeld game make an awkward bet on "Seinfeld."  Maybe to really be master of one's domain it means "taking back" one's body.  

Worksheet for good coping

1) Here is a list from the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Workbook of pleasurable activities and it includes the "M" word: http://www.englishtherapy.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Big-List-of-Pleasurable-Activities.doc

Thanks for joining me at The Hopeful Humanist Cafe.  I look forward to our next meeting of the minds!

In episode 20, the second episode in the mini-series On Choice, I will showcase a Hopeful Humanist concept called "C-cubed" (C3) so we can add some new ideas like "The Dawning of agency," "The forfeiture of choice," and "The field of influence" to our spiritual toolbox.  In this episode, I tell a sort of story about the phenomenon called choice by exploring a formula for empowerment captured with the following nomenclature: Circumstance: Choice → Consequence.  Additionally, below, I will include some other interesting resources about how to make better choices. 

Decision Making Resources:

1) Watch the Ted Talk called "How to make better decisions," by Dr. Joe Arvai as he presents the thesis that our choices define us.  He suggests we are all architects when it comes to choice and offers listeners a "Building Code" to navigating difficult choice points at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7SAcFp4so&t=20s

2) Visit The School of life and watch "How to make a decision."  In this video we are invited to think about different choice perspectives and reminded about the importance of settling for "good enough" as opposed to striving for perfection when making choices as it results in improved mental health.  To watch video click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okdsAZUTJ94

3) If you are interested in reading some literature about making a systematic approach for making decisions, go to Mind Tools at the following link: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_00.htm

4) At wikiHow there are a number of web-pages dedicated to the decision making process.  I liked the one called, "How to make better decisions" - what do you think? Head to this link and put on your critically-reflective lense: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Better-Decisions

Peace and take care

In this episode, we will initiate the first discussion of an on-going exploration about choice.  Our departure point starts with the question: Does choice exist?  While the showcase resource is a book by Barry Schwartz called "The Paradox of Choice," my hope is to also provide a number of additional resources to construct a "grasshopper" (qualifier provided by the 1972 television program called Kung Fu starring David Carradine) curriculum about a phenomenon called choice.  It is my hope the collection of material presented will generate thought about the revelatory and empowering nature of choice. 

Show Case Resource:

1) Go to your local library and pick up the book "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less - How The Culture of Abundance Robs Us of Satisfaction" by Barry Schwartz to discover if you are a Maximizer or Satisficer and rules of thumb for making important life decisions. It is also available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.ca/Paradox-Choice-Why-More-Less/dp/0060005696/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QYHD311FXFW4&keywords=the+paradox+of+choice&qid=1556585483&s=gateway&sprefix=The+paradox+of+choi%2Caps%2C641&sr=8-1

2) If you prefer watching videos, you can watch Barry Schwartz give at Ted Talk on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6XEQIsCoM

Interested in discussion about the problem of free will?

1) Maybe "Free Will" does not exist but what about "Free Won't?" How would you make sense of the research conducted by Libet?  Check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjCt-L0Ph5o

2) Not sure about the different conflicting views that relate to the problem of "Free Will," give an ear to John Searle, an American philosopher from the University of California, Berkeley.  He captures the problem so succinctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rZfSTpjGl8&t=25s

3) Check-out Crash Course, a great free on-line educational platform, to look for congruence with John Searle's account about "Determinism vs Free Will" at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAI

4) Inclined to a determinist understanding of life, Check-out Sam Harris' podcast called "Making Sense" and listen to Episode #124, In Search of Reality: A conversation with Sean Carroll at:https://samharris.org/podcast/

Additional Reading: 

1) The Father Reaches of Human Nature by Abraham H. Maslow - this is a must read to understand how one of the pivotal founders of Humanistic Psychology conceptualized the centrality of choice to the human experience and self-actualization.  If it is not available at your local library, you can find it on Amazon:https://www.amazon.ca/Farther-Reaches-Human-Nature/dp/0140194703/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=29QAKS8L2PB1P&keywords=the+farther+reaches+of+human+nature&qid=1556587784&s=gateway&sprefix=The+farther+reach%2Caps%2C259&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Until our next meeting of minds.  May the choices you make be the wisest ones possible in the moments that you meet.