Disqus - Latest Comments for Ned

Re: The Price of my Dreams - $60 a Week

Ned — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:09:51 -0000

I can't immediately think of anything I would out-source. What I did find interesting is the precision that you apply to time management. I often feel unprepared for my day and behind before I even get started. I appreciate the inspiration.

Re: The Problem with The Pareto Principle

Ned — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:50:11 -0000

Well, first of all, I commend you for questioning an idea that is often taken at face value.

The way I understand it, the 80/20 rule is a means of prioritizing. The principle behind it is that all activities are not equally valuable and if you chart your activities, a smaller number will be more valuable. And that what establishes greater value of an activity is its long-term benefit.

In terms of your freelance writing, we might state that the most valuable activity would be: to get paid the most amount of money for the shortest period of time with the greatest residual income. I did a quick chart of these three variables relating to your freelance business. After looking at the numbers, I simplified the activities into blogging and magazine article writing because the magazine article was the only variable. In terms of time, money and residual income all of the blog articles prioritize the same.

The magazine article is in the middle of your income, at the bottom of your 'time spent', but it is at the top your residual income. The reason it is at the top is that one published article gains you credibility and notoriety which exponentially increase your clientele and income per article. So all that time writing queries is actually worth thousands of dollars more than any single article you could write.

If you spent the majority of your time querying magazines instead of writing you would starve to death. But the effort you put into getting published increases the value of your writing over-all. It is this basic dynamic that the 80/20 rule points out.

But, then, most of us do not give it this much consideration. I hadn't until I read your article. ;)

Re: Why Religion Is a Poor Guide to Morality | Wanderings

Ned — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:40:26 -0000

Considering the desecration of the Eucharist a grave sin does not mean the condoning of other sins. Both sexual molestation and murder are mortal sins; meaning, that without repentence a person is destined for hell. Sounds pretty serious to me.

You ignore what the Eucharist symbolizes, which is the redemption of man from his lower nature. In other words it is the basis of maintaining morality. And that morality does focus on relieving suffering and not harming other people. Therefore, the Eucharist provides an objective means of maintaining morality in our society.

You can say that you disagree with that (I'm sure you do), but that is a rational explanation to the conclusion that desecration of the Eucharist is a grave sin.

Also, the Catholic Church doesn't teach that there is no morality without religion. The difference is that if someone hits you, you would be morally justified to hit them back in defense. There is no logical basis for turning the other cheek. That requires faith.

Re: Thinkin About Spring Roll

Ned — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:42:14 -0000

St. Etienne... as in "It's only spring time"?

Re: Sunset: Summer Burn 2009

Ned — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:56:09 -0000

I'm not really sure you actually read comments, but this reminded me how I wish you would write something, serious or not so serious.

Re: Does taking risks build confidence?

Ned — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:24:13 -0000

I think it is less about taking risks and more about taking responsibility.

I am a machinist and I run machines that cost $500,000 on the low end. These machines move very quickly and one over-sight could mean an expensive repair and lost production time.

When I first started doing this kind of work, I was extremely nervous and I would triple check everything I did to ensure I wouldn't destroy something. One of the first things they taught me was that scraped parts, broken tools and crashed machines happen everyday and not to worry about it.

What improved my confidence with machining was accepting the consequences of crashing a machine beforehand. Once I could accept my own fallibility, I became a lot better at my job. The reality is, people with twenty years experience doing what I do still make those kind of mistakes.

In your article, you mention how governments, parents and others are over-protective in our society. I think this leads people to not take responsibility for themselves and their behavior. And, in turn, they lack self-confidence. Confidence means there is no one to blame. You take full responsibility. And the truth is, government or no government, you are responsible in the end.

Ned's last blog post..Anger in the Body and Inspired Action: Day 1

Re: Myth of the Addictive Personality

Ned — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:31:48 -0000

"Whilst the term “addictive personality” may be helpful to explain away an addiction, it doesn’t have any real meaning or basis in science. There is some evidence that there is a genetic predisposition to develop addictions and some personality disorders can make someone more prone to compulsive behavior."

The second sentence disproves the first. If there is evidence that a person has genetic predisposition to addiction, then we would say he has a addictive personality.

I don't think you entirely comprehend the problem. It isn't difficult to quit an addiction through one's own will power. The difficulty is remaining sober despite one's own best efforts. What is required is a personality change so significant that relapse becomes near impossible. You can't change your personality until you understand that a change is required. Hence, the admission of having an addictive personality.

Do some people use that admission as an excuse to stay in addiction? Sure. Did they need an excuse? Not really. There is, however, a difference between a person who is drinking/using with or without that awareness. The latter has no way out: they are stuck in their predisposition. The former knows there is a way out, but chooses not to take it.

<abbr></abbr><abbr>Neds last blog post..Change I Need</abbr>