Over the past week, I had a few instances where I had an immediate reaction: “Wittgenstein’s Ruler.” In each case, the person with whom I was speaking offered a similar reaction of, “Huh?” I retraced my steps and restated my thinking. But, I think the idea of Wittgenstein’s Ruler is so important, and Wittgenstein’s story …
Over the weekend, I had an exchange with a few people, notably Sims Tillirson and Jan Jensen, which involved some inquiry into the ideas of “work-life balance” and “purpose.” This caused me to think about this word, “purpose;” How is it people can find meaning in different aspects of life, such as business, family, art, …
I am a forty-five year old guy. Apparently, amongst the awards one wins when getting along to this age, is a recommended first preventive colonoscopy. My anxiety about this process, including all the attendant activities and experiences, will apparently overwhelm today and tomorrow. It is now 5:47pm. I figured, I may as well document a …
I am sitting at Holger’s soccer practice. I made a note a week ago to write a blogpost about some recent activities. I have been thinking about the recent losses of people that were present for me during different times in my life: my high school friend, Dan Becker, my college friend, Matt Shaner, and …
Dear Mayor Nanes and State College Borough Council: I am a resident of the Borough of State College. Please find this letter in response to the meeting held on November 20, 2023. I commend the Council for withdrawing from consideration Resolution 1371. This decision, guided by a principle of “do no harm,” was a prudent …
Our family enjoyed a few weeks of vacation on Bornholm. As we were milling around, a handful of ideas for future blogposts occurred to me; I also took tons of photographs. I thought I would share some of these pictures, and summaries of potential blogposts, here. Bornholm is a small island in the Baltic Sea, …
If the cell is the basic unit of life – the living tool that forms the organism – then what is it “designed” to do? Well, first it has evolved to be autonomous, to survive as an independent living unit. This autonomy depends, in turn, on organization – on the cell’s interior anatomy. A cell …
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shackAnd you may find yourself in another part of the worldAnd you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobileAnd you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wifeAnd you may ask yourselfWell…How did I get here? David Byrne, Once In …
I woke up this Labor Day thinking about the good fortune conferred on those of us living in the developed world. As an American, I am grateful for the good fortune to be born in New Jersey, to live in Pennsylvania, and have the opportunity to raise our children in a nice community and school …
I love the business of insurance brokerage and employee benefit advisory. I wrote a blog post about it here. Even though I stepped away from agency leadership last year, as I relayed here, I continue to consult with some employers, insurance agencies, and other organizations (e.g. biotechnology firms). But, I miss being “in the mix” …