Since writing my last article on personal productivity, a number of people have written in asking for updates. I'll make every attempt to keep this platform-neutral: whether you're using a Mac, a Windows or Linux machine, or a simple paper-and-pencil implementation of David Allen's GTD system, it always helps to see how other people are doing it. This article covers what works for me, and is adapted from an email on GTD that I recently sent to a colleague.
Read more »

A central aspect of the study of cognition lies in the differentiation between various major regions in the brain. The major three physiological regions display a marked difference in function as well as purpose. An increased reliance on higher technology through the phylogenetic progression of function through these brain regions leads to amelioration of interconnected human needs. This progression is continuing in modernity to include metasyntactic representations of thought as well, which I describe herein as the "fourth brain."
Read more »

Durkheim uses the term Anomie to describe the social isolation emerging from breakdown of cultural heteronormativity. Recall that social institutions require some measure of heteronormativity in order to function. Without full regard for the humanity of your fellow citizens, it's unlikely that one will fully support his exercise of human rights, regardless of whether they infringe on your own right to do the same. This article describes the relationship between anomie and the various constructions of state, and how the former moves the latter towards the construction of human rights-centered social, political, and economic institutions.
Read more »

In my previous article, I described a system of governance which carries various traits of both capitalism and socialism. Following that was a proposed standard to apply to determine the approaches to concentrate on in a given environment. A central question remains, however: after democratizing the means of production, de-personyifying corporations and the subsequent legislation against monopoly, and guaranteeing social institutions which are directly tied to human rights and need amelioration; how does progress exist?

Read more »

Talking about politics at the office a few weeks ago, I was surprised how few people understand the relationship between socialism and capitalism in modern states. As of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the two most influential states left on the map are China, the most heavily capitalized socialist state, and the USA, the most heavily socialized capitalist state. As described in my previous article, the reason for this is the zero-sum relationship between pure cooperation (socialism) and pure competition (capitalism).

Both systems have merits and drawbacks, but the optimally influential state relies on both for success. In the United States, however, there is a flawed cultural assumption that every aspect of society is governed at some fundamental level by democratic capitalism. This article concentrates on the USA, and those aspects of its social, economic, political, and cultural climates that belie the assumption that free markets can handle everything.

Read more »