Studying history can open your eyes to concepts you could never imagined. For example: in the Philippines, corn, root vegetables, and fish were primarily the foods consumed prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Also interesting, the civilizations in Mesoamerica consumed similar food stuffs — corn, root crops, and fish. Both Pre-Spanish civilizations are believed to have crossed land from Asia bridges after the last ice age to reach what we call the Philippines and the Americas. It’s possible to draw a line and imagine some connection. But it’s more exciting to ask the question: what else might we learn if we dug into our past? And what lessons might we learn?

I discovered, thanks to Wikipedia, that the word factum (where fact comes from) originally meant “a thing done or performed.” That meaning is no longer used today.I also learned that facts in math, science, philosophy, law, and rhetoric all take on different meanings given different applications. For example “facts” in jurisprudence have different meanings and standards compared to “facts” in science which are often the result of objective and verifiable observations. And political rhetoric is its own beast. Methods for checking facts vary. In court that’s a jury, in some places it could be experimentation, using reason/logic, or even the fact that an authority argues the fact to be true. I argue that a fact is nothing more than: a thing done that, for it to have full short or long run utility, must be subject to and survive cross examination. I believe that bridges hard and social science, politics, arts, and even our judgments of every day life.Feel free to be the finder of fact in that regard.

Ligaya Mishan’s piece The Life-Affirming Properties of Sichuan Pepper (NYT) , offers us hope for the TLDR world.The Sichuan pepper and that famous ma la experience is becoming popular in the USA. I love the experience of ma and I enjoy the spice. Is this globalization? Are we becoming more open? Perhaps the demand rise could be explained in an idea that people are becoming more culinarily curious about their world! I believe that the best way to experience a people is through their food preparation traditions. The ma la experience is one of those experiences that’s worth the cost. And what’s more, the experience is immersive. Perhaps my ideas of a TLDR world are numbing on the plate?

In a world where people want to know the big idea and call it quits what is the opportunity cost calculation to prefer the TLDR? It’s no different than seeing the forest for the trees. Why settle for the gist of an idea when you could appreciate the depth and breadth of someone’s carefully crafted work?I think we go back to that idea of seduction. Some desire the game, the tease, the dance with an idea but they don’t derive utility form that idea once it’s had. That’s a mistake because they give up the opportunity for long-run returns to engagement. I may be criticized for being overly analytical or “makulit” (google it) about wanting to engage in an idea. I won’t apologize for it. While others find value in chasing the next most seductive idea, I find value fully committing myself to a relationship with an idea. Thanks for not being lazy.

Are we becoming conditioned to not go deeper?

This is the last post about the cookies, I swear! What is the marginal value of a Mega Stuffed Oreo cookie? If the value in the experience is the ability to taste the cookie, the marginal value of an additional cookie may not return much more utility than trying the first Mega Stuffed Oreo cookie. If I, and the team, see diminishing returns after the first cookie, how much waste have I produced bringing a big package of cookies? I would be better bringing little pieces which can be consumed per person. I then thought, well does the marginal value of the cookie go up if accompanied by conversation and fellowship. Perhaps! Then again, referring to yesterday’s post, why would I want people to sugar crash on me? This, my last post on the Mega Stuffed Oreo cookie saga. You got random musings on economics, marketing, psychology, scarcity principle, some management theory and my ultimate resignation to buy Mega Stuffed Oreo cookies because the opportunity cost of not buying is suffering at the hands of my team’s cookie craze.

I’m not done with Oreos yet.The theory of rising expectation as described by Richard Farson in “Management of the Absurd” states: Discontent rises as situations and circumstances become better.Farson offers us three levels of discontent:Low-level: complaining about working conditions.High-order: altruistic complaints. Metagrumbles: under utilization of talents. Acquiring Mega Stuffed Oreos will only improve conditions which correlates to rising discontent. I thought deeper though, wouldn’t I want the Mega Stuffed Oreos to not only be a short term gain but also a way to show my engagement with the team. I threw that idea quickly because if I was seeking more engagement, then why would I induce a sugar crash?

I’m heading to the Philippines soon for work. Members of my team asked me to bring them Mega Stuffed Oreo cookies. The product isn’t available in the Philippines, and they swear the taste is different.I wonder:How do we know this is not a placebo effect?How might regulations about food production influence the taste of our oreo cookies? Is that “better” taste actually “better”? Could “better” be “worse”? (I’m not a nutritionist nor am I food scientist — discount my ideas 100%)Is it that something is rare or unavailable that heightens our perception and sensation of that thing?I’ll pick a side — seduction. There’s a strong desire to want what we can’t have; and when the thing we want is teased in front of us, that desire grows. Marketers, songwriters, entertainment professionals, potential relationship partners, job seekers, and employers all know that — and clearly Oreo knows that too. It’s my experience with humans that the desire for something often increases the perception of the potential satisfaction of having a thing. And once that thing is had, 50% of its value is lost the second after it’s possessed. Like a car.And, possibly, like Mega Stuffed Oreos.

I think a large chunk of my life has been about “cracking” culture. Learning how people do things, why they do things, and how to fit in those people — all of it. By cracking culture I get a unique advantage over my peers — I can create valuable outputs with and through many kinds of people. The first step to cracking the culture code is to immerse yourself in a culture. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations, observe, and be curious — but don’t judge. Yours is not to reason why, yours is to do. An easy way to pick a sub culture of your community you’d like to understand more. Go to a part of town where the sub culture thrives, and immerse yourself. If you are interested in Mexican food, go to Mexican communities in your area and shop at the markets. Actually, go a step further and learn how to order what you want in Spanish AND THEN go to the market. No no no, go even further… watch a video on line, a receta, of someone cooking Mexican food and reciting the recipe in Spanish. Imagine the taste and the smell. Imagine you’re there cooking with the person. Listen over and over again — hear the rhythm of the language. Learn what ingredients you need - the Spanish name of the ingredient. Go to your Mexican market and get it. Go home and cook.This form of culture cracking, the observer method, almost requires you to become the object of your study. And doing that, you’ll come to know many a people. You’ll also come to know that many of us are just like you.

“The present is just past the future.” - John Brady (dad)

My dad said this to me and my sister today. For me, it’s profound because of the implications for how time is perceived.

I’m not a philosopher — but my forming understanding is that there are many philosophies on time.

1. Presentism: the present is all that exists. Very Stoic — with a capital S.
2. Eternalism: past, present, and future all equally exist. Time is an illusion.
3. Process Philosophy: the present is a series of interconnected events rather than a static entity.

The hard sciences - math and physics - also boast a boat load of theories on time.