Better to Be Human Than a Robot

Yes? Yes.

This story is a very quick collection of news that caught my eye.

#1. COVID spell

The first thing that caught my eye because I wrote it. :) I just want to share it before the 48-hour window on Dr. Mercola’s websites expires. (I am including a PDF as well).

The article is about navigating this very complex and sometimes super painful world of ours with actual love. Not the kind of fictional, ideal love that is associated with being weak and ridiculous but with actual love, a very happy and confident state of the senses that makes us strong in a dignifying way. It also makes it easier to navigate this world because where there is actual love, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and things make sense.

It’s an important article, at least it feels this way.

There are no magical formulas. We in America are somewhat used to magical formulas, psychological "systems," and impressive consultants riding in on a white horse with a solution and an invoice.

But perhaps, the past three years showed up to strip us of that delusion and to demonstrate to us in the most visceral way that here we are, human beings between the earth and the sky, with a deep longing in our hearts and a clumsy prayer on our lips. And perhaps, that longing in our heart and that imperfect prayer on our lips are all we have — and it's a start.

Here is a PDF. The PDF doesn’t have the video of my interview with Igor Chudov at the end of the article, so here’s the video link.

Covid Spell Pdf(1)

109KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Here is also an adjacent article on the subject that I won’t shut up about, i.e. why it is much more practical to try and get over your trauma than to indefinitely nurse it, even if the pain is real.

#2. “Bonus refund”

This one was sent to me by a wonderful reader (thank you!)

The senior management at the supermarket company Kroger paid its bakery managers a bonus, then allegedly discovered that the payroll software made multiple mistakes, and now they are asking about 50 of their local bakery managers for a “bonus refund” that is larger than the bonus and the earlier incentive payments combined.

CINCINNATI — Kroger employees complained for months about payroll mistakes that made their checks too small. But it turns out it’s also a problem if your bonus check is too large – and the company demands a refund bigger than the bonus and overpayment combined.

Kroger provided a statement about the bonus problems:

Kroger’s values include honesty and integrity, which means when we make a mistake, we acknowledge it and act quickly to resolve the issue. Several months ago, a small percentage of local associates were paid more than their earned incentive. This was due to a clerical mistake. We immediately identified the error, notified and provided the affected associates with options to return the mistaken overpayments in a way that respects both their personal financial situation and integrity.

The bonus problem follows a series of payroll mistakes that led to hundreds of union grievances and four lawsuits filed on behalf of Kroger employees in five states.

The lawsuits alleged the company’s new payroll system, known as MyTime, caused late or missing paychecks and mistakes in hours worked, wages paid and statements of deductions and withholdings.

This, I reckon, is a preview of what the society is going to be like as people start relying on software more, and on their brains less.

Yep, smart cities are going to be great.

#3. Thinking ahead

And finally, Dr. Meryl Nass is just a wonderful, brave, positively-minded human being who thinks ahead. I am expressing love.

My talk to the Better Way Conference on Friday, June 2, 2023

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