Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Ann Arbor area responds to Flint water crisis in a big way

An incredibly large amount of bottled water is headed to Flint thanks to the generous donations of Washtenaw County residents.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Last call: 2016 Detroit auto show ends Sunday

The end of the 2016 North American International Auto Show is near.
This Saturday and Sunday will be the final chances to peruse the incoming crop of vehicles, boundary-pushing concepts and the glitzy showroom at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit.

Friday, January 22, 2016

The Tao of Seneca: Letters from a Stoic Master

The Tao of Seneca


"It is precisely in times of immunity from care that the soul should toughen itself beforehand for occasions of greater stress, and it is while fortune is kind that it should fortify itself against her violence." Seneca the Younger


After 10+ years of fantasizing about it, I have turned my favorite writing of all time (Seneca's letters) into an audiobook series! The title of the series is The Tao of Seneca: Practical Letters from a Stoic Master.


This podcast episode gives you a sample, one of my favorites: On Groundless Fears (Letter 13). I listen to it at least once a quarter.


Here's a description of the full monty:


The Tao of Seneca: Practical Letters from a Stoic Master is an introduction to Stoic philosophy through the words of Seneca.


Thought leaders in Silicon Valley tout the benefits of Stoicism, and NFL management, coaches, and players (Patriots, Seahawks, etc.) alike have embraced it because the principles make them better competitors. If you study Seneca, you'll be in good company. He was popular with the educated elite of the Greco-Roman Empire, but Thomas Jefferson also had Seneca on his bedside table. This philosophy is a no-nonsense system designed to produce dramatic real-world effects. Think of it as an ideal operating system for thriving in high-stress environments.


The Tao of Seneca is your guide.


My suggestion: get Volume One, listen to my Preface (the origin story is fun), then skip to one of my favorite letters, several of which I list off in the first 10 minutes.


I love listening to one letter per day — they average 10-20 minutes in length — as I walk to get coffee or go to the subway. It's the perfect way to prime yourself for better results with less stress each morning. Warning: the first "On the Shortness of Life" version is an essay and LONG (1-1.5 hours); I suggest skipping that and sampling the shorter letters to get hooked.


These letters have repeatedly changed my life, and I wish the same for you.


Enjoy!


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Want to hear another podcast related to Stoicism? — Listen to my conversation with Ryan Holiday. In this episode, we discuss the "big three" stoics, how Stoicism applies to the modern world, and how to improve your decision-making when stakes are high (stream below or right-click here to download):




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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What philosophy or philosopher has had the biggest impact on your life or business? Please let me know in the comments.


Scroll below for links and show notes…



Enjoy!


Selected Links from the Episode



Show Notes



  • Why do some of us have negative associations with philosophy? [07:32]

  • What is Stoicism, and why are thought leaders in Silicon Valley and the world of sports suddenly interested in it? [08:27]

  • What is the benefit of rehearsing worst-case scenarios in times of "immunity from care?" [09:48]

  • With so many choices, why is Seneca Tim's go-to philosopher? [11:36]

  • How can you make time to apply Seneca's wisdom to your own life? [13:26]

  • How is Stoicism like cognitive behavioral therapy? [13:55]

  • What are Tim's three favorite selections from Volume One? [14:40]

  • How did John A. Robinson become the voice of The Tao of Seneca? [15:32]

  • Letter 13: On Groundless Fears [16:32]


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'And justice for all?' Photos from Eastern Michigan's 30th MLK celebration

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Saturday, January 16, 2016

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Mercantile Bank emails: 'Racist' toward blacks, or distorted legal attack?

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