Thank you for reading this site
In your moments here, I hope:
- you find a new, inspiring, or thought-provoking idea, and
- you take it, and use it to (ahem) improve something today.
Everything here is free. There are no ads, solicitations, or paid memberships. That said, there are ways you can support the site.
Two things you should know
(1) Your activity on the site is private
No personal information is collected or stored. I don’t use third-party web analytics or other trackers. If you sign up for the free e-mail newsletter, I can see basic information such as your e-mail address, your subscription status, and your sign-up date.
(2) Affiliate payments
I get small affiliate fees when people shop my reading list on bookshop.org. Yes, you could be one of those wise persons who get a useful book in the mail while supporting an independent bookseller of their choosing.
The site tagline
The site tagline, “simplicity, patience, compassion”, is a nod to the three treasures of Dao De Jing §67. I try to make my actions reflect these principles.
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
These words from Stephen Mitchell’s 1991 translation. Currently I’d recommend Ken Liu’s translation and commentary, published 2024.
Liu translates these three as “love, thrift, and never daring to elevate myself.”
Wrap-up
Have a topic I should cover or question I should answer? Notice anything wrong or out-of-date? Please e-mail me directly: brian@joechip.net.
Be well, —Brian
P.S. places to start:
- the most popular thing I’ve written,
- the most important, and
- the most personal.