Ned Hardy

Get Smarter Everyday

Nick Lee

Photo of the Day

chairman_mao

“Chairman Mao en route to Anyuan” is a 1967 oil painting by Liu Chunhua. This example of Chinese communist propaganda was reproduced over nine hundred million times, making it possibly the most reproduced painting in history

Imagine yourself in a bustling Chinese city during the height of the Cultural Revolution. The air is thick with the fervor of change, the energy palpable. In the midst of this, a single image emerges, dominating the visual landscape: "Chairman Mao en route to Anyuan." This 1967 oil painting by Liu Chunhua becomes an emblem of an era, a symbol of the Communist dream that permeates every aspect of life in Mao’s China.

[Read more…] about Photo of the Day

Reading Between the Lines – ‘The Power Broker’

The Power Broker

“Bob Moses had learned what was needed to make dreams become realities. He had learned the lesson of power.

And now he grabbed for power with both hands.

To free his hands for the grab, he shook impatiently from them the last crumbs of the principles with which he had entered public service and for which, during his years of idealism, he had fought só hard.”

[Read more…] about Reading Between the Lines – ‘The Power Broker’

Reading Between the Lines ‘ 1Q84’

1Q84

“It is not that the meaning cannot be explained. But there are certain meanings that are lost forever the moment they are explained in words.”

This quote comes from Haruki Murakami’s novel “1Q84“, a complex and surreal work that explores themes of reality, connection, and the nature of storytelling itself. To provide some context:

Haruki Murakami is a renowned Japanese author known for his unique blend of magical realism, surrealism, and introspective narratives. “1Q84” is one of his most ambitious works, a sprawling novel that interweaves multiple storylines and realities.

[Read more…] about Reading Between the Lines ‘ 1Q84’

Photo of the Day

Medieval trial by combat

In medieval Germany, husbands and wives could fight in a marital duel in order to legally settle their disputes.

Picture this, folks: Medieval Germany. A time of castles, knights, and… marital combat? That’s right, we’re delving into one of those historical oddities that makes you do a double-take.

Now, imagine you’re a fly on the wall of a German town square in, say, the 14th century. You see a crowd gathering, but it’s not for a typical execution or festival. No, today’s entertainment is a husband and wife, legally sanctioned to duke it out in what can only be described as the ultimate form of couples’ therapy gone wrong.

[Read more…] about Photo of the Day

15 Parents With Children Who No Longer Speak To Them Reveal Their Side of the Story

Children Who No Longer Speak To Them

1. My kids still speak to me, but not much. I’m better than I was, but I was a crap parent. Poverty was part of it. Hooking up with the wrong men, just to have a little more income, or not to pay for child care. Bed chemical decisions. I got myself cleaned up, got out of debt, got rid of the guy who was harassing my boy, and acting like the girl (our kid together ) could do no wrong.

[Read more…] about 15 Parents With Children Who No Longer Speak To Them Reveal Their Side of the Story

She Played ‘Hilary Banks’ on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. See Karyn Parsons Now at 57

Karyn Parson - Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Now, this is a story all about how if you can’t sing the entire The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song, start to finish, we can’t be friends. It’s one of the most iconic family sitcoms, and the show is the reason we all know who Will Smith is, know how to do the Carlton, and can sing at least one rap word for word. 

Actress Karyn Parsons was lucky to grab the role of Hilary Banks on the show. The 90s wouldn’t have been the same without The Fresh Prince, and Karyn’s portrayal of Hilary was a part of that. We’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, we’ll tell you what Karyn has been up to since leaving the town called Bel-Air.

[Read more…] about She Played ‘Hilary Banks’ on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. See Karyn Parsons Now at 57

Confessions of a Person With Fatal Familial Insomnia?

fatal familial insomnia

Fatal familial insomnia is a rare genetic degenerative brain disorder. It is characterized by an inability to sleep (insomnia) that may be initially mild, but progressively worsens, leading to significant physical and mental deterioration and death.

How does it feel to constantly be awake?

Tiresome. Like I just woke up 20 minutes ago after a shit night. I’d say the very closest thing I could compare it to is the first hour of being awake, where your body and brain are never fully turned on.

[Read more…] about Confessions of a Person With Fatal Familial Insomnia?

12 Entrepreneurs Who Make Over $20k/Month Reveal What They Do

1. We do ~$85k/month in revenue. We are a small software development company and license proprietary software to prime contractors for the Federal government, so our contracts are mostly long term (3-5 years). I have 5 FTE’s including my wife. My wife and I pay ourselves $100k/yr each, make sure we have our employees’ undivided attention through bonuses, and we keep the rest of the money in the company for reinvestment. Started in 2015 with $8k/month in revenue and have grown it since.

[Read more…] about 12 Entrepreneurs Who Make Over $20k/Month Reveal What They Do

Photo of the Day

Albert Henry Woolson

The last Civil War veteran (Union), Albert Henry Woolson, died in 1956

Picture it: 1956. The world is in the grips of the Cold War, Elvis is shaking things up on stage, and in a hospital bed in Duluth, Minnesota, the last living link to the American Civil War takes his final breath.

Albert Henry Woolson, the last surviving veteran of the Union Army, closes his eyes on a world utterly transformed from the one he knew as a young man. Now, I want you to really try to wrap your mind around the scale of change this man witnessed in his lifetime.

[Read more…] about Photo of the Day

25 People Reveal the Worst Financial Decision They’ve Seen Someone Make

worst financial decision

1. I knew someone who got a loan for their wedding, but decided to blow it all at a casino. Now they have a loan for 20k to pay off and nothing to show for it.

2. A coworker I used to have worked every second of overtime he could for several years to save up for a house. When he applied for the house loan, he based his mortgage payment on all of the overtime he had been working. I tried to tell him that wasn’t a good idea but he didn’t want to hear it. He ended up divorced a few years later because his wife got tired of him always working.

[Read more…] about 25 People Reveal the Worst Financial Decision They’ve Seen Someone Make

Reading Between the Lines – ‘1984’

1984

“The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness and for the great bulk of mankind, happiness is better.”

This quote from George Orwell’s “1984” delves into the profound human desire for genuine connection and understanding.

In the novel, the protagonist, Winston Smith, lives in a society where the Party dictates every aspect of life, leaving little room for authentic relationships or personal expression. The oppressive regime forces people to conform and suppress their true selves, making it nearly impossible to forge real connections with others.

[Read more…] about Reading Between the Lines – ‘1984’

Skip to content