Interrelativity

Interrelativity: musings about interrelatedness

  • Migrating from Typepad to WordPress

    I just finished migrating over 500 blog posts from gumption.typepad.com to a new WordPress blog hosted here on interrelativity.com. I found the instructions at First Site Guide very helpful, but had to make a few adjustments that I wanted to share here – including a Python script I used to process the downloaded Typepad content…

  • Thumbs down on Netflix ditching of 5-star ratings for a thumbs-based system

    The Netflix video streaming and DVD service announced Thursday that it is switching from a 5-star rating system to a simpler thumbs up / thumbs down system. I've been a Netflix user (and fan) for many years, and love their personalized ratings predictions. I have often used their model in presentations and brainstorming involving other services…

  • Spiritual reparenting: severed belonging, benefactors, vulnerability & reconnection

    Tara Brach's weekly dharma talks and guided meditations have been a consistent source of inspiration and equanimity for me over the past several years. A few weeks ago, she presented a talk on spiritual reparenting to which I've listened four times (thus far), as it resonated on many levels for me. The practice of becoming…

  • Letting Go of Emotions vs. Thoughts

    A while back, I wrote about letting go of blame and judgment, following an enlightening "Zen with Len" retreat I attended last January. While the retreat helped me release others from anger I was feeling about perceived betrayals or other wrongs, I was still left with my feelings of pain, sadness and fear in response…

  • Marriage, Romantic Realism and Relationship without Attachment

    I've been a hopeless romantic for most of my life, but I am becoming increasingly disillusioned about love. I don't see disillusionment as a negative thing, but as a positive process: letting go of illusions, and thus becoming less romantic – and more realistic – about relationships … especially long-term committed relationships … especially the…

  • External Validation and Emotional Responsibility

    Years ago, I discovered Validation, a wonderful short film by Kurt Kuenne about a parking garage attendant who validates tickets … and validates the people who bring their tickets to the window, offering compliments to each person as he stamps their ticket "Validated". He goes on to offer validation far and wide beyond the parking…

  • Letting Go of Blame and Judgment: Emotional Transformation through Zen with Len

    Many years ago, I experienced betrayal, pain and anger about something that someone did. I did not have the tools or life experience to fully understand my reactions – much less transform them – at the time, and the memory of the episode has resurfaced periodically, re-triggering unresolved emotions. The most recent recurrence began last…

  • “Expressed Emotions” in Everyday Interactions: Acceptance vs. Intervention with Family and Friends

    I’ve listened to the most recent episode of NPR’s Invisibilia, The Problem with the Solution, three times in three days, crying a little less – and understanding a little more – each time I listen. I believe the emotional impact stems from my experience as a son, a husband, a father and a friend ……

  • Doing Data Science, Helping People Get Jobs @Indeed

    Having just marked my 1-year anniversary at Indeed, it occurs to me that I have not yet blogged about my not-so-new job as a data scientist helping people get jobs. In addition to ending a long (7+ month) drought in my blogging practice, I'm also hoping that in sharing a bit about my work at…

  • WTF Economy: Augmentation, Disintermediation and Small Acts of Production

    Tim O'Reilly (O'Reilly Media) opened last week's conference on the Next:Economy, aka the WTF economy, noting that "WTF" can signal wonder, dismay or disgust. I experienced all three reactions at different times during the ensuing two-day "investigation into the potential of emerging technologies to remake our world for the better". I attended the conference because…