Michael T. Starks

Category: Storytelling

  • Improving How Society Works for ALL People

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    If you’re among the 1% of people who make LOTS of money in the USA, you might think everything here is working fine. That’s NOT the case! When 99% of people are not seeing productivity gains reflected in their paychecks, the system is NOT working for our society. While other issues matter, income inequality is…

  • Convenience

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    Modern progress is characterized by a movement toward convenience. Using a telephone is more convenient than sending a telegraph. In some ways, streaming content can be more convenient than watching DVD’s. When dishes and laundry had to be hand-washed, this activity took much more time than when dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers could be used.…

  • The Age of Things

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    Things matter. What things impact our lives at this time? Phones, airplanes, cars, social media, computers, cameras, the printing press, agriculture, fire, and more are worthwhile candidates. Let’s consider the age of things with regard to how they impact our lives. As a kid, I checked out lots of books from the local library. (The…

  • Underwhelmed

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    I’m feeling underwhelmed. On July 4, 2025, people in the USA are celebrating Independence Day. I’m thrilled for the people who are enjoying the revelry. I hear the firecrackers from China, and I think of the tariffs that may make them scarce next year. Mostly, I’m upset about the Big Beautiful Bill that is going…

  • Maybe This Time

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    Here’s my attempt to sing and play this classic song from the musical Cabaret. I stumbled upon the music while searching for an Elton John song. And I had to get it. Enjoy!

  • Optimism

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    When I was a kid, I thought the future was only going to get better. While I admit to being a bit naive, I never imagined that the United States of America would have a President like Trump. I’m an optimistic person. I really do believe that we can figure shit out together and that…

  • The Struggle for Existence

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    Today, author Geoff Jones has released the second book in his trilogy, The Preservation of Species! In case you missed the first book, you can get The Rule of Extinction here. And The Struggle for Existence can be found here. I had the pleasure of interviewing Geoff Jones earlier this year. Here’s the full interview.…

  • Coercion

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    Sometimes people can be convinced to do something with a show of force or threats. This is often accompanied by playing on people’s fears and stoking hatred. Our current administration seems to like this approach. If a “strongman” incites a riot, our society suffers. When choosing between the carrot and the stick, I often prefer…

  • Entry Level Work

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    I just stumbled across this article on the “Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder“. I share the author’s concerns. Who can become an expert programmer without first being an entry-level programmer? If AI replaces many entry-level jobs, how can young professionals gain the experience needed to enter the job market at positions above entry-level jobs?…

  • Tracking Stars

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    I have a motivational system that I think of as tracking stars. Each day, I have the opportunity to do a certain number of things that I know are good for me. This includes eating small portions, exercising, doing fun project work, writing blog posts, and more. I give myself a star in each category…