In my effort to live the good life, I decided on my birthday of last year to give up soda. Several years earlier, I had made the switch to almost exclusively drinking diet soda, but so many studies have shown that the artificial sweeteners used in these sodas are not only bad for you, but likely cause you… Continue reading My Battle with Quitting Soda (Episode 1): On Intuition
Author: JJ Sylvia IV
J.J. Sylvia IV attended Mississippi State University where he received B.A. degrees in philosophy and communications. He later received a philosophy M.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Looking Ahead for Philosophy Matters: Please Support the Project
Click here to vote: http://jumo-individuals.maker.good.is/projects/philosophymatters As I’ve written before, my long-term plans are to take the ideas that I’ve started in this blog and form a nonprofit organization. As of now, I have three main ideas about projects I’m interested in tackling: 1. Fun activities open to the public – bike rides, cooking… Continue reading Looking Ahead for Philosophy Matters: Please Support the Project
Nerd Fitness and the Gamification of Exercise and Life
I recently stumbled across the NerdFitness, and it led me to a bit of an epiphany. I’ve been working on losing weight for a while now, and had done pretty well with it overall. However, as I got closer to my goal weight, I noticed my motivation was also waning. I was less excited about… Continue reading Nerd Fitness and the Gamification of Exercise and Life
Making Goals Fun: A Blueberry Yogurt Review
I’ve often found that adopting new – and better – habits can be quite a challenge. The reason they’re likely not already a habit is probably because we don’t necessarily enjoy it all that much. However, one of the ways I’ve discovered that really helps me adopt a habit and take it to heart… Continue reading Making Goals Fun: A Blueberry Yogurt Review
Hunger Games: Using Violence As an Anti-Violence Message
There may be spoilers within. Read on at your own risk. The Hunger Games trilogy certainly seems to have an anti-violence message within it. The Capitol forces children from each of its Districts to compete once a year in a battle to the death. The entire premise of the Hunger Games themselves is hated by… Continue reading Hunger Games: Using Violence As an Anti-Violence Message
The Death of Philosophy
This is a presentation I gave at the Mississippi Academy of Science’s History of Philosophy and Science panel. Essentially, in his new book, Stephen Hawking claims that philosophy is dead. I show that this claim has often been made (falsely) in the past, and why Hawking is also wrong in his claim here. I explain… Continue reading The Death of Philosophy
On Fear (A quasi review of “Between Fear and Love SELF-WORTH: The Tie that Binds”)
I recently finished reading a book written by a friend with whom I went to high school. The book, Between Fear and Love SELF-WORTH: The Tie that Binds, was an interesting read. I didn’t know much about it when I started except for the description I had read, and it actually turned out to be… Continue reading On Fear (A quasi review of “Between Fear and Love SELF-WORTH: The Tie that Binds”)
Hash House Harriers – My Weekend Hashing as a Hare and Being Named
This weekend I got to have my first experience being a “hare” for Hash House Harrier event! A little background information may be in order first. What is a hash? The only thing required to have a Hash Run is a hare to set a trail with paper, flour, sawdust, chalk, etc. or a combination… Continue reading Hash House Harriers – My Weekend Hashing as a Hare and Being Named
Bus 52 and Inspiring Stories
Recently the crew from Bus 52 stopped by South Hancock Elementary in order to document the work that the TeachUp! Program has been doing there. Bus 52 is itself a non-profit organization: “Bus 52 is a year long project devoted to reminding and reconnecting America to its roots of community, innovation and improvement. Every week, the… Continue reading Bus 52 and Inspiring Stories
Half Marathoner
Elana and I finished the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon this weekend! For me, it was an interesting last minute decision to actually run at the event. I’ve been enjoying running more lately, and had therefore been doing a lot of the training runs with Elana as she was preparing. And a lot… Continue reading Half Marathoner