The Inner Monologue

Did I Predict the Future of Lighting? Revisiting My 2014 Forecast About Luminous Surfaces

In 2014, I made a bold prediction about the future of lighting: Now, as we approach 2030, how accurate does this forecast look? Let’s examine the progress and whether this vision is becoming reality. Prediction #1: Luminous Surfaces Will Replace LEDs in New Construction ✅ Partially Correct—But LEDs Still Dominate While LEDs remain the standard…
Who Loses When the Clocks Stop Changing?

Twice a year, Americans drag themselves through the ritual of clock-switching: springing forward, falling back, and stumbling into work bleary-eyed while muttering that maybe—just maybe—this should be the last time. The arguments for permanent Daylight Saving Time are familiar. Health researchers decry the spikes in heart attacks, car accidents, and workplace injuries that accompany the…
Net Gains? More Like Net Disappointments: The Art of Losing While “Winning”

Ah, the sweet illusion of progress. You pat yourself on the back for scoring a “great deal,” saving time, or making a profit—only to realize later that you’ve been bamboozled by the universe’s cruel accounting system. Congratulations! You just fell for the oldest trick in the book: gross vs. net. The Gross Deception Life loves…
RV Travel Safety: How Often Do Violent Incidents Happen?

RV travel is one of the most exciting ways to explore the USA—freedom on the open road, stunning national parks, and unforgettable campsite memories. But like any adventure, safety is a top concern. You might wonder: How often do RV travelers experience violent incidents? The Good News: RV Travel is Generally Safe After digging into…
Vodka: The Emperor’s New Booze

There’s a billion-dollar global industry built on one of the oldest tricks in the book: selling nothing as something. That, in a nutshell, is vodka. Behind the frosted glass bottles, the glacial-water fairy tales, and the “quadruple diamond-filtered” nonsense, vodka is just alcohol watered down until you can actually drink it without stripping paint. It’s…
Huxe: Your Daily Dose of AI in Your Ear — What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Silicon Valley has once again decided that the one thing missing from your life is another voice in your head. Enter Huxe, the new app that promises to be your “personal audio companion,” turning your emails, calendar, news, and passing curiosities into a living, breathing podcast just for you. Imagine Morning Edition, except instead of…
“Infinite Growth” – The Limited Series That Proves Greed is Never Good (But Makes Great TV)

Oh, look—another story about a guy who gets way too much power and absolutely ruins his life with it. Groundbreaking. Except this time? It’s actually interesting. “What If Money Could Buy Happiness?” (Spoiler: It Can’t.) Meet Alex Miller, your average, down-on-his-luck schmuck who stumbles upon a magical box that DOUBLES WHATEVER YOU PUT IN IT.…
The Joke Test of Freedom

“The true measure of a nation’s liberty is not what its comedians say, but what they are forbidden to say.” You can tell almost everything about a country by listening to its comedians. Not the jokes they make about everyday life—relationships, bad weather, airport security—but the jokes they dare to make about presidents, priests, and…
A Smart Solution for Overnight RV Parking: How Your City Can Benefit

Traveling by RV is an incredible way to explore new places, but finding safe and legal overnight parking can be a challenge. Many cities lack designated spaces for short-term RV stays, leading to frustrated travelers and concerns about long-term camping in unauthorized areas. What if there was a better way? Introducing: A Municipal Overnight RV…
Was My 2014 Prediction About EVs Taking Over by 2030 Too Bold?

In 2014, when electric vehicles (EVs) made up less than 1% of global car sales, I made a bold forecast:“By 2030, over half of all passenger vehicle sales will be electric.” At the time, skeptics dismissed EVs as a niche market—too expensive, too limited in range, and too dependent on unreliable charging infrastructure. But now,…