OUR SM SITES:
Ted's Blog

Digital Accomplishment vs. Real-World Contribution: A Growing Concern

Monday, September 15, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest
Baldacci
I’m currently reading “The Fallen,” the fourth book in David Baldacci’s Memory Man series. Baldacci, known for his thrillers, often slips in observations about the world we live in. In this novel, he pauses the action long enough to make a pointed commentary: many young people are spending four to six hours a day on a computer or phone, and the consequences are troubling.

It struck me how unusual—and powerful—it is to see this kind of social critique inside a crime thriller. But it also reflects an anxiety that is becoming mainstream: that an increasing number of young people are finding their sense of achievement primarily in the digital realm, rather than in real-world endeavors. Read More...

From Psychedelics to KPods: A Different Kind of Experimentation

Thursday, August 28, 2025 - Filed in: General Interest
kpods
In the 1960s, experimentation was part of the air we breathed. The world felt like it was opening up, and many young people turned to substances like cannabis, LSD, or mushrooms in search of something larger — whether it was deeper meaning, artistic inspiration, or simply rebellion against authority. Risky, yes, but often framed as “mind-expanding.”

Fast forward to today, and I recently came across something I had never heard of before: KPods. At first glance, they look like any other sleek vape pod — flavored, discreet, and modern. But appearances are deceiving. These are not just nicotine devices. Many contain potent anaesthetics like etomidate, ketamine, or cocktails of other synthetic drugs. Unlike the substances of the 60s, which were at least somewhat understood, these pods carry an unpredictable and extreme risk. Read More...