What I Think About What Other People Say (WITAWOPS)

“If you’re a seal, the Ballard Locks are a great place to find a snack. Seals eat a lot of salmon as they migrate through the Locks’ fish ladder to try to reach spawning grounds on the other side. Some of those salmon are Chinook, the only food of the starving Southern Resident orcas.” -- Elis O’Neil, KUOW.org , September 23, 2020. What I think If you’ve visited the Ballard Locks in Seattle or Willamette Falls near Portland, you might have witnessed sea lions or seals, known as pinnipeds, feasting on salmon in a natural buffet line. These man-made choke points—perfect for a patient, opportunistic pinniped—exacerbate the struggle to protect salmon runs while managing a booming population of protected marine mammals. Despite costly attempts to scare pinnipeds off with rubber bullets or loud deterrents, they continue to make their way back to these salmon-rich bottlenecks. Stories like that of Herschel, a notorious sea lion relocated hundreds of miles down the California coast at a signif...

29% of voters opposed “removing historical racial references, such as “negroes,” “mulattoes” and “whites," from the Oregon Constitution." ( Oregon Measure 14 ). What do I think When I first read this, two thoughts crossed my mind. First, I assumed that the proposed amendment vote happened a very long time ago. Second, why on earth would 29% of voters oppose the motion? I dug into it. It turns out that Oregon's racial history is not rosy. “Oregon began as a whites-only state, through a series of Black exclusionary laws that were designed to discourage Black Americans from living here in the first place.” ( Tiffany Camhi, OPB , October 20, 2024). I wonder: did that culture and history influenced those that voted "no"? But I was also very wrong on the timeframe. It did not take place in the 20th Century. Or the 19th. Measure 14 was actually voted on in this century, in 2002. And yes, 29% of voters opposed it.   I never imagined I could find something more insane....

“Many parents and advisors may not have considered establishing a child’s Roth IRA.” Brian Dobbis, LordAbbett.com , April 15, 2024. What Do I think I ignored this advice when I was a new parent but paid more attention years later when a friend with twin teenagers explained his simple strategy. Kids may earn $1,000-$2,000 over a summer or school year doing a part-time job. Of course they are motivated by money to buy some things, save up for something bigger, or learn how to invest in stocks.  My friend convinced his kids to put all their earnings into a Roth IRA in exchange for the equivalent in cash. A few formulas in a spreadsheet was all it took to show them the returns. $1,000 a year from age 14 to 21 growing at 6% becomes $325K by age 80. $2,000 becomes $650K. Its a no-brainer. The IRS allows this as long as the annual deposits do not exceed the child’s income for that year. Income can be formal or even informal — tutoring or odd-jobs. Why should you care Most teenagers are n...

" His detailed account of five projects that mattered intensely to him, which did their little bit to make the world a better place, is sprinkled with humour and charmingly idiosyncratic, while packed with serious intent."   — Michela Wrong,  author of "It's Our Turn to Eat: the Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower" in March 2021 about my book " How I Changed The World In My Own Unique Ways ".  What I think I showcase five real cases, based on my international development experience in Kenya and Pakistan. It covers disaster preparedness, anticorruption, youth empowerment, judicial reform, book bans, and procurement reform. The book is available in ebook and audiobook formats at your favorite online bookstore or visit https://tinyurl.com/booksbygaleeb . Why should you care Anyone can really make a difference. This short book shows real, practical examples on how we can all change the world regardless of our specific interests and technical skills. There is p...