Theodore Lee

You Are Not Your Thoughts

June 29, 2026

you are not your thoughts

Have you ever paused to consider who’s really in charge up there in your head? If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I need to stop thinking so much,” you’ve stumbled upon a profound truth: You are not your thoughts.

Imagine your mind as a bustling theater. Thoughts are the actors on stage, constantly entering and exiting, playing out various scenes. But who’s watching the play? That’s you – the silent observer, the consciousness behind the mental chatter.

This realization is both simple and revolutionary: If you can observe your thoughts, you can’t be those thoughts. You’re the watcher, not the watched.

Linkage

June 26, 2026

5 Historic Photos That Speak Volumes – Ned Hardy

If you have a Weber kettle, I’d definitely recommend this. It makes some of the crispiest wings you’ll ever cook and is also fantastic for chicken thighs, reverse-searing steaks, burgers, and anything that benefits from intense, even heat. – Amazon

The top photos of the week by AP photojournalists – AP News

Reuter’s Photos of the Week – Reuters

Parents On Reddit Are Sharing The Small Daily Rituals That Mean The Most To Their Kids – Scary Mommy

Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media – NPR

SpaceX plans to launch Starlink mobile service in the US – Ars Technica

20 Photos To Remind You That Life Is Beautiful – Ned Hardy

One of those products that almost every detailing enthusiast swears by because it cleans incredibly well with very little water and can also be used as a quick detailer, clay lubricant, and interior cleaner. – Amazon

Ukraine unleashes one of its heaviest drone bombardments of Russia – AP News

Your sleep tracker might be giving you insomnia – Archive.ph

7-year-old dies weighing 255 lbs.; parents charged with 2nd-degree murder – ABC12

California’s landmark anti-plastics law sparks anger as 17 states move to sue – The Guardian

NBA free agency 2026: How all 30 teams can ace their offseason – ESPN

Ranked: U.S. Cities by Family Income Needed to Live Comfortably – Visual Capitalist

The Dumping Grounds

June 26, 2026

[Read more…] about The Dumping Grounds

Poll of the Day

June 26, 2026

You're one week into your prison sentence. A much bigger inmate demands some of your commissary and says, "Either you pay me now, or this gets harder later." What do you do?

Hand it over and hope that's the end of it.
Refuse and be willing to fight if he attacks you.
Report the threat to correctional officers

Results

Confession of an Army Sniper

June 26, 2026

How did you end up becoming an Army sniper?

Honestly, it came down to being in the right place at the right time with the right scores.

I had just finished the Warrior Leader Course and graduated at the top of my class—550 soldiers, and yes, I still stand by that. My company ended up getting three sniper school slots. The First Sergeant basically went down a list of disqualifying traits, and by the time he finished there were only three of us left standing.

“I got sober, and responsible and am unhappy”

June 26, 2026

I’m 42. In my 20s and most of my 30s, I lived a carefree life. I worked during the week and partied most weekends. I never had much money because I spent it traveling. I’d save enough for a plane ticket and a few months abroad, then come home when the money ran out and start over.

I drank around 7 to 14 drinks a week and occasionally used recreational drugs.

[Read more…] about “I got sober, and responsible and am unhappy”

What Your Children Actually Remember About Growing Up

June 26, 2026

Every parent worries about leaving the right legacy.

There are questions that linger late at night. Was enough time spent together? Were too many hours lost to work? Did the mistakes outweigh the victories? Did the kids feel loved?

It’s tempting to believe children grow up cataloging every birthday party, every vacation, every Christmas gift, and every perfectly planned moment. But memory doesn’t work that way.

Children rarely remember a childhood as a collection of events. They remember it as a feeling.

Linkage

June 25, 2026

3 Inmates Murdered a Child Killer in a 5-Minute Prison Attack and Tucked His Dead Body into Bed as If He Was Sleeping – People

25 Nostalgic Images That Feel Like Finding an Old Photo Album – Ned Hardy

This is one of the cleanest protein powders out there—great taste, simple ingredients, and none of the artificial sweeteners or fillers that make a lot of other brands hard to stomach. – Amazon

Forget Work. Passive Income Is the New American Dream. – Archive.ph

Pentagon restores mandatory flu shots for all recruits as boot camp outbreak sickens nearly 300 – AP News

Louisiana man becomes first in region functionally cured of sickle cell disease – The Guardian

Ferrari marketing boss quits just weeks after EV launch backlash – BBC News

Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape charge dropped after accuser says she can’t endure a fourth trial – AP News

21 Incredible Pieces of Art Worth Slowing Down For – Ned Hardy

If you want a lightweight gaming mouse that disappears in your hand and performs flawlessly in fast-paced shooters, this is one of the easiest recommendations out there. – Amazon

7 Hit Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written By Prince – Mental Floss

Supreme Court sides with Monsanto in case over cancer risks from weedkiller Roundup – CBS News

Underpromise, overdeliver? Hands-on with the $24,950 Slate auto. – Ars Technica

The Eight Best Matches Left in the World Cup Group Stage – The Ringer

Dustin Poirier went on expletive-filled rant, threatened fight before arrest in bodycam footage – New York Post