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Trekking Packs

July 21, 2022May 07, 2025 Mark Verber2 Comments

Trekking packs are similar to travel packs, but puts more of an emphasis on carry comfort and typically optimizes the volume to weight ratio. Trekking packs are often a bit narrower and taller than travel packs. Travel packs typically prioritize organizational features, ease of access, … “Trekking Packs”

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Posted Under: outdoors, travelTags: gear

Camino de Santiago

July 20, 2022April 09, 2025 Mark Verber3 Comments

The Camino de Santiago is an amazing experience for nearly everyone. For some, it’s a once in a life time experience. For others, it is repeated regularly, it’s part of their life’s rhythm. Almost all are touched by what is called the Camino spirit. This … “Camino de Santiago”

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Posted Under: outdoors, travelTags: backpacking, christian

Peter Attia – Science of Longevity

July 17, 2022December 29, 2024 Mark VerberLeave a comment

I am a fan of Dr. Peter Attia who is a physician focused on the science of longevity.  He strives to help his patients simultaneously improving lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease) and healthspan (quality of life). In 2023 he released the book Outlive where he systematically … “Peter Attia – Science of Longevity”

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Posted Under: health, science

simple pleasures – cool breeze

July 16, 2022April 05, 2024 Mark Verber1 Comment

Nearly fifty years ago I was looking through a book of early Peanuts cartoons while I waited for my violin lesson. One of the comics showed the simple pleasure of a cool breeze on a hot day. Since that day whenever I feel a cool … “simple pleasures – cool breeze”

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Posted Under: personal, simplicity

Midlife Reset (Part III) ReThinking 10 Years Later

July 16, 2022March 13, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

TL;DR My three rethinking posts (part 1, part 2, and this one) were written at the end of December 2021, but I delayed posting until plans for my retirement had been settled. I think anyone reading this would realize I was transitioning and didn’t want … “Midlife Reset (Part III) ReThinking 10 Years Later”

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Posted Under: money, personal, spiritual

Midlife Reset (Part II) – Money

July 16, 2022March 12, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

In part I shared several of the changes that had a high impact on my mid-life reset in 2011 after my wife passed. Ten years later I am even more confident that those were were worthwhile. In this post I am going to reflect on … “Midlife Reset (Part II) – Money”

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Posted Under: money, personal

Certainty

July 02, 2022December 30, 2024 Mark Verber1 Comment

I am troubled by the increasingly polarized “discussions” I hear on many podcasts, in social media, and in person. I am not just talking about politics. I see the same sort of thing when people are discussing diets, system architectures, training programs, or child raising. … “Certainty”

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Posted Under: learning, personal, science, spiritual

Midlife Reset (Part I)

June 18, 2022March 12, 2025 Mark Verber1 Comment

I recently talked with a student I mentored years ago about some mid-life course corrections he was considering. This prompted me to think about my mid-life transition in 2011-2012 as I grappled with losing Libby to cancer. The follow is a remembrance of what changed … “Midlife Reset (Part I)”

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Posted Under: personal, relationshipsTags: christian

Respectful Presence

March 27, 2022April 01, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

TL;DR Treating others as valuable by taking the time to really listen and to be present in the moment is one of the most impactful practices anyone can engage in. Not thinking about what’s next. Not thinking about how to respond, but giving people our whole attention. A friend … “Respectful Presence”

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Posted Under: personal, relationships

Favorite Blogs

March 08, 2022March 01, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

I use feedly to subscribe to around 100 RSS feeds which generates around 400 messages a day. I scan the subject lines, open those that look interesting, and save in Evernote Bear those that I might want to reference at a later time. In the … “Favorite Blogs”

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Posted Under: learning

Sermons and Other Christian Podcasts

March 07, 2022February 20, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

These days most western churches record their sermons and put them online. I expect that if a person dedicated all their waking time to listen to all the sermons preached on just one Sunday, they would died long before they listened to even half the … “Sermons and Other Christian Podcasts”

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Posted Under: spiritualTags: christian

Favorite Podcasts

March 06, 2022February 20, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

Top The following are set to automatically get downloaded and put at the beginning of my listening queue: Recommended The following are podcasts that I am current enjoying. I automatically download them my phone to the end of my queue. Past Recommendations The following are … “Favorite Podcasts”

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Posted Under: learning

A “Digital Nomad” Experiment

February 16, 2022December 04, 2024 Mark Verber1 Comment

TL;DR I became intrigued by the digital nomad lifestyle in the 1980s. I got to know a number of the early digital nomads, and followed many more via blogs / websites. My minor claim to fame was that Rolf Potts noted in his book Vagabonding … “A “Digital Nomad” Experiment”

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Posted Under: personal, simplicity, travel

Family Gear 2022

January 01, 2022April 05, 2024 Mark VerberLeave a comment

Several items on my personal gear list were used by the whole family, and thus, this page was born. I have excluded our furniture. We keep only those items that are useful and/or are enjoyed which allows our family to focus on doing things that … “Family Gear 2022”

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Posted Under: otherTags: gear

Gear 2022

January 01, 2022January 01, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

I have an updated list which captures what I am using now. Minimalism led me to simplify my possessions. Each year I review what I used the previous year to determine what changes I want to make. I strive to use items that enable me … “Gear 2022”

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Posted Under: otherTags: gear

Personal Care Heresies

December 19, 2021May 01, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

If you listen to popular culture and the ads which “inform” us about acceptable conduction you would be inclined to believe that there are numerous specialized products and activities that we must engaged in for the sake of properness. I ran a series of experiments … “Personal Care Heresies”

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Posted Under: simplicity, travel

COVID

December 15, 2021April 01, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

TL;DR The best COVID response I have see is in Taiwan, an island nation of 21 million people (about the same as the state of Florida). Early in the pandemic Taiwan required people entering the country quarantine for 14 days and then everyone was free … “COVID”

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Posted Under: health, science

Against Contempt

November 19, 2021April 05, 2024 Mark VerberLeave a comment

TL;DR Contempt is extremely corrosive and will destroy relationships and society if not countered. Rather than encouraging people to repair a breach, contempt encourage people to separate, widening the gap. The solution is to truly listen to people you disagree with, looking for how you … “Against Contempt”

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Posted Under: personal, relationships

Simplicity

March 14, 2021January 02, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. Aphorism attributed to Albert Einstein In the face of an ever accelerated and complex world, I have found seeking simplicity to be a shelter. Rather than getting caught up in, and reacting to our fast moving … “Simplicity”

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Posted Under: simplicity

In Appreciation of Bono

February 13, 2021January 24, 2025 Mark VerberLeave a comment

I recently came across a wonderful interview which featured Eugene Peterson and Bono talking about the Psalms. I was touched by both mens’ humility, their genuine friendship, and their love for the Psalms. There is also a nice follow-up series of mini interviews between David … “In Appreciation of Bono”

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Posted Under: audio, personal, spiritualTags: christian

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