One of our biggest problems is getting in over our heads with projects because we can’t seem to say no when people ask us to do stuff.  Are we being good helpful buddhists or weak willed losers?

Links mentioned:

• This page will help you not sound like a moron when you try to say Sigur Ros.

• The CreativeBits blog post on not giving away your work.

• Our man Tim Ferriss’s blog.

Books mentioned:

• What Would (The) Buddha Do? by Franz Metcalf.  The (The) provided by Patrick.

• A book review of The Book of No: 250 Ways to Say It - and Mean It and Stop People-Pleasing Forever.

The spaces we inhabit and how they change our human experience.  Zen is Stupid now comes with twice the random tangents, all at the same low low price.

Links mentioned:

• Shiba Inu Puppy Cam : Beware, the cuteness might make your heart might explode in your chest cavity.

• Cuddle up with an Ugly Doll.

• Paro, the robotic seal who comforts the elderly.

• A nasty-ass deodorant rock.

• Here’s the exact quote from Thich Nhat Hanh about how hitting pillows isn’t a good anger resolution strategy:

When you close the door and hit a pillow, you think you are getting in touch with your anger. But you are only transforming the energy of your anger into the energy of pounding and hitting. You feel better because you have spent much energy hitting the pillow. But the seeds and roots of your anger are still there. I don’t think you are in touch with your anger as you hit the pillow. You are dominated by your anger and are practicing it. You are planting more seeds of anger within.

• If you’re interested in financially helping us set up our Mindful Restaurant, send us an email to zenisstupid (at) gmail.com

Books mentioned:

• The Nice Factor : The Art of Saying No.

• Here you can read the first chapter of Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich, 75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money

(Storytime music from Kevin Macleod)

A sprawling talk on the various ways technology is changing how we live and interact, and how to handle all this change with a dash of zen wisdom.  Or not.  Plus, storytime!

Links mentioned:

• School of Rock, we like!

• Kung Fu Panda, we like!

Books mentioned:

• Check it out, you can read the first chapter of Bit Literacy, by  Mark Hurst.

• Loving What Is, by Byron Katie, who’s expansive website can be found here.

• And her husband Stephen Mitchell, whose translation of the Tao Te Ching is the bees knees.