On The Fly

For over 80 years, gemology students have grappled with spectra, birefringence, and pleochroism. This sonnet will bring a smile and remind us that students of life and gemology rediscover nature's gifts daily.

Today, instead of cycling on the roadway, I've ventured down a creek-side trail with my old neighbor, Henry David Thoreau. The thick brush obscures the neighborhood, and his words resonate in the fresh air, finally tuning me into their frequency.

It was a beautiful day for our usual 30-mile Sunday ride to Escondido. The weather was moody with dark clouds threatening rain, but the streets were mostly empty. Traffic was light, and bike paths were eerily quiet, creating a false sense of peaceful sanctuary. Really?

Picture this: an email arrives. A colleague—perhaps a friend—needs a favor, a second opinion, or your time. You sigh, look at your screen, and type:  “I’d love to help, but I’m busy right now.”

This morning, a glowing light crept through the window as I sat in my reading chair. Outside, the nearly full Moon sank in the West under a clear sky, with the Big Dipper visible above. I had to step outside to see the Moon and reflect.

In our last chat, we discussed Chef Adamas, our sometimes delusional AI friend, who hallucinates blueberries into your Carbonara. We learned to manage his quirks by organizing our “digital pantry.” Today, we must look beyond the chef and consider the size of the kitchen we're building for him.

The Art of the AI Tall Tale. Let's chat with Adams, the Chef, about hidden recipes causing digital hallucinations. Sit back, pour coffee—and, for your sake, taste it first. We will talk about why your computer reimagines reality with the confidence of a five-star chef who has lost his mind.

AI has no ego. Do you? In Part One, we explored the Mental Spam Filter—an invisible barrier that restricts our understanding by filtering out new information. This was evident at the 2026 Annual Team Event, where many attendees focused on their phones instead of the important updates being presented.

Approaching AI or any new frontier with a  training  mentality is a mistake. It implies giving colleagues a complex tool to learn a few buttons and repeat tasks, which is rigid, uninspiring, and ineffective. This approach ignores the most powerful processor: the human mind.

A Return to the World of Seuss: Let’s revisit March 2, 2022. I was naive and asked an innocent question that still resonates in pediatric offices: Where did Dr. Seuss get his name?

This week, the Cenergy team visited Aliso Viejo and Anaheim for our annual 2026 team-building event. It’s time to step out of routines, recognize staff, and brainstorm. On Thursday afternoon, the company faced a key philosophical choice—like a "choose your own adventure" moment.

In this episode, why "Cool" is the Enemy of Growth. Last night, Lori and I joined our friends at  Sur La Table  in Carlsbad, CA, for "Date Night in Southern Italy." The menu included Steak Tagliata, Sautéed Shrimp with Fried Capers, and handmade Garganelli.

Golfers, unless you have the rotational speed of a centrifuge, that "Tour" ball is costing you 5 strokes a round. I’m turning 70 this year, and I finally learned that gravity doesn't care about brand loyalty. Here is my guide to the best low-compression balls for the rest of us. ⛳️

This episode is for anyone trying to find their footing in a new place—whether it’s a new city, a new job, or a new country. A tribute to my Mom.

It's the question we outgrew. Do you remember being five years old, lying on your back on a warm afternoon, squinting into a cloudless sky, and asking,  “Why is the sky blue?”

Happy birthday to my brother, Ronnie! Enjoy your special day!

In this 500th episode, we’re moving to a new home. Here’s why—and what’s staying the same. Since April 2012,  On the Fly  has been on  Blogger . Now, join me on Substack.

Why Your Mind Feel Like It Has 47 Tabs Open?  In 2017, I described the mind as a blank slate at birth —clean  and ready for coding. If your Life OS feels slow or buggy, don’t wait for a hardware upgrade; you have full admin privileges. This week, instead of seeking miracles, look for glitches.

They say golf is a game of misses. My first round at Rancho Carlsbad was a masterclass in missing. I turn 70 in August, and as part of my Great Un-Working Lifestyle, I want to shoot my age by my birthday.

Early Sunday morning, I cycled past a veterans' park in San Marcos. The air was still, streets nearly empty. On one corner, a woman held a sign:  "Be ANGRY. ICE agents are murdering people.”

Your telescope arrives in a cheer-filled box, promising galaxies and wonders nearby. The pictures shout WOW! The words say you’ll see the universe—easy!—Just wait, you’ll agree.

In this special bonus episode, Boy on a Beam.

In 1895, a sixteen-year-old boy did something we rarely permit ourselves to do anymore. He gazed into space and let his mind wander. So here’s my challenge—not as a physicist, but as a fellow human.

The world has gotten very good … at interrupting us. It lives in our pockets. Buzzing. Vibrating. Let's see how we can manage it.

Welcome to 2026. Traditional resolutions are merely "re-work"—tasks to improve efficiency. In the Un-Working era, resolutions are about unlearning. Join Jim & Chloe, with NotebookLM, as they explore this blog post.