Today we begin Book 3 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Meditation 3.1 reminds us that our time is limited—not just by death, but by the potential loss of our rational faculty as we age. Marcus writes that even if life continues, our ability to reason, comprehend, and adapt to events may diminish. He urges us to press forward with our pursuit of Virtue while we still have the capacity to live thoughtfully and intentionally.

Memento Mori—the practice of remembering our mortality—grounds Stoic practice, but Marcus reminds us that it is not a lifehack to achieve personal goals or ambitions. Instead, it’s a practice rooted in the Stoic commitment to living in alignment with Nature and contributing to the greater good of the Cosmopolis. This meditation challenges us to reflect on how we use the present moment, which is the only time truly within our power, to make progress toward Virtue.

"We ought to take into account not only the fact that day by day life is being spent and a smaller balance remaining, but this further point also that, should we live longer, it is at least doubtful whether the intellect will hereafter be the same." - Meditations 3.1

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Introducing Behind the Scenes with Palo Alto Networks CIO and CISO Securing Business Success with Frictionless Cybersecurity from Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks.

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In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton speaks with Meerah Rajavel, CIO of Palo Alto Networks, and Niall Browne, CISO of the organization, about the importance of aligning IT strategy with cybersecurity. 

Meerah and Niall discuss how frictionless security, AI integration, and cloud solutions enable agility without compromising safety. They explore how the partnership between IT and security drives business outcomes, enhances customer trust, and ensures rapid incident response. Tune in to learn practical strategies for balancing innovation and security in today’s dynamic business environment.

Threat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.

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Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

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In this episode, I discuss Meditation 17 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient and uncertain nature of life. Marcus reminds us that our lives are brief and unpredictable, with the physical and spiritual aspects of existence constantly in flux. In the face of this, Marcus asserts that only Philosophy can serve as our guide through life, providing us with the means to keep our spirit unharmed, act with purpose, and accept the inevitable changes and dissolution of Nature without fear.

Marcus highlights the importance of focusing on the present moment, the only time we truly have control over. While the past can inform our decisions, and the future must be considered for virtuous planning, neither should overwhelm the present. By living according to a guiding philosophy—one that emphasizes virtue, rationality, and alignment with Nature—we ensure that our choices lead us closer to the Good. I also explore how adopting a coherent and virtuous philosophy, like Stoicism, helps us frame our actions and emotions, avoiding the pitfalls of nihilism or harmful ideologies.

"Of man's life, his time is a point, his existence a flux, his sensation clouded, his body's entire composition corruptible, his vital spirit an eddy of breath, his fortune hard to predict, his fame uncertain. Briefly, all the things of the body, a river; all the things of the spirit, dream and delirium; his life a warfare and a sojourn in a strange land, his after-fame oblivion. What then can be his escort through life? One thing and one thing only, Philosophy. And this is to keep the spirit within him unwronged and unscathed, master of pains and pleasures, doing nothing at random, nothing falsely and with pretence; needing no other to do aught or to leave aught undone; and moreover accepting what befalls it, that is, what is assigned to it, as coming from that other world from which it came itself. And in all things awaiting death, with a mind that is satisfied, counting it nothing else than a release of the elements from which each living creature is composed. Now if there is no hurt to the elements themselves in their ceaseless changing each into other, why should a man apprehend anxiously the change and dissolution of them all? For this is according to Nature; and no evil is according to Nature." - Meditations 2.17

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Introducing Group Chat: Don't Get Testerical with Josh Bard & Kelaine Conochan from Good Game with Sarah Spain.

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Sarah’s good pals Josh Bard, producer for ESPN’s Around The Horn, and Kelaine Conochan, VP of global sales for Legends, join her for another edition of Group Chat. This time, they talk all things college hoops, attempt to craft an official co-ed adult sports etiquette code, and choose which Unrivaled basketball clubs they’ll be rooting for in January.

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In this episode, I examine Meditation 16 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the ways in which a person’s soul—or daemon, in Stoic terminology—can harm itself. Marcus lists five key actions that damage the soul, emphasizing that such harm occurs when we act contrary to Nature and our rational purpose.

The first way we harm ourselves is by separating from Nature, acting as though we are independent of the Universe’s interconnected system. The second is by turning against others with the intent to harm, which undermines our duty to cooperate within the Cosmopolis. Third, we damage ourselves when we allow pleasure or pain to control our actions, forsaking rational decision-making for hedonism or avoidance. Fourth, we harm our character by engaging in lies or fostering illusions, as these actions habituate vice. Finally, we cause harm when we act without purpose, neglecting our roles and responsibilities within society.

Marcus reminds us that living in alignment with Nature requires continuous effort and self-reflection. This meditation highlights the Stoic commitment to personal accountability and the importance of cultivating a virtuous character.

"The soul of a man does violence to itself, first and foremost when it becomes so far as in it lies, a separate growth, a blain as it were upon the Universe. For to turn against anything that comes to pass is a separation from Nature, by which the natures of each of the rest are severally comprehended. Secondly, when it turns away from any human being or is swept counter to him, meaning to injure him, as is the case with the natures of those who are enraged. It violates itself, thirdly, when it is the victim of pleasure or pain; fourthly, when it acts apart, and says or does anything both feignedly and falsely. Fifthly, when, failing to direct any act or impulse of its own upon a mark, it behaves in any matter without a plan or conscious purpose, whereas even the smallest act ought to have a reference to the end. Now the end of reasonable creatures is this: to obey the rule and ordinance of the most venerable of all cities and governments." - Meditations 2.16

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Introducing Preparing students for opioid emergencies from Countermeasures.

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Going to college is an exciting time filled with new experiences. For some students, it might also be their first exposure to opioids, and they may not know the dangers of accidental overdose. 

However, college is also a time when many students get involved in creating change and promoting education to protect themselves, other students, and their communities. In this episode, hear how the conversation around overdose on college campuses is changing, and the students, administrators, and public health experts working to create safer campuses for everyone. 



Guests:

• Riley Sullivan, Bella Grumet and Kathleen Ready of the Carolina Harm Reduction Union 
• Cori Hammond, M.P.H, Director, Prevention Services, Partnership to End Addiction 
• Alexis Drakatos, Assistant Director of Substance Misuse Prevention at the University of Oregon 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 15 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius emphasizes that “all is opinion.” This principle, shared by the Cynic philosopher Monimus, suggests that our perception defines our reality. While this concept is intuitive, its true power lies in recognizing the control we have over how we frame our experiences. By adjusting our perceptions, we can transform how we respond to life’s challenges, even in situations of profound loss or injustice.

I explore how framing can help us endure grief, such as the death of a loved one, whether it occurs naturally or through tragic circumstances like a murder. While emotional responses are natural, Marcus reminds us that we always have the power to choose how we think about such events. Viewing loss as part of Nature’s causal chain rather than as an unfair tragedy helps us avoid bitterness and remain aligned with virtue. This ability to reframe events extends beyond personal loss, shaping how we navigate disagreements, relationships, and our roles within the Cosmopolis.

"Remember that all is opinion. For what was said by the Cynic Monimus is manifest: and manifest too is the use of what was said, if a man receives what may be got out of it as far as it is true." - Meditations 2.15

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Introducing CISA issues urgent warning. from CyberWire Daily.

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CISA issues a warning about a critical security flaw in Palo Alto Networks’ Expedition tool. A federal agency urges employees to limit phone use in response to Chinese hacking. Law enforcement is perplexed by spontaneously rebooting iPhones. A key supplier for oilfields suffers a ransomware attack. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) patches multiple vulnerabilities in its Aruba Networking access points. Cybercriminals use game-related apps to distribute Winos4.0. Germany proposes legislation protecting security researchers. The TSA proposes new cybersecurity regulations for critical transportation infrastructure. Our guest is Aaron Griffin, Chief Architect from Sevco Security, sharing the discovery of a significant Apple iOS bug involving iPhone Mirroring.  AI tries to wing it in a Reddit group, but moderators put a fork in it. 

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Our guest is Aaron Griffin, Chief Architect from Sevco Security, sharing the discovery of a significant Apple iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia privacy bug that exposes employee personal iPhone apps and data to companies through iPhone Mirroring. Read Sevco’s blog on the topic.

CISA warns of Critical Palo Alto Networks Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks (GB Hackers)

U.S. Agency Warns Employees About Phone Use Amid Ongoing China Hack (Wall Street Journal)

Host of House panels getting briefed on major Chinese hacker telecom breaches (CyberScoop)

Police Freak Out at iPhones Mysteriously Rebooting Themselves, Locking Cops Out (404 Media)

Texas-based oilfield supplier faces disruptions following ransomware attack (The Record)

HPE Patches Critical Vulnerabilities in Aruba Access Points (SecurityWeek)

Winos4.0 hides in gaming apps to hijack Windows systems (The Register)

Germany drafts law to protect researchers who find security flaws (Bleeping Computer)

TSA proposes new cybersecurity rule for surface transportation, seeks public feedback (Industrial Cyber)

Reddit’s ‘Interesting as Fuck’ Community Rules That AI-Generated Video Is Not Interesting (404 Media)

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Introducing Trump’s Parade of Clowns, Idiots, and Creeps from Strict Scrutiny.

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Leah, Melissa, and Kate wade through more election fallout, including President-elect Trump’s proposed use of recess appointments to jam his cabinet picks through. Also covered: this week’s SCOTUS arguments, the tryhards auditioning to be Trump Supreme Court nominees, and why everyone should shut up about Justice Sotomayor retiring.  

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