Human Patterns A Structured Exploration of the World, Top to Bottom

Here is a prompt on money.

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Prompt: money

“I ordered Abigail some more things she needed today,” Ned’s wife said, clacking away at the two thousand dollar laptop that “was just something they needed,” as she had told Ned. “I put it on the Amazon card alright?”

“Alright?” Ned asked, looking up from his rapidly cooling morning cup of coffee and sighing the steam out towards his wife. “What alright? Was there a question in there?”

His wife just clacked on, not looking away from her clatter. “You told me that if it was for the baby then we could spend the money.”

“I did,” Ned said, pushing himself straight from leaning against the granite counters. “But I cannot finance a project if I lack the funds.”

“Oh!” Ned’s wife said. “So now our daughter is a ‘project’ to you?” She closed the laptop much too hard and finally gave Ned a quarter turn of her attention.

“Come the hell on, I haven’t even tasted my coffee yet.”

Ned’s wife gripped the wooden back of the chair nearest her and whiting her knuckles with her grip.”God forbid! Make sure and tell me how that coffee is dear. Lord knows we don’t flush enough money down that caffine abyss already.”

“What are you talking about? I just–”

Ned held out a shaking hand and took the pause to breathe and think. The air was hot with their bodies exertion.

“I just didn’t understand why you were telling me about how you just spent more money on these ridiculous ‘environmentally safe’ diapers, and then asking me ‘alright?’ like there was some sort of a question.”

“Oh, you just!”

The couple stewed in the thick air, miasmal by the passing of negative emotion, and sulked.

“How much did the diaper thingies cost?” Ned said.

“Four hundred-”

“For the love of God!” Ned yelled and with one hand impressively upon his hip, he splashed the lukewarm coffee into the sink and slammed his mug down. Ned left the kitchen, leaving his wife with her forehead in her hand and her elbows at her knees.

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,

Caleb

About the author

Caleb Jacobo

I’m a husband, father of five, and lifelong learner with a deep curiosity about how structured thinking can unlock deeper understanding and more effective problem-solving.

For over two decades, I’ve explored psychology, philosophy, technology, art, and faith—seeking patterns and connections across disciplines to build a cohesive, proof-based approach to thinking.

As someone on the autism spectrum, my mind naturally gravitates toward structure, systems, and deep analysis. Writing is how I refine my thoughts, clarify complex ideas, and ensure that insights are not just explored, but demonstrated and made applicable.

This blog is more than just a space for discussion—it is a living system for structured exploration, where creativity, business, philosophy, and personal growth intersect. Every post begins with my own thinking, and while I use digital tools to assist with clarity and organization, the reasoning, insights, and conclusions are entirely my own.

I write to think deeply, connect ideas across disciplines, and provide a structured framework that others can apply to their own work and lives. If that resonates with you, I hope you’ll stick around.

For more on my approach to writing and structured thought, see the About This Blog page.

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By Caleb Jacobo
Human Patterns A Structured Exploration of the World, Top to Bottom

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