The latest World Happiness report ranks Denmark as the happiest country in the world, up one spot from its ranking last year. I've written about this phenomenon before, and I also wrote about a possible explanation for such a consistent ranking. Well Bertel Haarder, the country’s culture minister, wanted to find out. In June, he asked … Continue reading Why Are the Danish People So Happy? →

Last year, I wrote about how The Killers have released an original Christmas song/music video each year since 2006, with the profits going to support the Product RED campaign to end AIDS. This year, the band release a Christmas charity album in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of (RED), a charity co-founded by Bono. Don't Waste Your … Continue reading The Killers Release New Christmas Single and Christmas Album →

I've mentioned Dan Ariely several times before in my posts (here, here, here, here, here, and here). He's one of my favorite behavioral economists, and has written a couple of best-selling books on decision making, including Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. Dan is a Professor at Duke University and has also published in … Continue reading I Think One of My Gurus Got This One Wrong →

As I sit here shoving handful after handful of trail mix into my mouth, I'm reading an article by Nir Eyal in the Harvard Business Review titled, "Have We Been Thinking About Willpower the Wrong Way for 30 Years?" Apparently the old school of thought regarding willpower, known as ego depletion, is that willpower is … Continue reading Is Willpower a Limited Resource? →

I firmly believe that we live in the greatest country in the world, and part of what makes us great are the many innovations and breakthroughs we have made in the worlds of technology, science, and health care. So I was shocked, angry, and sad when I read the news today from the Centers for … Continue reading Well, America, That’s Embarrassing →

Today in class we were talking about technology and its many uses in the world of business. As part of the coverage, the textbook takes a brief look at the history of technology, at least from the 1970s onward. Since there was little need for me to review such basic material that the students could … Continue reading Back in the Day →

This post is somewhat of a follow-up to yesterday's post about Michael Bloomberg's $360 million initiative to reduce tobacco use around the world. In that post I noted that similar initiatives, such as his attempts to reduce sugar consumption and gun violence, are based on research evidence, and not just his own personal opinion. Well … Continue reading One Smoke Over the Line* →

OK, let me state my biases right up front; I am a fan of Michael Bloomberg. In fact, if he had been a candidate for President, it would have been quite an easy choice for me to vote for him. We are in agreement on several key issues - gun control, sugary drinks, education, and … Continue reading No Good Deed Goes Unpunished →

I've mentioned Wawa in previous posts, but I think it deserves a post all its own. Here is a brief description I gave of Wawa in one of those posts: If you haven’t heard of Wawa, then just imagine what the ultimate convenience store would be like, and that’s Wawa. It’s better than 7-Eleven, Sheetz, … Continue reading Gottahava Wawa →