I think this is the most current one of my Music Mondays has been. Usually, I am writing about music or events that happened a couple of years ago, or a few decades ago. Last week, I got a notice that Walk Off the Earth (WOTE) had just posted an a capella version of their … Continue reading Music Monday: Walk Off the Earth Goes A Capella
Many people are likely aware of the suggestion to sing "Happy Birthday", twice, while washing your hands to ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly. Here's Prime Minister Boris Johnson showing us (sort of) how it's done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWfZGdLeDl4 But Dan Pink has an even better idea than singing the well-known tune while washing our hands. … Continue reading Forget about Singing Happy Birthday, Do This When Washing Your Hands Instead
I was browsing through the Study Finds web site, seeing if there might be something worth writing about, and I was just overwhelmed by the number of possible topics. So rather than pick one and offer my take on the study, I thought I would just share a few headlines and let you pick which … Continue reading Reader’s Choice – Choose Your Own Adventure
Dan Ariely has written several books about irrational decision making, including Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. His books are both enjoyable and educational. In addition, he has a regular column in the Wall Street Journal called Ask Dan, which has been the basis for many of my blog posts over the past five … Continue reading How to Avoid Behaving Irrationally
I'm guessing that my headline has already scared a few people away. Some of you may be thinking - "bubblegum music is bad enough - there's the possibility that there will be more than one post about it?" But just keep reading... The 2001 book Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth rules out teen pop or boy bands as inherently bubblegum … Continue reading Music Monday: Bubblegum Music – Part One…
Elizabeth Bernstein wrote a wonderful story in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal: Why Being Kind Helps You, Too—Especially Now. Bernstein notes that there is research which links kindness to a wealth of physical and emotional benefits. Plus, it’s an excellent coping skill for the Covid-19 era. Here are some of the highlights from the story: Studies … Continue reading The Power of Kindness
I have no idea how I've gotten to my age without ever having read Of Mice and Men. But today I put an end that gap in my literary education, and so far, so good. The beginning of the book features an essay on Steinbeck by Susan Shillinglaw, who at the time was a professor … Continue reading John Steinbeck Knew What It Took for the World to be a Kinder, Gentler Place
Well as it turns out, the eulogy for my beloved 2006 Matrix was a bit premature. For those of you who did not read my post from yesterday - a quick recap. I had brought my Matrix in for inspection last Friday. What I thought was going to be a relatively minor set of repairs, … Continue reading Welcome Back, Old Friend!
Back in 2014, we bought a used 2006 Toyota Matrix with 130,000 miles on it for $6,000. Along with a Toyota Camry station wagon we bought in the mid-80s, it's been the best car we've ever had. The Matrix currently has over 220,000 miles on it, and over the six years we have owned it, … Continue reading Goodbye, Old Friend
Imagine my excitement when I saw an email in my Inbox from Dan Pink. Dan's biweekly Pinkcast has been a great source of material for my blogs. I used to look forward to those Tuesdays when his Pinkcast newsletter would arrive because the odds were quite high that I would have something to write about … Continue reading What’s Your Regret? Dan Pink Would Like to Know…
