This is the 14th in a collection of newspaper ads written by Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies, that appeared in the Wall Street Journal from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. Here is the original ad. Most of us will spend two years of our lives on the telephone. They are not … Continue reading Hold the Phone
To My Dad
The following is the eulogy I gave at my Dad's funeral in 1993. It's been a while since I've read this, and it brings back both happy and sad memories. I would just like to say a few words about my Dad on behalf of his family and friends. First off, I would like to thank Monsignor Carroll … Continue reading To My Dad
The Luck of Birth
I've always been intrigued by the notion of the luck of birth. It seems as if much of what happens to us in life is determined by who our parents are, where we are born, and when we are born. And something about that seems quite unfair. But my beliefs were just observational, so … Continue reading The Luck of Birth
Wits & Wagers
In inches, how tall was the shortest mature man in recorded medical history? What percent of U.S. presidents have served in a war? Of U.S. men age 65 or older, what percent are employed? In what year were the Voyager missions first launched to explore the planets beyond Mars? How many matches did Muhammad Ali … Continue reading Wits & Wagers
Lobster Man Strikes Again
When I was in high school, I used to get embarrassed quite easily. I am sure it was caused by a lack of self-confidence and being put into the spotlight against my desire. My natural response to being embarrassed is turning bright red, and I remember this happening in one of my high school classes. … Continue reading Lobster Man Strikes Again
The Many Benefits of Eating Consciously
The New York Times had a story this week with the headline, "To Lose Weight, Eating Less Is Far More Important Than Exercising More". The basic point of the article is that if your primary goal is weight loss, eating less is a much more effective and efficient way to accomplish such a goal, than … Continue reading The Many Benefits of Eating Consciously
Gender and Financial Literacy
The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University recently published a study "How financially literate are women? An overview and new insights". With an increased need for individuals to be more personally responsible for their own financial security, particularly in terms of retirement planning, the need for financial literacy has been growing. Despite this … Continue reading Gender and Financial Literacy
Reading at the Dinner Table
This is the 13th in a collection of newspaper ads written by Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies, that appeared in the Wall Street Journal from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. Here is the original ad. Tonight at the dinner table, read something out loud to your family. Tomorrow night, let another member … Continue reading Reading at the Dinner Table
(Dis)Honesty in Business
The Wall Street Journal had a story this week about how many firms take advantage of what is known as "nonfunctional slack fill". This is just a fancy way of saying that there is less in a package than meets the eye. Other commonly used terms include "weight-out" and "de-sheeting". One example the story gave … Continue reading (Dis)Honesty in Business
Alive Inside
My wife and I just watched an amazing documentary today titled "Alive Inside". Here is a description of the movie from its web site: Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals … Continue reading Alive Inside
Borden's Blather 