When it comes to the ideal job atmosphere, Google’s got it. Free gourmet food, generous time off and shuttle bus rides to work will buy you a huge amount of employee goodwill. Those are just some of the benefits that vaulted … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Do Seasons Determine Mood? (Chekhov)
People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy. — Anton Chekhov
Race Relations Worse Under Obama, a Majority Say: How Come?
Many hoped the election of the first black president would improve race relations in America, but six years into the administration of Barack Obama, a new poll shows them worsening. According to a Bloomberg Politics poll, 53 percent believe race … Continue reading
“It’s a Jungle Out There” — Is Life Really Adversarial?
Two approaches to life, especially in the business or professional environment, characterize most human interactions. The first is the adversarial mentality; the second is the realistic mentality. The adversarial mentality rests upon a series of illogical but (to some people) … Continue reading
Eleanor Holmes Norton Shows Why Ideology Gets a Bad Name
It’s often said that ideology is the reason we have so many social and political problems. “If it weren’t for ideological types, then we could resolve things and get things done.” It’s perhaps understandable that some would draw this conclusion, … Continue reading
Self-Esteem: Rationally Understood (Ayn Rand)
To live, man must hold three things as the supreme and ruling values of his life: Reason—Purpose—Self-esteem. Reason, as his only tool of knowledge—Purpose, as his choice of the happiness which that tool must proceed to achieve—Self-esteem, as his inviolate … Continue reading
The Addict’s Attempted Short-Cut to Happiness
The addictive experience, according to drug and alcohol addiction expert Stanton Peele (see www.peele.net), is characterized as follows: 1. Powerful and all-encompassing; 2. Inspires a sense of well-being, such as through conveying an artificial sense of power or control; 3. … Continue reading
Why Young People Don’t Vote Republican
Political analyst Charlie Cook, publisher of the widely read Cook Political Report, says that Republicans face a challenge with younger voters. While they don’t think government is very effective — they grew up with Hurricane Katrina — they tend to … Continue reading
Teaching vs. Learning (Ben Franklin)
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. — Benjamin Franklin Exactly! The reason for this? People learn via abstract concepts integrated with concrete examples. An idea, principle or statement without a concrete … Continue reading
This Video Says It All About Victim-Think
The video’s title is: Black Man Goes on EPIC Rant Against Ferguson Rioters. It’s refreshing and, despite its humerous and rough-edged style, gets to the heart of why “victim-think” doesn’t serve the interests of the victims.
“It’s Not What You Know; It’s WHO You Know” … Fact or Fiction?
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” So goes conventional wisdom. This statement summarizes the dominant idea underlying many of today’s widely acknowledged social and psychological problems. To place an emphasis on who you know instead of what … Continue reading
Did “Fracking” Save the Day and Lower Gas Prices?
We finally have some good economic news: The price of oil (and therefore gas) is going down; way down. Wholesale oil prices dropped from about $100 a barrel to $66, but gasoline prices have fallen from near $4 a gallon … Continue reading