Does suffering strengthen character? Not really. Suffering is never an end in itself. The avoidance of suffering is a goal–but not the primary one. Living a happy, self-interested and rational life is the overriding goal (and the purpose of morality). … Continue reading
Get out of your own way. Stop holding on to policies, ideas and behaviors that don’t work. If you’re happy, then fine. But if you’re unhappy, this is an indicaiton that you’re in your own way. The biggest single mistake … Continue reading
What you communicate is based on what you assume. It’s best to know what you assume, and to verify it, before you communicate it. There used to be an expression that went like this: “When you assume, you make an … Continue reading
To introspect and reflect helps you know your thoughts. If you know your thoughts and your motives, you’re more in control. People who tend to avoid introspecting are usually the types who want control. They feel like they’re losing control … Continue reading
Recently, the local paper where I live reported that there’s a problem with curbside recycling (still voluntary here). Because of local government deficits due to the economy, it’s becoming too expensive to use separate trucks to cart paper and plastics … Continue reading
“It only stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice, there’s someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there’s service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to … Continue reading
I don’t understand something. I’m supposed to be overjoyed because America has a (half) black President, and it’s a historic occasion. I’m supposed to water down my criticism of this new President because of the historic nature of the occasion. … Continue reading
Our poor President. (I’m referring to the outgoing one). He (and we, mercifully) have just 3 days to go. To look at him in photo-ops with the new President, he looks like a child at his own birthday party. He … Continue reading
Guess you heard that 68% of the youth vote went to Obama. My granddaughter called this morning to tell me she was one of them. I replied with this e-mail: What is the economic effect of Obama’s election on you … Continue reading
It’s one to thing to stop an excessive or addictive behavior; it’s another thing to quit. People in denial about their excessive behavior tend to say, “Oh, I can quit any time.” What they mean is they can stop. Of … Continue reading
It’s too ambitious to fix the world. I don’t know that any one person can. I’m not sure what ‘fix’ even means. Many things are right about the world, and many things are wrong. You make the world a better … Continue reading
The last time the government tried spending its way out of a Depression, we had two Presidents attempting to do so. One was called Herbert Hoover and the other Franklin D. Roosevelt. Myth has it that Hoover was an evil … Continue reading