One of the most unpleasant tasks a present-day human can undertake is making the dreaded “phone call to customer service.” A typical experience might involve, oh, say Verizon Wireless and a customer representative named “Cyrus.”* After waiting on hold for the requisite 25 minutes — a length the company hopes will provoke you to abandon your […]
This week, we mourn the passing of a great humanitarian and leader, one who brought the country together in perilous times and who gave selflessly to his profession. Carrying himself with humility and restraint, he led a ragtag team of soldiers to prominence in the face of great odds. (He was also a frequent guest […]
Do you have a spirit animal? If not, the owl is a very wise choice.* By claiming the owl as your totem, you’ve picked a symbol with deep sagacity, not to mention “gut instinct.” With the owl by your side, your ability to see what’s hidden to others will flourish. Let the owl guide you […]
Whereby we examine why some people don’t vote, and offer remedies for this situation, including one utilized by none other than the first president of the United States. While the cable news networks argue that the coming midterm elections are “the most crucial in our lifetime,” it’s still likely that a vast swath of registered […]
The following is a guest post (mostly) written by our friend Clarissa. Whether you’re up in arms over the state of the union, or just a bit stiff from sitting around the cubicle farm all day, walking is a great way to beat the blues, get active and stay in shape. In fact, most Americans […]
Many people put $2 in an office pool each time the lottery rises above a certain number…say $100 million. Then, after many, many months of not winning, they start to question the practice. “Christ, I’m out $200 already with nothing to show for it. Maybe I should stop playing.”* There are two major problems with […]
Moving slow? Feeling snarky? Having trouble getting started? Now that it’s back to “la course de rat,” you may well be cursing what society has labeled the worst day of the week. But here’s the good news: Monday is not the ungodly descent into Hades we’ve been conditioned to think. A recent survey revealed that […]
Anybody who tries to sell us a quick remedy for obesity, a fountain-of-youth formula, or a miracle cure for back pain is usually called a cheat, a charlatan, or a cur. But is that fair assessment of snake oil salesmen? Not necessarily! As it turns out, snake oil does have measurable health effects, assuming you’re using […]
There’s an ancient proverb that states: “If your own house is not in order, how can you possible help another to tidy up theirs?” So before offering a hearty handshake to a friend, colleague, or local law enforcement officer, we suggest you start with yourself first. Clasp your hands together. Doing so is a great […]
News conferences, state dinners, ribbon-cutting, photo ops…political leaders spend an inordinate amount of time stage-managing ceremonies intended to commemorate their successes. Small wonder, since they wouldn’t have ventured into the business of pressing flesh and begging for votes unless they were eager for attention. Yet their day-to-day activities pale in comparison to how much effort […]