Just as some people need help being neat, perhaps some obsessive types need help being sloppy. Business-wise, the great thing about this service is employees would be a snap to find. Then again, such help is probably widely available for free. Everybody has a friend who’d be only too happy to come and leave stuff Read More …
By themselves, logical statements don’t persuade. And neither do examples or metaphors. But put all three together, especially if the statements are short and memorable, and maybe you have a three-part formula for making a little magic happen. Jesus told parables, and his ideas sure caught on. He had some snappy sound-bites, too, like “He who shall save Read More …
Let it be resolved: If anyone develops a sure-fire lie detector, whether an externally attached device, a drug, a form of hypnosis, a remote mind-reading scan, or a brain implant, no politician may vote to authorize its use on American citizens without first having submitted to such a lie detector and spilled every ounce of truth out of Read More …
Someday, just as computers have virus and spyware scans, maybe neural-computer hookups will be able to scan your brain for fallacies. Find that one stupid assumption that’s been screwing up your life. Be nice if this kind of hunt didn’t take a guy 35 years. Of course, the fear is futurist brain hookups will download more fallacies (thanks to Big Brother) Read More …
Ever notice how many current and once-popular brands sound like baby talk or nonsense? Google. Barbie. Madonna. Sudoku. Bambi. Yahoo. Howdy Doody. Coca-Cola. Pokemon. Pop-Eye. Wham-O. Oreo. Goobers. iPod. eBay. Frisbee. Gumby. ABBA. Barbra. Pizza. The Doobie Brothers. Dydie Diapers. Tutti frutti. The Bee Gees. BVDs. Jeep. Fuji. Hula Hoop. Uma. Oprah. Subaru. OK I’m exaggerating, but simple nonsense is (a) simple, (b) Read More …
Full title idea: Getting in Touch With Your Inner Hippie in an Increasingly Corporate PC World. No, this isn’t a guide to mind-enhancing drugs. It’d be about peace and love and joy, bypassing the all-too-familiar avenues of ambition and fear. If someone writes this, I’ll buy a copy. I could use the advice.
How about a group that’s the antithesis of an anti-defamation alliance? Call it the Thick-Skin Society. Its central belief: We believe in total free speech, so go ahead, take your best shot! We welcome it. This multicultural group would monitor the media, from TV to blogs, and cry howls of protest when some group hasn’t been insulted lately. Read More …
Completely opaque lenses (classic black, or optional images of eyeballs) with earplugs on those hinged side thingies (frame temples?). Great for bus terminals, little children’s birthday parties, family reunions,promising plays and movies that reek, monk practice, and long relaxing soaks in the tub.
You know the expression: “Don’t get mad, get even.” Now, while I do agree sometimes a little anger can be good, if it motivates some civil sticking-up for oneself, “getting even” is rarely the route to happiness. For anybody. Thus the idea for the book: Don’t Get Mad, Get Over It. I’d also like to Read More …
Eye for an eye never works because the cycle never ends. So instead of retaliating, set an example for a better way to behave. It’d take some “vigilante” group to set this up, because no government ever will. But instead of deadly bombs, explode tasty ones. KABOOM! Candy’s rolling all over the streets. Ultimately, kindness strategies will win more hearts and minds and sympathy Read More …
Why not a do-it-yourself life-coach web site? You answer a questionnaire about your medical health, mental health, financial health, career (hours worked, stress, respect), religion, relationships, worries, hopes and dreams. You get back a priority list of suggestions and references. OK, at most it’s a cursory overview, and it could be a ballpark guess, but sometimes we all miss the obvious: Read More …
Seriously. Instead of dropping a bomb on your nasty neighbor, you drop some gas that makes them happy. Laughing gas. Or an anti-depressant. Or some kind of wonder enlightenment tonic to drop in the water. Or could this be the worst weapon of all, because it could be a way to quell all resistance to invaders? Not Read More …
It’s a book. Or a website. Or both. Too chicken to propose? Or ask for a raise? Or ride a roller coaster? This collection has a speech for you. Thinking of getting a divorce? Quitting a job? Jumping off a bridge? There are talks to talk you out of things, too. In other cases, you face Read More …
How do people react when they have everything?
One reason we go crazy is that we’re taught to be of one mind. I mean, don’t we always have multiple reactions? Self-interest says, Darn, I’m disappointed, I wanted that job. Some higher side, your heart says, I’m happy that my friend got it. Everything is a mixed blessing, someone said. I think it was Read More …