6 1/2 years into my hosted WordPress blog, the only complaint I’ve ever had is the statistics are a bit weak. As someone who ran a Web site analysis company more than a decade ago, it’s always been surprising to me that all of the reports are based on page views. However, the statistics have significantly improved…
In sports and in gambling there is a mistaken belief that a player who is performing better than normal will continue to play well, even if the odds suggest otherwise. This belief is especially strong in basketball. Players who have made several shots in a row are considered to have a “hot hand” and encouraged…
Are people happier in California? Almost everywhere I’ve visited, I’ve encountered the belief that people are happier in California. When pressed for an explanation, the most common response is the good weather. As studies have shown sunlight positively influences mood, perhaps everyone should move to California. That might make the world a happier place. Practicality aside, it turns…
As a frequent traveler, I sometimes find myself so time-shifted I can’t sleep even though it’s late at night. During a recent episode, I wondered whether lying in bed with my eyes closed had the same benefits as actual sleep. Doesn’t my brain and body still get some rest? The answer isn’t clear cut. Brian Fung asks exactly this question…
On weekends I enjoy long hikes in the hills around my house. It relaxes me after the work week and my mind wanders to new ideas. Of course, it’s also good for my health. Mostly. Lately I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. I often go to lunch with my hiking companions after a few hours on the trail…
With the U.S presidential election imminent, not surprisingly politics are dominating everyone’s conversations. Last week I had an on-going discussion with a work colleague on whether brands have political connotations. We decided to try to figure out the politics of brand. The conversation started with my colleague’s observation about cars in our office parking lot: more…
Watching game four of the 2012 baseball World Series, I’m struck by the absence of playoff beards. For the uninitiated, playoff beards refer to the tradition of a hockey player not shaving during the Stanley Cup playoffs. A player stops shaving for the first game of the playoffs and does not resume until his team…
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “diversity” as follows: 1: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization <programs intended to promote diversity in schools> 2: an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities: an instance of being diverse <a diversity of opinion>. However,…
If I was a millennial, I would be annoyed with popular media. Whether they are called Millennials, Digital Natives, or Generation Y, people under the age of 30 are typically portrayed as having unrealistically high expectations for their career and over-inflated sense of their abilities. They are lazy, lack emotional intelligence, and don’t take criticism well. But they…
Possibly because my mantra is ‘words matter’ or that I’ve been writing continuously for many years, I get asked for tips on better writing. For years, I quoted George Orwell’s advice on how to be simple and clear, including my personal favorite: If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out….