Who Are We Really Mourning?

06.26.2009

The seemingly global angst surrounding the death of Michael Jackson has me thinking: what are we really mourning? I doubt that it’s who he was at the time of his death, but rather, for those of use who remember, who he was when we liked him best.
We’re mourning the guy who introduced the moon walk, [...]

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The Highs and Lows of Expectations

06.17.2009

Expectations are tricky things. They invite optimism, giving you something to look forward to. On the flip side, they can lead to disappointment and foster cynicism. When we’re dealing with our expectations for people, the extremes are perhaps the greatest. People have the potential to stun us, for both good and bad.
In my case, I [...]

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Lessons from Running a Race

06.15.2009

Last Saturday, I ran my first race of the season, a half marathon. I tell myself I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet I’m baffled by the people who sign up for a race then refuse to follow the rules. Here are my favorites:

No support teams: Despite the rule, one such car was labeled clearly as [...]

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Choosing Between Two Unattractive Options

06.12.2009

Catching up on the news, I discovered this tidbit in the WSJ (full article behind subscriber wall):
The use of company-issued mobile phones could trigger new federal income taxes on millions of Americans as a “fringe benefit.”
The Internal Revenue Service proposed employers assign 25% of an employee’s annual phone expenses as a taxable benefit. Under that [...]

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Staying Open to Daydreams

06.10.2009

I spend more time daydreaming than I like to admit. Subjects range from the everyday—what an upcoming trip to Seattle will be like—to the absurd—when I win the lottery…
While knowing I’m not the only one to engage in this secret delight, I also feel a trifle sheepish for wasting time thinking about things that are [...]

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Funemployment

06.08.2009

Via Virginia Postrel, I discovered an article in the LA Times about “funemployment:”
While millions of Americans struggle to find work as they face foreclosures and bankruptcy, others have found a silver lining in the economic meltdown. These happily jobless tend to be single and in their 20s and 30s. Some were laid off. Some quit [...]

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Building a World In Your Image

06.05.2009

Do younger generations (Y, Millennial, et. al.) have what it takes to succeed? During the last two weeks, I’ve thought about this question as I’ve ended up in a couple of conversations about my generation (X), and the generations that come after me (Y, Millennials, etc.).
Disclaimer: These conversations took place using generalities. I know not [...]

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Bold Words Refocused

06.02.2009

My silence the last two months isn’t a reflection of not having anything to say. Instead, the last two months have been filled with an internal debate about whether there was value in continuing to share what’s on my mind. To that end, I’ve changed a few things that I hope will improve this blog [...]

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March Madness

03.31.2009

March has proven a crazy month. Between work, travel, and illness, I’ve had little time to write. However, I’ve been doing a lot watching and listening.
I’m baffled.
We seem to have lost our collective minds.
The country was so outraged over bonuses paid to AIG that Congress responded by proposing a 90% tax. Never mind that the [...]

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Graphics Novels, Politics, and Tropicana

03.04.2009

I have an ongoing debate with a friend about the value of graphic novels (aka book-length comics). He lured me in initially with V for Vendetta and added to my collection with a gift of Watchmen and Y: The Last Man. I’ve read the first two, but haven’t gotten to the latter.
Perhaps I’m a snob, [...]

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