If employment isn’t healthy, then neither is ‘the economy’

Speaking this week to the Democratic Senate Policy Committee, President Obama said that the economy is expanding. “The economy that was shrinking by 6 percent a year ago is now growing at nearly 6 percent one year later.” He almost certainly meant that the Gross Domestic Product has grown at that rate (after rounding up). Is GDP “the economy”? For my money, if employment isn’t growing, then neither is ‘the economy.’

Contentment is a pernicious motivational trick

What effect does fulfillment have on us? Far from making us eternally appreciative, a moment of true contentment makes us restless and decreases our satisfaction with the rest of our lives. At best, it’s a pernicious motivational trick that we play on ourselves.

Equal freedom – a radically new approach to political financing

On Thursday, the Supreme Court rolled back legal restrictions on political financing in the United States. Note that I specify legal restrictions, because economic difficulties place their own restriction on people’s ability to influence the political process. While some argue that the principle of free speech requires a funding free-for-all, this interpretation contradicts the hallowed principle of equality: one-person, one vote. By radically redesigning political financing, we can honor both of these precepts while increasing participatory democracy. In short, every adult citizen should have a strict allowance to spend on political groups, and no other money should be allowed into the political process.

The comb-over: theory and praxis. Chapter 1 – definition and identification.

The identification of a comb-over by its practitioner is one of the thorniest issues in coiffure studies. This chapter will address the two main components of this procedure: understanding the definition of a comb-over and applying this definition to one’s praxis.

Definition

The word “comb-over” suggests the most basic aspect of this cranial adornment: a strand or, usually, multiple strands of hair must be arranged so that they lie over otherwise bare scalp. Combing is generally not necessary or even advisable to achieve this effect. (See Chapter 2: Effectuation.)

The Miracle Store, part two

Recently, I outlined what I believe to be a top-notch, long-term service project, which I call the Miracle Store. The project would consist of establishing kiosks in malls to collect donations for various international charities. In this post, I would like to relate this project to the relief efforts in Haiti and to suggest a way to increase the number of donors.

Haiti – please send money

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a ready-made, effective way to collect money for the relief efforts in Haiti? A Miracle Store could do this by simply adding new options to the menu.

Gilgamesh – existential dread and acceptance

Last night I finished reading Stephen Mitchell’s version of Gilgamesh. It provoked bittersweet reflections about living with knowledge of death.

Gilgamesh recounts, among other things, how the hero in the title struggles to deal with mortality.

A good home workout without special equipment

For years, I’ve been on the lookout for a good set of strengthening exercises to complement my running. In short, I would like a workout that substitutes for using weight machines at a gym. And I think that this workout has finally found me, via the commercials for Vaseline Men featuring Michael Strahan.

The Miracle Store – the best service project ever!

The project

Looking for a service project for your school or group? The most effective service project that I can think up is what I call the Miracle Store: establishing kiosks in malls to collect donations for various international charities.

What didn’t cure my plantar fasciitis

As I recounted in a previous post, I apparently have cured my plantar fasciitis by going against medical advice and walking barefoot whenever possible. In this post, I would like to review the medically prescribed treatments that didn’t work. I tried quite a few approaches over several years, and I eschewed only the final, most draconian alternative. Some of these treatments border on quackery.

How I fixed my plantar fasciitis

For several years, I suffered from plantar fasciitis. A series of medical treatments and advice did nothing to ease my pain and sometimes even increased it. Nonetheless, I seem to have solved this problem, and my experience directly controverts much of the medical advice that I received. So I offer this testimonial in case others find it instructive.