North Korea fascinates us. Its leaders, their posturing and militarism, their economics, and more all fascinate us. Their belligerence puts them in the news often. Yet we know little about them. More than fascinating, they are globally important. They are a nuclear power with the world’s fourth largest military and most militarized border. Yet the media, mainstream and otherwise, mystifies them more. No one explains how or why anyone could[…] Keep reading →

[This post is part of a series on The Model — my model for the human emotional system designed for use in leadership, self-awareness, and general purpose professional and personal development — which I find the most effective and valuable foundation for understanding yourself and others and improving your life. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view the series, where you’ll get[…] Keep reading →

[This post is part of a series on The Model — my model for the human emotional system designed for use in leadership, self-awareness, and general purpose professional and personal development — which I find the most effective and valuable foundation for understanding yourself and others and improving your life. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view the series, where you’ll get[…] Keep reading →

Memorable, effective words: Ich bin ein Berliner! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! Two American Presidents were able to strike public relations coups with speeches in Berlin. In both cases they had limited ability to influence the Soviets, though they had great ability to speak to the people on the front lines of the Cold War. I understand their words resonated strongly with them. Few wanted the division through Europe,[…] Keep reading →

Two weeks ago I wrote about how I felt all kids grow up liking animals and adults have to harden them to killing and eating them. I came across this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon today that, I think, illustrates my point. I can’t imagine anyone not getting the sarcasm. If someone doesn’t, I guess that would explain my not getting their enjoying eating meat. Clicking should enlarge the picture. Boy[…] Keep reading →

When North Korea holds an event, they do it on scales few others match, though they are announcing only their third leader since 1948, so you can understand their enthusiasm. Here is the site of the rally declaring Kim Jong-un’s succession to Supreme Leader when we visited.The New York Times published this picture of the rally today Wow, that’s a lot of people. Very tightly ordered too. The first thing[…] Keep reading →

[This post is part of a series on Communication Skills Exercises for Business and Life. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view the series, where you’ll get more value than reading just this post.] I’ve found tremendous success with a conversation technique I developed recently. When you get it, it’s almost too simple to do, but it takes a practice to get[…] Keep reading →

Watching the funeral of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang streaming over the internet, I see the main propaganda techniques they seem to prefer: Many images of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung Rousing music Large crowds, or the appearance of them Rousing oratory The music and oratory appear designed to rouse, I should say. To my ears they sound like the Andrews Sisters music sounds to our ears today[…] Keep reading →

To wrap up this extended series on food, I’ll summarize most of it in the form of advice: Eat what you feel is right for you. The more you learn and think about food the more you’ll enjoy it. Anyone who tells you what you should or shouldn’t eat is moralizing and meddling. Eating has no right or wrong. In the time I’ve written this series I’ve eaten more vegetables[…] Keep reading →