Monthly Archives: December 2015

Op/Ed Friday: How every politician and nation, now matter how belligerent, justifies its attacks

on December 31, 2015 in Freedom, Leadership, Models

No politician or nation, no matter how belligerent, considers itself the attacker—not the most authoritarian dictator any more than the most democratically elected leader. One simple statement, used by nearly every one, summarizes the trick: We will not attack first, but if attacked, we will defend ourselves. Every leader says it their own way. Once the population believes it, they can feel justified in attacking, feeling and claiming innocence. Neither[…] Keep reading →

Iron

on December 30, 2015 in Exercises, Fitness, Habits, SIDCHAs

Damn, it feels good to lift. Since starting this blog, I’ve run a marathon, done over sixty-thousand burpees, developed well-defined abs, won summer league finals playing Ultimate Frisbee, rowed on the stationary rower the equivalent of the distance to Pittsburgh from New York, and a few other active things. But I haven’t lifted weights in that time. Except I have a few times lately, and, man, does it feel good.[…] Keep reading →

The United States Constitution, leadership, and why I try to minimize my polluting

on December 29, 2015 in Leadership, Relationships

Did this clause of the Constitution confuse you when you first learned it, in particular that part about treaties: This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the US., shall be the supreme law of the land The part about treaties puzzled me when I first learned it. We’re[…] Keep reading →

Technology comes from teams of people

on December 28, 2015 in Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Models

Many people look to technology to solve problems. Technology has solved many problems. It helps us travel around the world, communicate with people anywhere instantly, makes amazing special effects in movies, and all that stuff that dazzles us. I think a lot of people see technology as something that sprouts out of laboratories or the minds of people so unlike them they call them geniuses and consider them superhuman. I[…] Keep reading →

The value of science education

on December 27, 2015 in Awareness, Education, Nature

With New York City hitting 72 degrees Fahrenheit in late December, part of one of the most extreme month-long temperature deviations ever recorded, people seem to be starting to understand that the climate getting hotter can affect them in their lifetimes. It won’t affect them as much as the temperature hitting thirty degrees too hot in August, though I’d expect people would just turn their air conditioners on higher and[…] Keep reading →

The opposite of leading

on December 26, 2015 in Awareness, Leadership

Yesterday I asked readers for their ideas of the opposite of leadership. Christmas is probably not the best time to ask for feedback, but a reader suggested the following Reacting or doing something without awareness, like why one is really doing it and what its effects could be. Looking at one aspect of something and thinking it’s the entire picture. Allowing others to confuse or intimidate me into adopting their[…] Keep reading →

What is the opposite of leading?

on December 25, 2015 in Awareness, Leadership

What do you think the opposite of leading is? I think most people would reflexively say following, but since both leaders and followers are trying to achieve the same goal, I don’t think they’re opposites. More like complements. I have an idea or two that I think tell a lot about leadership. I’m curious what my readers might think, so before I share what I’m thinking, I invite readers to[…] Keep reading →

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