Category Archives: Relationships

Marriage and Economics

Some interesting statistics about money and marriage from The Economist: Marriage itself is “a wealth-generating institution”, according to Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, who run the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University. Those who marry “till death do us … Continue reading

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On Role Models

We need to set our affections on some good man and keep him constantly before our eyes, so that we may live as if he were watching us and do everything as if he saw what we were doing.  Misdeeds … Continue reading

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The Fastest Way to Change

The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be. – The Startup of You Human beings are such easily influenced creatures.  The way we laugh is influenced by … Continue reading

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On Cheating

People become more likely to lie or cheat when they see others lie or cheat, explains Dan Ariely: …we gave participants 5 minutes to solve as many mathematical problems as possible (where they were instructed to find which two numbers … Continue reading

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Your Team Is More Important Than Your Idea

The modern Hollywood approach was to put together a team for one project and then disband the team when production was finished.  We thought that was dumb.  When it comes down to it, the only way to make a good … Continue reading

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The Importance of the Individual

Some interesting emails with readers about Dokkodo, and the merits of a life of service.  Service is important, no doubt, But I still put the individual first.  After all, service of any kind is, eventually, for the benefit of individuals. … Continue reading

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What’s the Upside?

When their money is at stake, people often ask what the downside is.  How much can I lose?  Then they weigh this against the upside.  How much can I make? Strangely, when money isn’t at stake, people don’t really seem … Continue reading

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Gift Giving

The measure of a good gift is in its appropriateness, not its cost. The corollary to this is if you receive an expensive gift from a wealthier friend, you’re not obligated to give him something of equal value in return.  You’re only … Continue reading

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One Easy Step To Flatter People, Show You Care, and Demonstrate Your Dedication

Don’t be ashamed to need help.  Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish.  And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up?  So what? – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 7 … Continue reading

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Stop. Breathe. Think.

One of the things law schools sear into students is the ability, and tendency, to argue.  An early emphasis on being able to argue both sides of any case breeds people who argue just for the sake of argument.  Shockingly, … Continue reading

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Creativity in Isolation

There’s been a lot of talk in the last few years about the benefit human interaction lends the creative process.  The thinking goes that experts in one field, when interacting with experts in some other field, will find new ways … Continue reading

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Mind Control

Free will exists, right? We are in control of our own minds and thus our own actions? That’s what most of us like to believe, but what if a simple parasitic organism robbed us of at least part of that … Continue reading

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Sustained Charity

Most people think of charity is something to be done weekly, monthly, or yearly.  A tithe, or a purged closet to Goodwill, or serving Thanksgiving meals to the homeless. But charity can be practiced on a more immediate, more constant … Continue reading

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Authenticity

Inauthentic people are obsessed with authenticity. – Jonathan Frazen

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How To Write A “Fuck You” Letter

You can’t do much better than this, reproduced by the fantastic site, Letters of Note: In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work … Continue reading

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