Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card.
Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card.
This six part series on philosophy is presented by popular British philosopher Alain de Botton, featuring six thinkers who have influenced history, and their ideas about the pursuit of the happy life.
Episode 1: Socrates on Self-Confidence - Why do so many people go along with the crowd and fail to stand up for what they truly believe? Partly because they are too easily swayed by other people’s opinions and partly because they don’t know when to have confidence in their own.
Episode 2: Epicurus on Happiness - British philosopher Alain De Botton discusses the personal implications of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270BCE) who was no epicurean glutton or wanton consumerist,but an advocate of “friends, freedom and thought” as the path to happiness.
Episode 3: Seneca on Anger Roman philosopher Lucious Annaeus Seneca (4BCE-65CE), the most famous and popular philosopher of his day, took the subject of anger seriously enough to dedicate a whole book to the subject. Seneca refused to see anger as an irrational outburst over which we have no control. Instead he saw it as a philosophical problem and amenable to treatment by philosophical argument. He thought anger arose from certain rationally held ideas about the world, and the problem with these ideas is that they are far too optimistic. Certain things are a predictable feature of life, and to get angry about them is to have unrealistic expectations.
Episode 4: Montaigne on Self-Esteem looks at the problem of self-esteem from the perspective of Michel de Montaigne (16th Century), the French philosopher who singled out three main reasons for feeling bad about oneself - sexual inadequecy, failure to live up to social norms, and intellectual inferiority - and then offered practical solutions for overcoming them.
Episode 5: Schopenhauer on Love - Alain De Botton surveys the 19th Century German thinker Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) who believed that love was the most important thing in life because of its powerful impulse towards ‘the will-to-life’.
Episode 6: Nietzsche on Hardship - British philosopher Alain De Botton explores Friedrich Nietzsche’s (1844-1900) dictum that any worthwhile achievements in life come from the experience of overcoming hardship. For him, any existence that is too comfortable is worthless, as are the twin refugees of drink or religion.
The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card.1. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
Why is it so difficult to sell a plummeting stock or end a doomed relationship? Why do we listen to advice just because it came from someone âimportantâ? Why are we more likely to fall in love when thereâs danger involved? In Sway, renowned organizational thinker Ori Brafman and his brother, psychologist Rom Brafman, answer all these questions and more.
Sway introduces us to the Harvard Business School professor who got his students to pay $204 for a $20 bill, the head of airline safety whose disregard for his years of training led to the transformation of an entire industry, and the football coach who turned conventional strategy on its head to lead his team to victory. We also learn the curse of the NBA draft, discover why interviews are a terrible way to gauge future job performance, and go inside a session with the Supreme Court to see how the worldâs most powerful justices avoid the dangers of group dynamics.
2. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
What Ariely has done here is shift a lot of the thinking developed by such pioneers as Kahneman & Tversky who worked in behavioural economics, and moved it into the everyday sphere. And he’s done a great, insightful job. Where the behavioural economists are focused on financial decisions (why we buy high and sell low - and confound the assumptions of the classic economists who assume ‘the rational man,) Ariely eschews the technical language and walks us through everyday examples of our often fuzzy and quite irrational decision-making.
3. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
I think “Paradox of Choice” does bring insight into shopping, but its range is actually much wider than that. Schwartz discusses people making difficult decisions about jobs, families, where to live, whether to have children, how to spend recreational time, choosing colleges, etc. He talks about why making these decisions today is much harder than it was 30 years ago, and he offers many practical suggestions for how to address decision-making so that it creates less stress and more happiness. He even discusses how so much additional choice affects children, and how parents can help make childhood (particularly young childhood) less stressful.
4. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
“Buy on apples, sell on cheese” is an old proverb among wine merchants. Taking a bite of an apple before tasting wine makes it easier to detect flaws in the wine, and the buyer who does so will not as easily make the mistake of paying more than the wine is worth. Cheese, on the other hand, pairs well with wine and enhances its flavor, so a seller who offers cheese may command a higher price for the wine (and may even deserve it, if the wine is intended to be drunk with cheese). The proverb captures important psychological nuances of choice. The same product - a bottle of wine or a risky medical procedure - may be perceived differently depending on its context, and it is often possible to arrange the context to influence a choice while still maintaining the decision maker’s autonomy.
5. Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things
Richard Wiseman is an experimental psychologist and professor of “public understanding of psychology.” In this book, he discusses dozens of experiments performed by himself and other psychologists around the world over the course of the last hundred years. All these experiments have in common is unusual research methodology or amusing results.
Topics include studies of personal ads and pickup lines, determining which are most effective, how to detect liars, manifestations of prejudice and hypocrisy (are religious people or priests more honest or generous than others? it has been tested). Wiseman even ran tests to see which experiments in the book are the most interesting, to help the reader know what would be the best conversation starters at parties.
6. Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things
Clinical psychologist Van Hecke has compiled a list of 10 mental glitches that have infiltrated contemporary society, afflicting even the smartest among us, limiting thought, success and relationships. Van Hecke devotes a chapter to each blind spot, including “Not stopping to think,” “Not noticing,” “Jumping to conclusions” and “Missing the big picture.” Examining each in detail, Van Hecke details the root causes of these unconscious habits (”information overload,” “our tendency to habituate”) and tactics for overcoming them, using humorous anecdotes and other real-life examples to drive her points; the key is remaining open to new ideas and taking a step back from our busy lives in order to process information, situations and people. Filling in “the big picture” herself, Van Hecke demonstrates how embracing and understanding our weaknesses can not only improve personal and professional relationships, but also entire communities; this self-help is a welcome, highly readable first step.
7. Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind
In “Kluge,” psychologist Gary Marcus looks to the many and varied foibles, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies of the human mind and concludes that our brains are not, in fact, models of brilliance and efficiency, but are rather cobbled-together systems, designed for one purpose and pressed into action for another - the classic definition of a kluge.
The most famous kluge is probably the case of the carbon scrubbers on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. Crunched for time, engineers managed to create a system out of duct tape and socks (seriously) that worked adequately enough to clean the air on the space module- even though none of the materials they used were designed for, or optimal for, the job at hand. The result was ugly and inefficient - but it kept the astronauts alive. Likewise, Marcus argues, evolution has endowed humans with a hodgepodge of genetic material - the DNA equivalent of duct tape - with which to build all the sophisticated systems that supposedly set us apart from other creatures, like language, memory, and reason. The result is, for example in the case of language, “a vocal apparatus more byzantine than a bagpipe made up entirely of pipe cleaners and cardboard dowels.”
8. The Drunkard’s Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
The author writes to the layman, making the language of statistics, probability, randomness a fascinating read. It’s clear that he’s well aware of the fallacies and delusions (and consequent harm) to which most of us are easy prey. But he leaves it to the reader to draw any philosophical-theological inferences about the need for greater humility. His immediate goal is to help the reader understand the distinction between 1. the “common-sense” logic employed by self-serving finite beings coping with problems in the material world and 2. a “scientific method” that takes nothing for granted in a universe of perpetual flux. More miraculous than either the accomplishments of the romantic hero or the intercessions of a supreme being (everyday stuff for most of us) is the rare discovery that two things (or “events” in the spatial-temporal order) suspected of being connected (a hypothesis) in fact cannot be shown “not” to have such a relationship (the proof).
9. Guesstimation: Solving the World’s Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin
Somehow, guessing at numbers is unsettling, even though I’ve done it all my life. John Adam is a professor of applied mathematics, with a degree in physics. Larry Weinstein is a nuclear physicist. Their book is devoted to proving that intelligent guessing is useful and fun. The book lays out some general principles but its great strength lies in the interesting problems, a series of hints to help you solve each problem, and an interesting discussion of the pitfalls and triumphs involved.
10. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Cialdini believes that influence is a science. This idea attracted me. As a rhetorician, I have always thought of persuasion as more of an art. Cialdini, however, makes a first-rate case for the science point of view. But maybe most importantly, he makes his case in a well-written, intelligent, and entertaining manner. Not only is this an important book to read, it is a fun book to read too.
He introduces you to six principles of ethical persuasion: reciprocity, scarcity, liking, authority, social proof, and commitment/consistency. A chapter is devoted to each and you quickly see why Cialdini looks at influence as a science. Each principle is backed by social scientific testing and restesting. Each chapter is also filled with interesting examples that help you see how each principle can be applied. By the end of the book, I had little doubt that these are six important dimensions of human interaction.
Fart Gene Isolated. Now, That’s A Breakthough!
Mariage Annulled, After Bride Turns Out To Be Not A Virgin.
 Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card.
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Exeter, RI Click here to vote Squiggy is a mix of hairless Chinese Crested and Japanese Chin. Squig was adopted through a rescue at 6 weeks of age. He draws lots of attention as he strolls along on his daily walks - then again, how often do you see a dog sporting a tall, spikey mohawk? Besides the rather dramatic coiffure, his tongue hangs out sort of lopsided due to lack of teeth. As much as he enjoys lazing in a sunny window… |
Sunnyvale, CA Click here to vote Rascal as a past winner and holder of the coveted “Ring of Champions” title which makes him, as you can see, one of “The World’s Ugliest Dogs”. Rascal is a healthy 7.lb 9-year old pure bred Chinese Crested. No we do NOT shave him, he is naturally and completely hairless except for his Mohawk and a little hair on his tail and feet. He is complete with ugly dog warts, freckles and a lack of… |
Millbrae, CA Click here to vote Hairless Tea Cup Chihuahua, lives in Millbrae, Ca. Best friends with a 75 lb.. pit bull. Buster enjoys sun bathing, short walks and eating mocha frapachinos. Buster weighs 1.5 lb.. Likes to fight with Spooky the cat and any person that tries to steal her bones. Buster loves laying on her heating pad all day long. Buster has 7 teeth and uses all of them to protect her mama. Buster may not be the prettiest dog but… |
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Tennessee Click here to vote Miss Ellie is a pure breed chinese crested hairless. She is around 14 years old, has only a couple back teeth, cataracts in her eyes, several moles and pimples and limited hair. All this makes her a very “unique” looking dog. She is a rescue from someone that saw no purpose for her and kept her in a kennel area for much of her life. When I adopted her she wasn’t housebroken and at 7 years old… |
Newton, MA Click here to vote Listen here guys. This competition that my mom has me in, i just feel like it’s not for me. First off, Ugliest dog? I might be shorter than the other hairless beings that live in my house, but i am no dog. I’m not a lizard, cat, monkey, or a miniature elephant-rat (contrary to what I hear from my neighbors when i am out walking my humans) I’m also not a… |
St. Petersburg, FL Click here to vote Every beauty contestant needs a platform, and Gusâ is to bring awareness and hope to people with pets that have been diagnosed with cancer. He is trying very hard to make it to California this year for the contest. Last year he couldnât attend because his immune system was weakened by chemotherapy. He had a wonderful year (or should I say 7 years,) but… |
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Click here to vote Bio coming soon… |
Phoenix, AZ Click here to vote Hey Kids! Itâs Archie! Yes, heâs back. The ugliest dog of 2006 was about ready to throw in the towel after his devastating loss in 2007. He pondered could he possibly be becoming *gasp* too handsome for the contest? He watched himself on Animal Planet. He sighed admiring his homely image from all angles. He consulted surgeons for wart grafts and … |
Phoenix, AZ Click here to vote The one word you could use to describe Reggie is Frankendog. People routinely ask âWhat is he?â not what âWhat kind of dog is he?â or âWhat breed of dog is he?â nope just flat out âWhat is he?â I tell them âHeâs a dog.â because beyond that I am not sure. There might be some Xolo in there … |
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Sewell, NJ Click here to vote Elwood is the reigning Champ and holds the title of 2007 Worldâs Ugliest Dog. But Elwood is much more than that; he is a dog on a mission. And his mission is to help homeless animals everywhere. Since being crowned Elwood has spent the year spreading some important messages. |
Strathmore, CA Click here to vote To me my Sally girl is the cutest dog in the world. Others somtimes disagree. With the picture that I provided I hope that people are able to see ugly also comes internally as well. Thank you for your votes! |
Porterville, CA Click here to vote Barracuda is extremely bald except for his little flaming red military flat top hair (all natural) on his head. He has a little sprig of hairs on his toes and just enough hair on his tail to make it look a lot like a rats tail. Along with the red hair he also is blessed with green eyes… |
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Strathmore, CA Click here to vote Bio coming soon… |
Alexandria, VA Click here to vote Whenever I mention Oscar, the first thing people say is usually âThat dogâs not dead yet?â This 16 year old yorkie/lhasa mix, was picked off the mean streets of Silver Spring MD in 1994. He was named âOscarâ (after Oscar the grouch) because already at the tender age of 3, his face, his breath, his demeanor… |
Plano, TX Click here to vote Willie is a 9 year old mutt we rescued from the pound when he was 6 weeks old. His standout feature is his hair lip smile, which he proudly displays whenever anyone enters the room. This usually results in a double take and then, “That is the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen.”… |
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Fairfield, CA Click here to vote Princess Chelsea Nicole is an 8 year-old AKC registered Chinese Crested. My father stumbled across this breed when looking for a puppy that had low shedding due to my allergy to pet dander. We found this breed rather odd looking at first, but we thought we would give it a look… |
Click here to vote MY NAME lS GROVER “GROVIE” (AFTER NANNY DIARIES AND SESAME STREET). I AM A 5 YEAR OLD CHINESE PUG. MY MOM EDIE PICKED ME OUT AS THIS FURRY LITTLE BALL OF JOY. SHE CALLS ME “BOO BOO” … |
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 Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card. Right or more often the case wrong, athletes have been taking anabolic steroids since the early 1960âs. Many competitive bodybuilders go to excess in taking steroids in order to compete citing that âextreme sports require extreme measures,â using a plethora of various forms for different effects â one might increase muscle hardness while another will improve mass, strength or endurance â thus becoming human walking chemistry sets. Synthetic anabolic steroids are potent medications designed to mimic the function of testosterone which can even perform better at promoting muscle growth than equivalent levels of testosterone. Often coined as being juiced or juiced up amongst those who use the drugs, some say âsteroids are as American as Apple Pie.â Hazards of Steroids for Men and Women Both genders can experience increased acne on the face, chest and back. Depending on the drug, anabolic steroids can cause a personâs behavior can change with increased aggression and irritability. Some of this aggression has caused people to commit armed robbery, use force to obtain something, and physical fighting. This would not happen to a naturally calm person but someone who is naturally aggressive would become more aggressive by taking steroids. Anabolic steroids have also been known to cause behavioral effects including euphoria, increased energy, sexual arousal, mood swings, distractibility, forgetfulness, and confusion. Bad side-effects on blood pressure and the cardiovascular system can cause heart attacks, enlargement of the heartâs left ventricle and people younger than 30 to develop Cardiovascular disease. Blood chemistry can change causing blood clots in the blood vessels and potentially disrupt the blood flow, damaging the heart muscle so it doesnât pump blood effectively. Heart disease can develop because it affects the cholesterol levels â over a period of time the cholesterol builds up and clogs the arteries. Steroids affect the heart only if you have a heart disease to begin with, so itâs very wise to stay away from them if you have a heart problem. Anabolic steroids are especially dangerous for teenagers, interfering with the normal effect of hormones on a growing body, and premature development of the epiphysis â the end of the bone â resulting in stunted growth. Steroids can be taken orally, by injection, with gels, patches and nasal sprays. For the squeamish afraid of needles, itâs not possible to get a doctor to inject you since steroids are illegal, so some resort to the oral method which has the greatest number of side effects. They have to pass through the digestive system and the liver in order to get into the bloodstream, so theyâre designed to survive the process, and require large amounts to ensure that thereâs enough left afterwards to have an effect. The liverâs job is to remove such substances from the body which puts a great deal of strain on the liver and can result in significant liver damage and tumors which in turn can cause internal bleeding. Some oral steroids can cause stomach distention â the lower abdomen becomes irritated and swollen, you can experience chronic constipation, water retention, and intestinal gas â the latter of which is not pretty if you want to keep your friends. Taken in high doses, steroids can also develop jaundice, peliosis hepatitis, and cancer. Injected steroids are put directly into the blood stream, making them far easier on your liver, but there is much concern over safe injection practices. Depression is further aggravated if and when steroid use stops with rebound causing extreme depression, fatigue, apathy, and the likes. Steroid Hazards for Men They can lower sperm count thus making men infertile, as well as develop gynecomastia â deposits of estrogen in the area of the nipple which can also grow breasts. Steroid Hazards for Women As one man reported to BodyBuilding of his former 3-year relationship with a woman who used steroids, âAfter my girlfriend made her decision to juice it up, with me as an up-close personal witness to all of her transformations during this time, it changed my mind about women on the juice forever. I saw her go from a hot hard body to a bloated, mental mess.â says Josh. âMy girlfriendsâ skin became course and dry; a lot of her hair fell out while it grew on her face, her chest, and down her butt; her voice dropped three octaves; her nose grew; her jaw widened; she got spaces between her teeth; she got acne all over her chest, across her shoulders, and down her back, and she stopped having her period.â Rampant hair growth is an irreversible side-effect, sprouting up on the chin, chest, around the nipples, and the buttocks â particularly the lower inner glutes and around the anus. âThe first thing youâll notice if you take up with a juiced chick is her heightened level of aggression. When a womanâs aggression is initiated by testosterone, the result can sometimes get ugly.â In another irreversible side effect of clitoral enlargement from androgen use, he saw his girlfriendâs grow to be 2 inches long and as big around as his small finger. When a woman in this condition becomes aroused, her clitoris becomes erect and sticks out just like a manâs penis, complete with a little head and all. While the condition isnât harmful, many women get vaginal discharge, but it will cease once the drugs are stopped. Another bothersome yet temporary condition for the juiced up woman is the increase of body odor. Josh recalls lying in bed nestled in each otherâs arms after some particularly torrid sex that made him wonder if he was sharing the bed with an entire soccer team after a world championship. The Wrap-up on Steroids Steroids do give the advantage over other athletes as it helps to train with a higher intensity and for longer periods, and can speed up recovery time for the stress on the muscles. A popular way to take steroids is by cycling, starting the dosage at very small amounts and increasing the dosage weekly, then decreasing it over a 6 to12 week period. Bodybuilders then train without the drugs for 4 weeks and repeat the cycle all over again. Perhaps the worst mistake most steroid users make is to become steroid abusers. Itâs very common to overuse steroids which results in a wide range of health problems, some of which you will be living with for life. Itâs critical when considering taking steroids to do as much research as possible. Via - Life In The Fast Lane Wall Street Exodus: Fear, Panic and Anger The New Homeless Of America - Middle Class
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May
Link of the day - Free $50 Kmart card. The burglars will think you’re at home watching TV: FakeTV Burglar Deterrent Device.
Is $40 too much to pay for peace of mind? The New Homeless Of America - Middle Class |
