This is an excerpt from the book, 'Idiots, Assholes, & Me, The Psychology of Driving.'TYPE: Stop ParalyticsSUBSPECIES: IdiotumNOMENCLATURE: Panicus Paralytica DESCRIPTION: Paralysis while driving affects a small, but dangerous segment of drivers. Stop paralysis generally occurs at four way stops and in right hand turn lanes at traffic lights.Why is it that four ways stops are so confounding to some people? Oh wait, that’s right, because those same people are complete idiots who … [Read more...] about Idiots, Assholes, & Me – Excerpt
Bad Manners, Bad Trends, Bad Public Policy
Why is a post about manners in my public policy category? Read on a little and I think you'll agree it's appropriate. The definition in the graphic above is from the Cambridge online dictionary, A search online reveals many other definitions, but let's face it, we all know what the meaning is, right? At least from my generation it was fairly clear. Much of the concept had to be taught, because as toddlers struggling with learning to communicate, our instincts … [Read more...] about Bad Manners, Bad Trends, Bad Public Policy
The Libertarian Snob Factor
I jumped into libertarian philosophy as soon as I discovered it. Finally, I felt like I found a home for my political, economic, and philosophical beliefs. Too bad I was so late to the game. I wish I'd discovered it a lot sooner. But it didn't take long though to discover that there are many factions that fall under the libertarian philosophy. And it's not just about the minarchist and anarcho-capitalist variety either. There's are whole new factions emerging, and the debate among them is … [Read more...] about The Libertarian Snob Factor
Good Reasons to Lie
I'm occasionally confronted with the conflict of when it is okay to lie. Some suggest it is never okay. In general, I don't believe it's okay, but there are, on rare occasions when I think it's acceptable. Here are some rare, but somewhat realistic examples that meet that criteria for me:You've just lost a loved one to an accident. You have to call siblings, children, or parents to tell them. Some children are more capable of dealing with such things than others in the immediate shock. … [Read more...] about Good Reasons to Lie
Vows
I went to a wedding last weekend. I'm a stereotypical man. I don't like weddings and I only go to make my wife happy. This time something happened that made me reflect on my own marriage. Instead of zoning out during the ceremony, I actually listened. When they got to the vows, which included the standard "in sickness and in health," it reminded me of the depth of those vows. I'll share why by relaying a personal anecdote.About six or seven years ago, I decided to undergo a rather … [Read more...] about Vows