Tag Archives: featured

Yale Students Have Lost Their Collective Marbles

If you haven’t yet heard about the madness taking place at Yale, by all means read this article by Conor Friedersdorf published on The Atlantic: The New Intolerance of Student Activism

Here’s the summary: Nicholas and Erika Christakis live at Yale, where they preside over one of its undergraduate colleges. Nicholas’ wife Erika, who is a lecturer in early childhood education, sent an email responding to concerns from students that administration was “offering heavy-handed advice on what Halloween costumes to avoid.” In the email, Erika suggested, among other things, that perhaps it was okay to be a bit “provocative” with Halloween costumes, observing that “American universities were once a safe space not only for maturation but also for a certain regressive, or even transgressive, experience; increasingly, it seems, they have become places of censure and prohibition.” She added, quoting Nicholas, “if you don’t like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended. Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are hallmarks of a free and open society.”   (The full text of the email is here.) Continue reading Yale Students Have Lost Their Collective Marbles

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Fashion Tech: Wellograph is the fitness watch for the boardroom

I’m an Apple fan.  Unabashedly so.  I have an iPhone, a MacBook, and a MacBook Pro.  I actually watch Apple product announcements.

But…

I am not a blind follower.  While I am a big fan of many Apple products, I am not loyal without question.  I have a Google Chromecast because I didn’t want my entertainment options to be tied to iTunes.  I use Pro Tools instead of Logic Pro X.  I use Aperture, but I also use Photoshop.  You get the idea.

So when my initial enthusiasm about the Apple Watch collided with reality — a wrist-worn extension of my iPhone, with limited practical value, and prices ranging from $550 to more than $1,000 (for a stainless steel case), I found myself searching for something better.  I set out to find a watch that: Continue reading Fashion Tech: Wellograph is the fitness watch for the boardroom

Essential Oils: An Honest Conversation

You can’t visit your social media platform of choice today without seeing something about Essential Oils.

If the claims are to be believed, Essential Oils are the antidote to whatever ails you. They can help you sleep, help you wake, focus your thoughts, or calm your spirit. They are cold-curing, allergy-alleviating, skin-soothing, cancer-killing, dare I say life-saving ESSENTIAL Oils.

Yet this natural remedy(?) is surrounded by controversy. Some of my friends swear by them, while others simply swear about them. Recently I had a conversation, via Facebook, about Essential Oils with some friends that fall in the former camp. I’m a bit of a natural skeptic regarding this non-drug wonder drug, which made for an interesting conversation. Continue reading Essential Oils: An Honest Conversation

Ashley Madison’s Not-So-Sexy Secret

Noel Biderman really wants you to have an affair.  So much so that he has made illicit passion his life’s passion.

Lest you think Noel is just a benevolent benefactor, tirelessly working to help bring infidelity to your doorstop,  I should point out that Noel is financially incentivized to encourage you to cheat on your spouse. More specifically, Noel makes money if you choose (1) to break your marriage vows, and (2) to utilize his company–Ashley Madison–to do so.   Continue reading Ashley Madison’s Not-So-Sexy Secret

Matt Walsh Doesn’t Respect the Office of the President, But He Should

Blogger Matt Walsh published a post yesterday entitled, “I don’t respect the president or his office, and neither should you.” Matt’s premise—as the title makes abundantly clear—is that we should not feel obligated to “respect the office” of the President.  Actually, he goes a step further by affirmatively arguing we should not respect it.

I won’t recap the whole post—if you want to read it for yourself, I imagine he would appreciate your visit. But here are a few highlights (lowlights?) that caught my eye: Continue reading Matt Walsh Doesn’t Respect the Office of the President, But He Should

Why My Wife’s Job Is Harder Than Mine

I work at a large, top-200 law firm in one of the ten most populous cities in the country. The hours can be grueling, there are constant deadlines, and the work is mentally demanding.  Any partner in my particular practice area can assign me work, which means I have more than 30 potential bosses.  At any given time, I am working on projects for three to five partners, all of whom believe that their assignment should take priority over any other work.  As a result, there have been many long days (and long nights).

Moreover, being a lawyer at a large firm is a high-stress endeavor.  Even small mistakes can have significant implications and, as a result, tensions can run high.  And of course, because excellence is expected, partners are unlikely to give much positive feedback for a job well done; instead, the reward for good work is more work.

It doesn’t get much better when I venture outside my office.  Lawyers are often the butt of jokes, and society, in general, has little regard for my profession.   In fact, 34% of Americans say that “lawyers contribute little to nothing to society“?

I do not share this to complain or to engender any sympathy. I’m well compensated for my work and am grateful for the opportunity to work at my firm.  My point is simply that the position of “associate” at a major law firm is generally regarded as a very difficult job. With that said, I make the following observation with great confidence: my wife’s job is harder.
Continue reading Why My Wife’s Job Is Harder Than Mine

The Best Way to Ensure Your Children’s Success

There is no shortage of advice on what it takes to be a good parent and, specifically, on how to help your child be “successful.”  For example, a quick Google search for the phrase “being the best parent” revealed the following tips:

  • “Give lots of hugs and some kisses.”[1]
  •  “[A]llow ourselves to be the parent we inherently need to be.”[2]
  • “Be involved in your child’s life.”[3]

Admittedly, this is not exactly earth-shattering in terms of its insightfulness.  Nonetheless, it is advice we welcome, because it is vague and simple enough to not expose any of our shortcomings or selfishness.
Continue reading The Best Way to Ensure Your Children’s Success

Health Confessions (or, Why I Don’t Do Crossfit)

  1. I am not enrolled in a Crossfit class. I have nothing against it, but there are very few situations I encounter on a daily—or even an annual—basis that require that level of fitness. While I enjoy physical activity and endeavor to stay reasonably fit (with varying levels of success), there are times in life where a daily 30-minute workout, in addition to the travel time and obligatory post-workout shower, must take a backseat to other obligations. At this stage in my life, the daily workout I get involves playing on the floor with my boys, taking them for “airplane” rides, and occasionally using one of them as a barbell for curls. And I wouldn’t trade that workout for the world.
  2. I do not eat “all organic.” Continue reading Health Confessions (or, Why I Don’t Do Crossfit)