The power of second place
Using the Great Johnny Bunko Challenge as his jumping off point, Jeremy Epstein has some interesting thoughts on “how to win by coming in 2d.”
Cult of done
Regular readers know I’m slightly addicted to productivity tips and tricks. (In fact, I just picked up Gina Trapani’s Upgrade Your Life for some exciting airplane reading.)So I was especially taken by the Cult of Done manifesto, which has been flying around the productivity geek crowd on the web. Check it out below. 1. There
Quote of the day: The dangers of compliance
“We need kids who don’t just do what they’re told but who are self-directed.”— Ken Kay, P21, quoted in USA Today
Reality check?
The recession is horrid. And yet Americans still lead lives of staggering material abundance. That’s a point driven home in this TV clip, which everyone and her brother has sent to me this week.
I’m OK; You’re doomed
Let’s get a mood check on America in the waning days of February 2009. CNN’s latest poll finds that close to “eight in 10 [Americans] say that things are going badly in the country, with just 21 percent suggesting that things are going well.”No surprise there.But here’s something weird: “Three out of four questioned say
Naming rites
I’m not sure if what the Ironworkers at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are doing qualifies as emotionally intelligent signage. But you’ll have to agree the signs they’re spray-painting are intelligent. And emotional. (HT: Chris Cavallerano)
Emotionally intelligent signage keeps on trucking
What do I mean when I talk about “emotionally intelligent signage?” My definition is straightforward and perhaps a tad narrow:a) Signage that demonstrates empathy with the viewer (Ex: Don’t worry. This line moves really fast.), orb) Signage that encourages empathy on the part of the viewer as a way to get greater compliance. (Children play
Quote of the day: Name check
“My name is Arne. It’s not Mr. Secretary. Please just call me Arne.”— U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, speaking to DOE employees in a line that the NYT says “drew a standing ovation.”