Jeff Davidson's Blog, page 26
March 15, 2016
"Leisure" Enters the Language
"Oceanside amusement parks such as Coney Island catered to thrill seekers of the day. Hair-raising rides and games of ring toss with Kewpie-doll prizes were new "leisure time" activities -- the phrase was coined in 1907 -- that beckoned after the workday began to grow shorter."
Carol Strickland, Civilization magazine, May/June 1995
Carol Strickland, Civilization magazine, May/June 1995
February 4, 2016
You Can Manage Your Space
In his book Democracy in America, French observer Alexis de Tocqueville remarks:
"Everything about the Americans, from their social conditions to their laws, is extraordinary; but the most extraordinary thing of all is the land that supports them. When the Creator handed the earth over to men, it was young and inexhaustible, but they were weak and ignorant; and by the time that they had learned to take advantage of the treasures it contained, they had already covered its face, and soon they were having to fight for the right to an asylum where they could rest in freedom."
"It was then that North America was discovered, as if God had held it in reserve and it had only just arisen above the waters of the flood.”
"Everything about the Americans, from their social conditions to their laws, is extraordinary; but the most extraordinary thing of all is the land that supports them. When the Creator handed the earth over to men, it was young and inexhaustible, but they were weak and ignorant; and by the time that they had learned to take advantage of the treasures it contained, they had already covered its face, and soon they were having to fight for the right to an asylum where they could rest in freedom."
"It was then that North America was discovered, as if God had held it in reserve and it had only just arisen above the waters of the flood.”
Social Isolation: The Growing Spector
"The number of people who say they have no one to confide in has risen." Washington Post staff journalist Shankar Vedantam wrote, eight years ago, that "Americans are far more socially isolated today than they were two decades ago, and a sharply growing number of people say they have no one in whom they can confide, according to a comprehensive new evaluation of the decline of social ties in the United States."
"A quarter of Americans say they have no one with whom they can discuss personal troubles, more than double the number who were similarly isolated in 1985. Overall, the number of people Americans have in their closest circle of confidants has dropped from around three to about two."
"The comprehensive new study paints a sobering picture of an increasingly fragmented America, where intimate social ties -- once seen as an integral part of daily life and associated with a host of psychological and civic benefits -- are shrinking or nonexistent. In bad times, far more people appear to suffer alone."
Having Breathing Space is wonderful, but history has shown that social isolation is seldom beneficial. Having hundreds of "friends" on Facebook might help a little but online connections are not a substitute for the real thing.
"A quarter of Americans say they have no one with whom they can discuss personal troubles, more than double the number who were similarly isolated in 1985. Overall, the number of people Americans have in their closest circle of confidants has dropped from around three to about two."
"The comprehensive new study paints a sobering picture of an increasingly fragmented America, where intimate social ties -- once seen as an integral part of daily life and associated with a host of psychological and civic benefits -- are shrinking or nonexistent. In bad times, far more people appear to suffer alone."
Having Breathing Space is wonderful, but history has shown that social isolation is seldom beneficial. Having hundreds of "friends" on Facebook might help a little but online connections are not a substitute for the real thing.
On Sitting up Straight!
Trainer Luke Richesson quoted in Men's Health magazine: "Your body adapts to the posture you most often assume. If you sit at a desk all day with your shoulders slumped and your neck protruding forward, then you'll inevitably have a posture that looks more like Neanderthal man than Superman. Want to be the best you can be...? Think about posture every waking minute.
Your mother was right, don't slouch.
Your mother was right, don't slouch.
January 11, 2016
112 Years Ago: A Simpler Time?
Here's a peak at the World in 1904:
* The tallest structure in the world is the Eiffel Tower!
* The average wage is .22/hr. The average worker earns between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $ 4,000 per year. A mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
* More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home. Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."
* Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
* And, about our neighbors to the north: Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.
* The tallest structure in the world is the Eiffel Tower!
* The average wage is .22/hr. The average worker earns between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $ 4,000 per year. A mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
* More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home. Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."
* Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
* And, about our neighbors to the north: Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.
A New Year, Three Blogs
If you have yet to visit my other two blogs, start the year off right by clicking below:
* for meeting planners: http://www.openingkeynote.com/
* for the overwhelmed: http://www.interruptionmanagement.com/
* for meeting planners: http://www.openingkeynote.com/
* for the overwhelmed: http://www.interruptionmanagement.com/
Health Decisions: 200 Times Daily
Every day you make at least 200 seemingly inconsequential health decisions. “Should you take the stairs or the elevator? Choose the oil-and-vinegar dressing or the creamy processed one? Go for a 30-minute walk with your dog after dinner or plant yourself like a root vegetable on the couch?”
Travis Stork, M.D., author The Lean Belly Prescription
Travis Stork, M.D., author The Lean Belly Prescription
December 22, 2015
Anxiety and Season's Greetings
"Anxiety is widely considered one of the leading causes and contributing factors to drug and alcohol addiction. Considering that, resources for managing and treating anxiety are crucial for helping individuals overcome their addictions."
Substance Abuse and Anxiety Disorders/Panic Attacks, written by clinical psychologist Sarah Williams Ph.D, offer a current collection of the latest research on the relationship between anxiety and addiction, as well as the best practices for treatment. It is written and designed specifically to address the most common concerns of individuals seeking help and their family members. This well-researched guide is quite accessible and includes visual illustrations and citations of landmark studies.
Substance Abuse and Anxiety Disorders/Panic Attacks, written by clinical psychologist Sarah Williams Ph.D, offer a current collection of the latest research on the relationship between anxiety and addiction, as well as the best practices for treatment. It is written and designed specifically to address the most common concerns of individuals seeking help and their family members. This well-researched guide is quite accessible and includes visual illustrations and citations of landmark studies.
December 17, 2015
Eating Poorly, Living Poorly
Nanci Hellmich writing in USA Today once cited a study conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that Americans are not eating enough fruits and vegetables:
“Despite mom's good advice, most of us aren't eating our fruits and vegetables, at least not enough of them, according to a large government study released Thursday. Only about 27% of adults in the USA ate vegetables three or more times a day in 2005, and 33% ate fruit two or more times a day that year.
A higher percentage of women than men ate this much, according to interviews with more than 305,000 people conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
Truer now that it was ten years ago!
“Despite mom's good advice, most of us aren't eating our fruits and vegetables, at least not enough of them, according to a large government study released Thursday. Only about 27% of adults in the USA ate vegetables three or more times a day in 2005, and 33% ate fruit two or more times a day that year.
A higher percentage of women than men ate this much, according to interviews with more than 305,000 people conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
Truer now that it was ten years ago!
December 11, 2015
The Measure of Your Life
An intriguing book:
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth, and Karen Dillon. "The bestselling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma delivers an unconventional book of inspiration and wisdom for achieving a fulfilling life."
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth, and Karen Dillon. "The bestselling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma delivers an unconventional book of inspiration and wisdom for achieving a fulfilling life."
