Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science

"Much of what medical researchers conclude in their studies is misleading, exaggerated, or flat-out wrong. So why are doctors—to a striking extent—still drawing upon misinformation in their everyday practice? "

Why So Many People Can't Make Decisions

"Some people meet, fall in love and get married right away. Others can spend hours in the sock aisle at the department store, weighing the pros and cons of buying a pair of wool argyles instead of cotton striped."

That snow outside is what global warming looks like

TMI, Mr. President! TMI!

"But does our increasingly informal relationship with the man in the White House — not just President Obama, but any sitting president — diminish our respect for the man and reverence for the office? Should we leave the uncovering of private and behind-closed-doors habits to the historians?"

From the People Who Brought You the Pay Toilet

From the People Who Brought You the Pay Toilet Dissident Voice

Enforce a Mandatory Holding Pattern to Curb Your Spending

"If you feel there's something you must have right away, there's a good chance you're experiencing a momentary lapse in judgment. A good way to determine whether or not you really something is to enforce a specific waiting period."

Give the Gift of Childhood - The Fourteen Free Range Kids' Commandments

Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays

"In other words, from the standpoint of economic theory, gifts are often poorly matched with the recipient’s preferences, so holiday gift-giving results in what Waldfogel calls 'an orgy of value destruction'.”
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm at the point in my life when I get what I want (exactly what I want) when I need it. Gift giving is tough for me, because I have a hard time figuring out what someone would really like; recieving gifts is likewise as problematic for the reasons in the article.

How The US Response Turns 'Failed' Terrrorist Attacks Into Successes

"Terrorism is a serious issue. No one's trying to downplay the fact that some very angry individuals are trying to kill an awful lot of Americans (and others as well). However, what's amazing is how incredibly bad the US appears to be at this particular game of chess."

Quote of the Day

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

- Winston Churchill

How to Avoid Getting Screwed When Renting an Apartment: Advice from a Landlord