I wrote a few months back about some intriguing research on the power of gratitude, showing that people who kept “gratitude journals,” (keeping track of the good things that happen to them and things that they appreciate in life) not only reported better physical and mental health, their partners also noticed it as well (including reports that they slept better). A new study shows that the positive effect of gratitude on signs of well-being such as mastery, relationships with others, and self-acceptance happen over and above personality factors. Similar to the study of gratitude journals, this study by Alex Wood and his colleagues suggests, that regardless of one’s personality, taking time to notice and appreciate the good things in life can help all of us. This strikes as me as an especially important finding given the difficult times.
Here is the source and the abstract for those of you who want to know more:
Monthly Archives: February 2009
Obama Speech TV Audience Lags Clinton (1993) and Bush (2001)
For his maiden congressional address, Obama cleaned President Bush’s clock in terms of TV viewers willing to watch him speak to a bunch of stuffed congressional suits in the House chamber. Which isn’t saying much. But it is something for a new president to cling to, especially when you’re otherwise up against the sleuths of “NCIS.”
Obama got 52.4 million viewers last night (rounded off for those visiting the bathroom) in 37.2 million homes for a 49 share and 32.5 rating. In his last joint address in 2008 GWB got 37.5 million in 27.7 million homes for a 38 share and 24.7 rating. Bush did top Obama in 2003 with 62 million and a 56 share and we didn’t even have the Iraq reality show going then. (But it was coming.)
Bush’s first joint session appearance drew nearly 39.8 million and a 42 share.
However, Obama still lags the audience-drawing power of one President Bill Clinton. Sixteen years ago this week, when there were millions fewer Americans, Big Bill drew nearly 15 million more viewers — 66.9 million for his first congressional speech in 44.2 million homes for a 44.3 rating.
Dakar Rally 2009 Photos
An Email to Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl
Dear [ ]:
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to express my great concern over this information. Please investigate and determine if it is true.
DoD Officials Vow Secrecy on Budget
http://federaltimes.com/index.php?S=3957786
If so, this is very disappointing and wrong.
I also would like you to investigate the amount of private jet use by elected officials (both government aircraft and those provided by campaigns and lobbyists). Dilbert has it right:
http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-02-25/
Website and contact information: Tammy Baldwin, Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl.
Barack Obama Tells Germany Not To Abandon Their Auto Industry
Robert Farago quoting President Obama:
“As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices.
“But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”
A Scion Drives Toyota Back to Basics
Norihiko Shirouzu & John Murphy:
Toyota Motor Corp.’s incoming president, Akio Toyoda, has a sobering message for the giant company founded by his grandfather: It has gotten too fancy for its own good.
On Monday, three top executives who helped lead Toyota the past four years — including Mitsuo Kinoshita, one of the primary architects of the company’s global expansion — announced their retirement. The departures clear the way for Mr. Toyoda’s planned makeover of the world’s biggest auto maker.
He is expected to focus, most of all, on abandoning kakushin, or “revolutionary change,” current president Katsuaki Watanabe’s term for changing the way Toyota designed its cars and factories. It spawned technological advances, but led to cars that were often costlier to produce.
The 52-year-old Mr. Toyoda is also working to fix a pricing strategy that put the company at odds with some U.S. dealers, who felt its cars were getting too expensive, according to people familiar with the situation.
108 Road Trips from Southern California
There’s nothing quite as all-American as a road trip, especially in the West, where a wealth of culture, natural beauty and excitement unfolds before you. Coyote Buttes awaits in Arizona. General Grant Tree beckons from the Sierra Nevada.
To help you tap the region’s cache of getaways, we’ve compiled a list of 108 road trip spots. Distance to each destination is one-way from downtown Los Angeles. Cost of gas is for a round trip.*
An Interview with FedEx CEO Fred Smith
Frederick W. Smith, the founder, president, chairman and CEO of FedEx, built the first overnight express delivery company in the world, starting in 1971. Today, FedEx, based in Memphis, has service in more than 220 countries and territories.
Like most other businesses, FedEx is encountering economic turmoil and is operating by Smith’s belt-tightening orders. He cut his own salary by 20 percent.
Legend has it that Smith, 64, outlined his concept for FedEx in a paper in an economics class at Yale University for which he earned a C. (He corrects the record in this interview.) At Yale, he was a friend and fraternity brother of former President George W. Bush, to whom he believes history ultimately will be more kind.
In the Marine Corps in Vietnam, Smith received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts as a platoon leader and forward air controller. It was there that he observed military procurement and delivery procedures and thought he could improve on them.
Smith is unwavering in his belief that U.S. corporate tax policy must change, but practical enough to know that the new administration and Congress will not go along with the idea. He still believes one aspect could be enacted – accelerating the expensing of capital investment that would put money into corporate hands sooner.
Recovery.gov is Web 1.0; Stimuluswatch.org is Web 2.0
President has signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $7.2 billion for broadband access. You can see a brief summary of the bill here.
As we have seen, the Obama administration hopes to use the Internet for transparent, two-way communication with the public. To this end, they have launched the Recovery.gov Web site, which will be continuously updated, telling us “how, when and where” the recovery funds are spent.
As of today, Recovery.gov is definitely a Web 1.0 site — it summarizes the Recovery Act, requests comments using an email form, and asks us to check back frequently for data on spending. They don’t even have RSS feeds.
Contrast that with Stimuluswatch.org, a Web 2.0 site. Stimuluswatch began by importing a database of “shovel ready” projects that was posted by the US Conference of Mayors. Users can search the database by city, keyword and project type, and view the project descriptions and estimated cost and number of jobs created.
Just the Tip of the Iceberg…
The Peter Peterson Foundation. Video