How To Understand People

Really? Is this what the world's come to? Sources say that TIME Magazine is asking readers whether Kim Kardashian or Caitlyn Jenner should be chosen as the publication's person of the year. Among the other names being floated around are Republican presidential candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump, technology gurus Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg, and actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Viola Davis. That a respected magazine like TIME would even consider Kardashian and Jenner for the coveted issue is beyond comprehension. What have these people done to be deemed worthy of the honor? All Kim is known for is stirring up family drama and getting naked. In Jenner's case, the former Olympic champion revealed to the world her sex change, which garnered extensive media coverage earlier in the year. Why doesn't TIME feature those who are truly deserving, like one of our brave men or women in uniform, someone who devotes his life to helping charities, and so on? Instead, we'...

Shoppers spent $10.4 billion at stores on Friday. While that may seem like a large number in and of itself, it's a rather tepid showing when you compare it to sales generated a year earlier. In 2014, consumers forked over a more impressive $11.6 billion. Moreover, store sales on Thanksgiving this year fell from just over $2 billion to $1.8 billion. So what's to blame for the drops, exactly? As you can probably predict, consumer behaviorists point to online sales, which jumped 14 percent on Black Friday from 2014. All told, consumers who took to the web for their purchases spent $2.72 billion. Not too shabby, right? And we haven't even gotten to Cyber Monday (Nov. 30), which is hands down the busiest e-commerce day of the year. Perhaps this suggests that people are getting tired of braving the crowds (and the elements) to snag a good sale in person. Reports of people camping out in stores and trampling over others to grab everything from TVs to denim jeans has like...

During which months of the year do you think suicides are most prevalent? Contrary to popular belief, suicide attempts actually drop during the holidays. The lower suicide rates are thought to be linked to increased family time and support during this time of year. According to Psychology Today , there were over 38,000 suicides in the U.S. in 2010, making it the 12th leading cause of death. To put this in perspective, more people died from suicide than automobile accidents. While ephemeral thoughts of suicide are common in many people, suicide threats often go ignored. Suicide is often associated with depression, which is, of course, treatable. I've read one too many stories of people whose suicide threats fell on deaf ears. In other cases, people stop short of making actual threats, but they show various signs of depression -- from loss of appetite to incessant crying -- that propel them to do the unthinkable. It's imperative that anyone with thoughts of suicide be tak...

Ironic that I would create a post about this on Thanksgiving of all days, isn't it? But I find it a germane topic in light of the fact that many of us won't be happy when we step on the scale tomorrow morning. In fact, studies show that many people decide to go on diets the day after Thanksgiving as a way of mitigating the damage. Whether they keep the diet when Christmas and New Year's come rolling around is a different story. Here's my trick to losing weight: The best way to exercise self-control is to ask yourself how many calories eating that scrumptious slice of pizza would set you back. The key is to mull this over before you even put the food on your plate. If you do it the other way around, you'll feel as though you've committed to eating it ("it's on my plate already -- might as well eat it) and will feel bad putting the slice back in the box. Now, that doesn't mean you can never "cheat" once in a while. After all, experts...

The Thanksgiving tradition stretches all the way back to the early days of the republic, when George Washington was at the helm of the fledgling nation. Following a resolution of Congress, President Washington proclaimed Thursday the 26th of November 1789 a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted to “the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Reflecting American religious practice, Presidents and Congresses regularly designated days of fasting and thanksgiving through the the mid-1800s. But the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate every November was formally established by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and made into law by Congress in 1941, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office. I think everyone should be thankful for their blessings each day of the year, not just on the fourth Thursday of November. We often get so caught up in work and other responsibilities that we neglect to focus ...

It's no wonder so many people opt to take this day off. More than half the people in my department didn't come in today. And the same thing happens every year. Thankfully, they usually let everyone go home around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Coming in to work the day before Thanksgiving has its pros and cons. The day tends to be slow, so it's a safe bet you'll be able to get by without doing much. (I know there are always exceptions, like people who work in hospitals.) Whether this is a good thing really depends on the person. While some who work in stressful, fast-paced jobs may find it a welcome change, others might go stir-crazy while eying the clock every 5 minutes. Since the day tends to drag, having the internet, your earbuds, and/or your smartphone handy will certainly help keep you occupied. Since there's not much happening, many people choose to take the day off, figuring they can spend the day with friends and family without falling behind on their...

On this day in 1784, future President Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) is born in Barboursville, Virginia. Surprisingly, despite Taylor's impressive resume, most Americans know little about him. A distant relative of America's fourth president, James Madison, Taylor served valiantly in the War of 1812, the Blackhawk War (1832), second Seminole War (1835-1837), and Mexican-American War (1846-1848), after which he ran for the presidency. The biggest controversy involving Taylor is the cause of his death, which continues to be debated to this day. On a searing Fourth of July in Washington D.C., he downed a large quantity of iced milk and cherries, followed by a few glasses of water. Some historians believe the water or milk may have been tainted with bacteria, causing him to contract cholera. (Outbreaks of cholera were common in Washington D.C. at time.) Others claim that he died of gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, or food poisoning. No evidence of foul play was ever found. Tay...

It's a sobering reality that many people have come to associate Thanksgiving with shopping and Black Friday rather than regarding it as a day to halt the acquisition of more material possessions and give thanks for what they already have. The media, retailers, and consumers themselves are all to blame. I've lost count of the many news reports I've seen in which people begin to form lines outside of stores at the beginning of the week in anticipation of Black Friday. It's unfortunate that Black Friday has to be the day that immediately follows Thanksgiving. Why couldn't it have been, say, the Saturday after the holiday, or even the following weekend? It's utterly shameful that consumerism often overshadows the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Many people are more caught up with getting the best deals on computers and TVs than looking forward to spending time with friends and family. Let's not forget this: Unlike those whom we love, material goods can be ...

...use your superpower to find out which people: - like or dislike you (among those you know, obviously) - find you physically attractive (among those you know as well as people you've never met before I think the first of the two is easier to infer without possessing said superpower. So I want to focus on the second exercise in this post. Imagine how many people you've seen in your life whom you've found physically attractive, but just never worked up the nerve to say anything -- and vice-versa. If men could see into women's minds and know which ones find them good looking, you can rest assured that many more people in the world would be getting dates -- and getting lucky, for that matter. Attraction is largely a guessing game. While some people are fairly proficient at picking up signals, others are flat-out clueless. Men are usually notoriously bad at gauging women's interest in them. Many assume that if a woman makes even brief eye contact, she must b...

John Hanson (1721-1783) is sometimes called the first president of the United States. But how can this be? Wasn't George Washington the first to hold the position? Let me clear up the confusion: John Hanson was the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Since the presidency did not exist as an executive position separate from Congress until the federal Constitution created the role upon its ratification in 1789, Hanson did not -- and could not, even if he wanted to -- hold the position of U.S. president as we know it today. Upon the ratification of the Articles on March 1, 1781, the Continental Congress became the “Congress of the Confederation” or the “United States in Congress Assembled.” Hanson was the first president of that body, but not of the United States. Before serving as president of the Congress, he was appointed to the Maryland Colonial Assembly,  named as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, and elected to th...

A pregnant mother enrolled in college courses wasn't going to let labor get in the way of taking a college exam. Tommitrise Collins went into labor on November 12, and her sister posted a photo on her Facebook page showing Tommitrise in a hospital bed with her laptop open in front of her. Apparently, her contractions were three minutes apart, but that did little to deter her from completing the test. The post has been shared more than 14,000 times. Shortly after finishing the exam, Tommitrise delivered a healthy baby girl, weighing 7 lbs, 10 oz. Without a doubt, this woman's dedication to her studies is commendable. But some people assert that pictures of people in labor have no place on Facebook. They feel such content is personal in nature and should be kept out of the public eye. I think some people go great lengths to keep people apprised of everything going on in their lives -- and sometimes they may step over the line a bit. What was Collins' sister motiva...

Can you take a wild guess as to why men might eat more in front of women? I'll give you a minute to think about it. OK, what did you come up with? Because the men are nervous? Guess again. Because being on a date makes them hungrier? Nope. Because they really don't like the women and are trying to turn them off? Not even close. According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab published in the medical journal Evolutionary Psychological Science , they are actually trying to impress women -- not turn them off. While women tend to eat less in the presence of men, the study found that men who ate with at least one woman consumed 92 percent more pizza and 86 percent more salad. The results support the notion that people have an evolved tendency to show off in front of others, whether it's to attract the opposite sex or assert dominance. I suppose most men aren't too worried about being called a "pig," "fat ass," or an...

Facebook is now testing a feature that would allow you to hide your ex's relationship status. Essentially, Facebook wants to give users more control to limit the many instances in which their ex's might pop up on their browser while using the social networking site. This not only applies to posts that populate on your News Feed, but even to "suggestions" Facebook gives you on who you might wish to tag in photos. In fact, you'll be able to go back and "untag" your ex on pictures and other content you shared on the site while you were still together. Facebook asserts that it is doing this to make it easier for people to get over breakups. We've all heard stories of people who torment themselves by checking their ex's page constantly to see if he or she has already hooked up with someone else. Even worse are those cases in which one is so jaded as to stalk the other person, post derogatory remarks on the person's wall, and so on. I suppo...

On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivered what's considered one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In fewer than 300 words, Lincoln articulated why the Union was engaged in the bloody conflict and what was at stake if the North didn't come out victorious. The Battle of Gettysburg, fought roughly four months earlier, was the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. More than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went missing over the course of three days. The battle also proved to be the key turning point of the war: General Robert E. Lee’s defeat and retreat from Gettysburg signaled the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory and the beginning of the end for the Confederates. An attorney named David Wills bought 17 acres of pasture to turn into a cemetery for the more than 7,500 who died. Wills invited Edward Everett, one of t...

We've talked at length about things that women might find attractive in men and vice-versa, from intelligence and self-confidence to a great sense of humor. A new study, though, finds that 1/3 of women registered on Match.com consider a man who owns a dog to be attractive. It also reveals that 1/4 of men find women who appear with a dog in their profile picture to be more attractive. This study has significant implications for men and women trying to dream up ways to meet someone. If you have a dog, you could try taking it for a walk at the park. You're bound to bump into someone who loves dogs and/or owns one at some point. And if the conversation goes smoothly, perhaps a future dinner date is in the cards. I realize, however, that the research is of little value to many people. Not everyone owns a dog, whether because they're allergic, don't want the responsibility, or don't like animals of any kind. It's these individuals who try to find other things ...

A bevy of retailers have gotten a lot of flak in recent years for either opting to remain open all day or choosing to start Black Friday early by opening late Thanksgiving night. While some consumers embrace the opportunity to be among the first to snag incredible bargains at these stores, others think the retailers should keep their doors closed on the holiday. That especially includes affected employees who'd prefer to spend that time with their families. Some groups are so fiercely opposed to business as usual on Thanksgiving that they've organized boycotts throughout the country. Finally, many of these stores have listened and are planning to remain closed on Thanksgiving. Among them are: - Costco - Pier 1 - Nordstrom - Crate & Barrel - T.J. Maxx - Marshalls - Home Depot - Barnes & Noble - Sam's Club - Staples - Ikea - Lowe's It's about time these companies recognized that there's more to life than work. Thanksgiving is a day to ...

What would you do if your boyfriend or husband had the audacity to reach for a handful of your bottom -- in plain view? To me, an important part of a relationship is keeping things classy while out in public. That means butt-grabbing, groping, and excessive kissing should be done behind closed doors. I'd never grab my wife's tush in a public place unless my hand were concealed in some way -- say, while we're sitting in the back row at the movie theater, with the lights dimmed and everyone's attention fixed on the screen. I find it rude and disrespectful when men and women grab their partners' behinds for all to see, but that's just me. If you're not sure what side of the fence you're on, just answer this: would you want your sister's boyfriend doing this to her in public? How about a boy doing it to your young daughter? If you can't resist the urge, at least try doing it a more secluded setting -- a car, a beach at night, a back alley. Ha...

A lot of people think unhappiness stems only from things that happen to us. In reality, though, unhappiness comes not from external events, but from our internal response to those events. That explains why we may grow bored of jobs of relationships we once found exciting. While a raise at work or bouquet of flowers from our partner may have been sufficient at one point to bring us ample joy, that may not be the case any longer. It's not the event itself -- but the way we react to it -- that predicts how happy or unhappy we'll be. Let me give you another example. Have you noticed how some people might laugh at a joke, while others take it out of context and end up angry as a result? A job that one person might find fulfilling can get on someone else's nerves. The same goes for relationships. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. It's not the job or relationship that causes us to be unhappy. It's the way we react to and per...

Next time you're in Virginia, The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs is one property you certainly don't want to miss. The charming property encompasses 2,300 acres with 483 guestrooms that boast elegant fabrics and furnishings, a slew of fine restaurants, an award-winning spa, a full-service fitness center, and more. It boasts over 45 acres of activities, including two hot springs. Guests take to the slopes for snowboarding and skiing in the winter and enjoy world-class golf, tennis, and horseback riding in the summer. But the main draw has to be the property's rich history. Ten years before the country was founded, The Homestead opened as an 18-room lodge in the mountains. George Washington awarded a land grant to Thomas Bullitt on which the first hotel was built. In 1818, Thomas Jefferson spent three weeks here, and, since then, over 20 other presidents have been guests at this lovely resort, from Teddy Roosevelt to George W. Bush. For more than 100 years, the ...

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Paris yesterday that left at least 128 people dead and roughly 200 wounded. As President Obama stated last night, the United States stands firmly with France just as the European country supported the U.S. after 9/11. The scale of the horror is just unfathomable. Several terrorists, eight of which are confirmed dead, unleashed a series of coordinated attacks in six sites throughout the city that included the Bataclan Concert Hall and the Stade de France. Per reports, the militants wore explosive belts and carried machine guns. It's hard to believe that people in the world could carry out such evil, despicable acts in the name of their religion. How can one claim that their God "tells" them to unleash so much carnage and bloodshed on humanity? ISIS doesn't know what's coming to them. France's retribution will be merciless, I'm sure, and the U.S.-led coalition waging war against ISIS (which inc...

I live in South Florida, which is widely known for its scorching summers and relatively warm winters. Most people would agree that it feels like summer year-round here. One common complaint among South Floridians is that it never quite feels like Christmas, as people generally associate the holidays with cold weather. I would surmise that most people throughout the country yearn for whatever kind of weather they get little of. New Yorkers and Bostonians surely get tired of being inundated with snow, while heat-loathing Floridians like me yearn for the opportunity to dust off their sweaters and coats once in a while. Granted, I'm all for light snow, but heavy snowstorms -- the kind that keep people holed up at home and force them to shovel snow from their driveway for days on end -- are something I'd rather not deal with. If I have to choose between this and a blistering South Florida afternoon, I'd opt for the latter. (At least I can find respite from the heat in an air...

Whatever goal it is you're aiming for -- landing a better job, losing weight, finding a boyfriend -- it's imperative that you NOT do one thing that will most certainly set you back rather than put you closer to the finish line: complain. You can grumble incessantly over the fact that your current job has made you miserable since you first got it three years ago. You can complain non-stop that all those trips to McDonald's after work have resulted in your gaining 30 pounds. You can beat yourself up over not listening to your friends and putting yourself out there more to increases your chances of snagging a great guy. But what good does that do? What's done is done. There's no use of harping over things that can't be changed. Bygones will be bygones. Put aside the "buts" and "what ifs" and move forward. Complaining about things you can't change does nothing but build negativity and lead to feelings of guilt and resentment. While ...

In the Republican debate on Tuesday, senator Marco Rubio said the following: "We need more welders and less philosophers." If the point Rubio was trying to drive home is that we need more people in stable, well-paying jobs, I agree -- but I don't think he articulated it properly. His statement, in my opinion, smacks of anti-intellectualism. As I've stated in many of my posts, we live in a time where being intellectually-driven puts you in the minority. Conversing about the solar system or the American Revolution isn't as "cool" or easy as talking about the Kardashians. One thing a social psychology professor I had in college once told my class that has since stayed firmly etched in my mind: Human beings are cognitive misers; we are naturally inclined to waste as few mental resources as possible. Is it any wonder, then, that most people can't name the capitals of five U.S. states? Or that many don't know when the Civil War took place and...

If you're looking for an affordable place to live, it's safe to say you can cross Newport Beach, California off your list. (While you're at it, you may want to nix California completely -- the state happens to be home to nine of the 10 most expensive housing markets in the country.) According to a new report from Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Newport Beach is the priciest place to live in the U.S., with an average list price for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at an astounding $2,291,764. In a 2009 survey, housing prices in Newport Beach ranked eighth highest in the United States. The city is bordered on the west by Huntington Beach at the Santa Ana River; on the east by Crystal Cove State Park; and on the north by Costa Mesa, John Wayne Airport, the City of Irvine and UC Irvine. Among the area's key points of interest are the Newport Center, Balboa Pavilion, Balboa Pier, Newport Pier, Newport Beach Boat Show, and Newport Sports Museum. The seaside city's ...

Some of my male friends have posed this question to me countless times. The truth is, I share their plight. My wife, whom I've been with for over 10 years now, has never been one to initiate sex. Like my frustrated buddies, I found myself perplexed over the issue for many years. Eventually, I came to grips with the fact that no two women are built the same, especially when it concerns sex. There are a host of reasons as to why some women remain pursuees rather than pursuers. For one, some women have lower sex drives than others and find themselves unable to keep up with their partner's demands. Second, their disinterest in inititating sex may stem from their upbringing. Girls are taught from an early age that they should neither fawn over a man nor be too sexually forward. It is ingrained in these women that showing sexual interest is a man's job. They tend to keep their sexual desires under wraps lest they be labeled sluts or whores. While society gives men a pat on ...

Chances are, you or someone you know has been to New York City at least once. But can you say that you've actually visited the oldest residence in the state of New York? Built in 1649 in Southold, New York, the aptly named Old House is just that and represents one of the few surviving examples of English domestic architecture in America. It was originally built by John Budd on land near what came to be known as Budd Pond. Budd's daugher Anna and her husband Benjamin Horton were deeded the house in 1658 as a wedding present. The house was moved in 1661 to its present location at the village of Cutchogue, where it sits alongside a 19th-century schoolhouse and carriage house, as well as an old library and 18th-century farmhouse. Also renowned for once housing a Loyalist politician named Parker Wickham during the American Revolution, the house was restored in 1940 and again in 1968 - seven years after being declared a National Historic Landmark. Would you ever consider visi...

Today's quote comes from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), whose work runs the gamut from Founding Father of the United States to accomplished author, printer, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. "Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning." - Benjamin Franklin I feel that this is an 18th century variant of an oft-repeated quote we've come to know quite well: "actions speak louder than words." I think this quote is especially timely in this politically-charged time we live in. Presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle -- like Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Ben Carson -- are promising to effect sweeping changes should they come out the victor. It remains to be seen, however, whether they truly live up to their words. The American people are cognizant of the fact that politicians will say anything to procure votes, and that paying lip service is just part of the game. But the quote's relevance extends beyond the world of politi...

Whether you work in nursing, finance, or teaching, expecting your job to bring you fulfillment isn't always the best way to go about it. Read on to learn why you should instead strive to start a business of your own or cultivate hobbies outside of work. Expecting your job to fill a void in your life is a surefire prescription for trouble. Why?  From tyrannical bosses and untrustworthy co-workers to red tape that utterly stifles creativity, there’s simply too much going on at our jobs that is beyond our control . And when there’s too much beyond your control, it’s hard to fulfill your goals and make as big an impact as you desire. This is precisely what prompts many of us to hop from one job to another in search of conditions that are better aligned with our goals. Still, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I currently work as a writer in the travel industry. (That’s my day job;  I also write articles for websites and maintain this blog.) You would think I’d h...

Life is hard. No one disputes that. Some of us go through moments in our lives that greatly test our patience, resolve, and even our faith. But for all the challenges we face, there are people in the world who have it a lot worse. I always try to keep this in mind whenever I feel the urge to issue a complaint. Below I've written a series of unfavorable scenarios we often find ourselves in and the kind of thoughts that should come to mind to help us appreciate our blessings. When you feel tempted to complain about horrible traffic (which I often have since moving, as my commute has grown considerably longer and more frustrating), consider this: There are people who don't have enough money to buy a car, so they have to brave the elements and do all their traveling by foot, via bus, or a combination thereof. Walking from place to place isn't always safe, especially if done at night, and buses can be full of shady characters.  When you feel tempted to complain about s...

On this day in 1861, Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) was elected President of the Confederate States of America. Like his Union counterpart, Abraham Lincoln, Davis was a native of Kentucky. After graduating from West Point in 1828, he went on to serve in the Black Hawk War of 1832 as well as the Mexican War. Davis married twice in his life. His first wife, Sarah Knox Taylor, who contracted malaria and died a few months after the wedding, was the daughter of general and future U.S. President Zachary Taylor. He later served as senator of Mississippi and as secretary of war under President Franklin Pierce. Davis ran unopposed for president of the Confederacy and expressed great fear in what lay ahead once he was elected. Those fears weren't unfounded: He and Lincoln presided over the bloodiest conflict in American history. The Civil War left over 600,000 Union and Condederate soldiers dead. Davis was imprisoned in 1865 and would remain there for two years. In his later years, Dav...

Despite an improved economy, job seekers are still finding it difficult to land jobs, but little do they know that they might be sabotaging themselves by failing to do two things: 1. Tailoring their resume and cover letter to every job listing they respond to: Sending out the same generic resume and cover letter for every job application is a recipe for disaster. You have to be sure that many of the keywords contained in the ad are listed on your resume -- after all, some of these companies screen the resumes for these very keywords, and if the document lacks too many of them, it'll likely be tossed in the trash bin. Different jobs call for different skill sets; while some employers may want experience in budget forecasting, others may desire candidates with experience in sales. Obviously, you want to do this without stretching the truth too much . For example, I don't recommend stating that you're an expert at Photoshop if you've never even used the program. You do...

Schools across the country are putting a ban on leggings, and it seems students and parents alike are divided on the issue. I'll be totally sincere: As a man, I love seeing women in leggings. They help accentuate the contours of a woman's lower body. If a woman has nice thighs and a great butt, leggings certainly help showcase them. I have a hard time looking away when I see women in them at the gym. I would imagine by now they know it attracts male attention, thus one of the reasons they wear them in the first place. Now, do I think girls in middle school and high school should wear them? When trying to answer this question, I imagine having a daughter wearing them to school and receiving the kind of male attention I described above. Naturally, it makes me uneasy. The issue is that a lot of women seem to wear leggings that look awfully tight on them -- so tight, in fact, that they ride up on their crotches and/or butts. Or, you could even see the woman's underwea...

At Chaseley Trust, a British nursing facility housed in a resplendent mansion, residents can avail of everything from a gym to a movie theater. Occasionally, the nursing home also invites strippers and prostitutes to provide their services to residents. The local East Sussex County Council has launched an investigation into the nursing home's unorthodox practice, which has sparked a debate over the rights of the disabled as well as the role of sex in assisted living facilities. While detractors feel this has the potential to place residents at risk of abuse and exploitation, facility workers claim that not having the strippers and prostitutes actually increases the chances of their being sexually harrassed by the residents, some of whom are still in their teens and have neurological problems. Chaseley asserts that the move is their way of trying to meet their residents' needs -- whether sexual or otherwise. It also allows Chaseley's staff to feel some piece of mind. B...

Over the next few months, I'll be posting fun facts on various U.S. states. Such tidbits will touch upon everything from history and geography to culture and wildlife. It's a good opportunity for you to get to know these states a little better, whether or not you've visited any of them. If you have been to any of these states, be sure to share your experiences with us on the blog or via Google +. I'd like to kick off this "state special" by featuring sun-drenched California, known for having the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley, awful traffic, and a whopping 17 professional teams across the major sports. Here are some interesting facts about California, one of the most diverse states in the union: Its name means nothing -- literally It is the third largest state by area after Alaska and Texas It joined the union in 1850, making it the 31st state to do so California is the most populous state in the country. In fact, one out of every eight United States...

When something bad happens -- you break up with your boyfriend, have an argument with your boss, realize your identity has been compromised -- it can be easy to become consumed with negative thoughts. But studies show that we're going the wrong way about it. Negativity leads to a bevy of unfavorable health outcomes, from high blood pressure and anxiety to loss of sleep and appetite. People underestimate the sheer power that our minds can have over us. As soon as we become fixed on an unpleasant thought, our day can quickly unravel. We become grumpy and irritable, taking out our bad mood on unsuspecting people around us. Getting upset is a natural human instinct, but it's when one allows that anger to fester for a prolonged period of time that feelings of depression and anxiety can set in. Being angry and negative won't make the situation get any better. Focus instead on those things that make you feel good -- whether it be your kids, pets, or stamp collection. Redir...

Good evening everyone, I want to take a moment to thank anyone who has reshared any of my posts or otherwise shared the link to the blog itself with friends and family. If you haven't gotten around to it, no worries! All I ask is that you please share the link to the blog (http://howtounderstandpeople.blogspot.com) at your earliest convenience. Your support goes a long way in helping get the word out about the site. Thanks as always for your time and contributions to the blog. Regards, Jeff

Picture that you're on what seems like a date taken straight from a fairytale or romance novel. You and your impeccably dressed date are having a candlelight dinner in a cozy, beautifully decorated restaurant. With dim lighting, delectable food, soft music playing in the background, an unobstructed view of the ocean, the scene couldn't be more perfect. Then, out of nowhere, you hear an unusual sound. It takes you aback for a second. You decide to disregard it and figure that either you must be out of it this evening or someone at the other table must have dropped something. Then you hear it again. "What is that darn noise?" you ask yourself exasperatedly. You spend a moment trying to put your finger on what that sound could be while exchanging smiles with your gleeful date. All of the sudden, it hits you: Your date has been passing gas! Yuck! Thankfully, before I began dating my now-wife, I never witnessed any of my dates fart, but people have told me they...

If you feel unfulfilled at work and reason that your lack of friendships in the workplace is the culprit, think again. Mixing business and pleasure is ill-advised. It's appalling how many of my coworkers open up about their personal lives to other people in the department. For example, a young woman who sits in the cubicle next to me recently broke up with her boyfriend and has made it a habit of hers to spill her guts about the breakup every day. I understand human beings have an inherent need to bond with and seek consolation from those in their immediate environment, but that's what parents, spouses, siblings, and friends outside of work are for. Relating details of your personal life to coworkers has the potential to blow up in your face. You never know who you can really trust out there, especially when dealing with people in the workplace whom you may not know all that well. Perhaps you feel comfortable enough to do this with coworkers whom you've been worki...