How To Understand People

It's Halloween today. That means a few things are certain: (1) Costumed children (2) Lots of candy (3) Election Day looms ahead  -- finally!  (4) The end of the year draws near. Once we hit the end of October, it really feels like the end of the year is just around the corner. On Sunday, we'll be turning the clocks back an hour. Before we know it, we'll find ourselves working on holiday shopping lists and itineraries.  Halloween falls on a Monday this year, which seems rather odd, doesn't it? Many people opted to attend Halloween parties over the weekend in lieu of trick-or-treating on a school night. I see Halloween as officially kicking off the holiday season. You'll notice that many retailers have been stocking their shelves not only with Halloween merchandise, but Christmas ornaments and decorations as well. Their strategy is obvious: Market all the holidays in one fell swoop.  To be sure, it's a smart move on the part of these merchants, as...

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first read about this. After it was reported that rapper Nelly owed $2.4 million in taxes to the IRS, fans of the rapper took to Twitter to propose that everyone help Nelly out with his financial troubles by streaming his songs en masse! The hashtags "#HotInHerreStreamingParty" and "#SaveNelly" trended on Twitter, as Nelly fans exhorted people to stream his 2002 single "Hot in Herre" for repeated listening. Nelly fans would have to stream the song over 280 million times on Spotify for the rapper to make enough to cover his debt, which is nothing short of far-fetched. While I find it noble that Nelly's fans would go to such great lengths to help the rapper, this is a classic example of adulation for celebrities gone too far. It sets a bad example for current and aspiring stars, sending the wrong-headed message that if you become famous enough, your fans will bail you out when you hit dire financial strai...

On this day in 1777, John Hancock resigns his position as president of the Continental Congress because of a prolonged illness. He was the first member of the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence and is arguably best known for his bold signature on the historic document. Having been elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 as a delegate from Massachusetts, Hancock became its president following the resignation of Peyton Randolph in May 1775. During his tenure as president, Hancock presided over some of the most significant moments of the American Revolution, culminating in the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. After resigning his position as president, Hancock returned to his home state of Massachusetts, where he continued his work in public service. After helping to establish the state’s first constitution, Hancock was elected first governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1780 and served for five years. He opted not to r...

It's so easy to take things for granted in life. Many of us get so caught up in our work and responsibilities at home that we forget to give thanks for all we have. Even worse is when we feel compelled to acquire more and more material stuff we may not even need or use. When I stop and think about how many disadvantaged people would do anything for a little sip of water or cookie crumbs that we may dispose of like nothing, it impresses upon me one valuable moral: Don't complain about what you have, for many people out there would do anything to be in your shoes. That's why I find it imperative -- as a human being and as a citizen of the global community -- to give to those in need as much and as often as I can. It was just heartbreaking to watch Hurricane Matthew wreak havoc on Haiti, a country already blighted by poverty, disease, and so many other problems. If I were to win the lottery, I would donate a substantial chunk of the money toward charitable organization...

According to a survey discussed on a local radio station this morning, some people would rather schedule dates for the week than the weekend. At first blush, this made little sense to me. But the commentator went on to say that doing so serves as a failsafe in case the date goes awry; you can always bail early by saying you have to get up early for work, have stuff to do at home, etc. While that may be so, what happens if the date goes well? You would have far less time to get to know the other person than if the date were scheduled for the weekend. Personally, I am not a fan of dates taking place in the week. I like to be relaxed and feel like I have ample time to get ready. That's hard to do after you've worked a full day and may have to spend considerable time in traffic to get home and then leave to wherever it is you're meeting up. I understand arranging a meeting in the week if scheduling conflicts prevent one or both of you from doing it on the weekend. B...

...raise your hand. Did you raise it?  I sure did. Between incessant mudslinging, accusations of groping, email controversies, and non-stop coverage of every little thing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton say and do, I've just about had it. Thankfully, we're less than two weeks away from the end of it all. This is an election year unlike any we've seen before. It has felt more like reality television than anything else, and I think we can all agree that Donald Trump has had a lot to do with that. Still, most people find neither candidate likable or trustworthy. It seems their aim is merely to vote for the person they hate the least -- the lesser of two evils, if you will. I want to go back to the time where I could tune into CNN or Fox News and see at least a few stories peppered in about the economy, a breakthrough innovation, or something significant happening around the world. I suppose Trump and Hillary bring in the ratings, and that's why they get so...

Which qualities do you possess that you wish other people shared? In my case, it's two in particular: 1. Non-judgmental: While many other people have a knack for criticizing something about everyone else -- whether it's their weight, house, or the clothes they wear -- I've remained largely non-judgmental throughout my life. As a kid, I was often teased about my weight, so I know firsthand what that's like. I also refrain from pressuring people into doing things they don't want to do, even if it goes against the grain. In general, many tend to criticize people's looks, decisions, and lifestyles when they deviate from the norm. I'm proud to say I've never been that way. 2. Intellectually curious:  Unfortunately, most people don't share my passion for learning. The vast majority of those I come across are unwilling readers. They admit that they haven't opened a book or watched a documentary since graduating from college. In my view, this...

Each day brings challenges, to be sure, but it also brings at least one reason to smile and cherish life. Maybe it's the mere fact that you're alive to see another day. Maybe it's your spouse, kids, friends, or pets. Perhaps it's your extensive book collection, side business, or the charities you're active in. Whenever I feel the urge to complain about something, I quickly try to cancel out that negative feeling by thinking about something I'm deeply appreciative for and passionate about. As bad as things get, there's always a silver living that can turn our frown into a smile -- however fleeting it may be.  Even if you've come across a string of bad days, if today is even slightly better than yesterday, that alone is a step in the right direction. For example, let's say you're on a diet and are aiming to drop 20 pounds. After a day or so of dieting, you weigh yourself and, to your dismay, you've actually gained a pound. You repeat t...

I sit next to a guy at work who's as punctual as they come; he comes in, eats lunch, and leaves at the same time every single day -- without fail. When it's time to close up shop, we usually leave at just about the same time. (Have to beat that traffic, you know?) As I shut down my computer and gather my things, I've made a habit of telling him, "It's time to " skedaddle ." A cursory dictionary search yields the following definition: "to depart quickly or hurriedly; run away." My coworker has grown so fond of the word that he frequently uses it himself. In other cases, I might say, rather exaggeratedly, "time to make a mad dash for the door," or "time to schlep out of here." What endeared me to "skedaddle" is that it's such a fun, funky-sounding word.  Speaking of that coworker who sits next to me, he has his own quirky sense of humor, often substituting "goodbye" with "Me...

Though some of us fear it more than others, human beings, for the most part, have a natural aversion to change. But why? For starters, we all slip into comfort zones that are difficult to clamber out of. We become so accustomed to the same people, routines, and processes in our everyday lives that a big life change -- like moving to a new town,  getting a new job, or beginning a new relationship -- can seem utterly frightening. Even the best of us have a tendency to think that going through with the change can turn out disastrous. Countless questions run through our minds like "What if I regret it?" and "What if it doesn't work out?" As I've noted in other posts, I am very risk-averse myself. When contemplating making a change that would require getting out of my comfort zone, I often tell myself that the status quo isn't so bad and the grass on the other side isn't necessarily greener. The only problem is that making our goals a reality ...

It's interesting how much life really changes as we get older. When we're young -- say, in our late teens and early 20s -- we have ample time for ourselves, but not much money to make the most of that time. Once we hit our 30s -- the time when we typically settle down to start a family and are more established in our careers -- we find ourselves on more solid footing financially, but with much less time available than we had in our post-high school years. It isn't until the kids move out for college that we transition back to a life where we can focus more on ourselves and our interests, but by then, those interests tend to be radically different than the ones we enjoyed when we were younger. It's no surprise more and more couples are waiting longer to have kids -- or are opting not to have them at all.  Perfectly content with their sans-kids lifestyle, such couples are in no hurry to go from a life of unfettered freedom to baby bottles and Dora the Explorer. ...

Can you guess where people buy most of their junk food? Chances are that fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King come to mind. A new study described in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition , however, reveals that U.S. adults buy the bulk of their empty-calorie foods and sugar-sweetened beverages at grocery stores and supermarkets. The new findings challenge the "food desert" hypothesis, which states that a lack of access to supermarkets and grocery stores in some underserved communities worsens the obesity crisis by restricting people's access to healthy foods. In other words, contrary to popular belief, access to healthy foods in a supermarket does not hinder Americans' consumption of empty calories. The study looked at data from 4,204 adults who reported their daily food intake in two nonconsecutive 24-hour periods in 2011 and 2012. The analysis determined that nearly half (46.3 percent) of U.S. adults consume sugar-sweetened b...

As an overthinker, I know firsthand what a double-edged sword it can be. At times, it can feel like a blessing, while at others it can seem like a curse. You're always proactive about everything so as to prevent any mishaps: setting three alarms in the morning so you don't oversleep, making sure your spouse charged his or her phone overnight so that you don't assume the worst if you don't hear from them, checking several times that you locked the front door before heading to work, overpreparing for meetings and presentations, and so on. In other words, an overthinker's modus operandi is to minimize risk and avoid problems, which definitely keeps them out of trouble. The problem is that overthinking can lead one to become very anxious, almost to the point of having a nervous breakdown. There have been times where my wife has left her phone at home or on silent. When I dial her number and don't get a response, I continue to call incessantly until she p...

We should all prioritize being around that rare breed of people who do one specific thing: bring out the best in us . We know we're in good company when we feel comfortable, relaxed, intelligent, self-confident and, most importantly, happy. That's why we should strive to be around those who elicit these favorable qualities in us. That doesn't mean these individuals can't provide constructive criticism. Sometimes we need those we care about to give it to us straight when we neglect to notice or confront our shortcomings ourselves. But there's a marked difference between offering constructive feedback for your own good that comes from the heart and putting someone down to feel better about themselves. The latter group is the type we should distance ourselves from. Sometimes, though, we go through tough moments where the only one there for us is ourselves. It's during these difficult times that we must count on ourselves for pep talks; we become our own b...

With Halloween just a couple of weeks away, I felt now would be a great time to begin spotlighting some of the many hotels across the United States that are purportedly haunted, much like I did last year. We begin with the Hay-Adams Hotel, a luxury hotel situated in Washington D.C. It occupies the site where the 1885 homes of John Hay and Henry Adams once stood at 16th and H Streets NW. The site soon became a bustling scene of intellectual activity, hosting stimulating discussions about art, science, literature, and politics. Famous guests included Mark Twain, Henry James, and Teddy Roosevelt. Hay had quite the resume. He served as a personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt. Adams was a historian and Harvard professor, not to mention a descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Both men were also accomplished writers. In 1927, Harry War...

Why is it that we close our eyes when we do certain things -- like hug, kiss, pray, and cry? That's easy: It's because the most beautiful and exciting things in life are not seen, but felt with the heart . In other words, we find little need to see anything or anyone, for the intense emotions we experience come from deep within. Consider people who ride rollercoasters. At some point, they've closed their eyes just before a sharp turn or steep drop. Why? Because they become so consumed by their emotions -- fear and excitement among them -- that visuals seemingly take a back seat. In fact, many people find rollercoaster rides far more exciting when they close their eyes than when they keep them open throughout. I'm sure you've also noticed that many people -- perhaps including you -- close their eyes while eating scrumptious food, whether a cheese pizza or juicy steak. And there's no denying that a kiss on the lips doesn't feel as passionate i...

If you were to pick a U.S. state you think people generally know little to nothing about, which one comes to mind?  If you're like me, Alaska, which became the 49th state in 1959, is a sure contender. Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "alyeska," which stands for "great land." On this day in 1867, the United States formally took possession of what became the largest state in the country after buying the territory from Russia for $7.2 million. Most people assume Texas is the largest U.S. state, but Alaska is roughly twice the size of the Lone Star State in area and about one-fifth the size of the contiguous 48 states combined. So why would Russia want to sell its Alaska territory in the first place? For starters, it was remote, sparsely populated, and hard to defend. Russia preferred selling it to the United States than risk losing it in battle with a rival like Great Britain. Negotiations between secretary of state William Seward and the Russian m...

Just when you thought most major retailers planned to close up shop on Thanksgiving, Macy's said "not so fast." Not only does the department store plan to open on turkey day, it is looking to do so an hour earlier. Several stores have prioritized their employees' desire to spend time with their families on Thanksgiving over making a quick buck, including IKEA, Crate and Barrel, Dillard's, Home Depot, Lowe's, Marshall's, Sam's Club, and Publix. Unfortunately, Macy's has yet to jump on the bandwagon, doing anything it can to reverse six consecutive quarters of revenue declines. While some consumers are sure to rejoice at the prospect of snagging big bargains on Thanksgiving Day, others fret at the company's seeming indifference toward affording employees the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones. What companies don't recognize is that forcing these people to work through the holiday results in low morale and, in many cases, a...

...eventually find their way back to them. And the same goes for good deeds. In other words, what comes around goes around. Let me give you an example. Five years ago, I decided I had outgrown my job at a travel start-up and began applying for other opportunities. Eventually, I received a great job offer from my current company, a large corporation also in the travel sector. I gave my boss my two weeks' notice, and everything seemed okay -- as far as I could see, he took it very well. But on my last day, things took a decidedly different turn. Instead of getting a warm sendoff (as most employees do when they're leaving a company where they've worked for some time and built good relationships), my boss treated me as if I were getting fired. Out of nowhere, he told me to grab my stuff, leave everything as is, and exit through the front door. I wasn't permitted to say goodbye to anyone. He escorted me to the parking lot, where he said it wasn't personal...

It seems we hear a different story involving a creepy clown sighting almost every day now. They've been seen ambling the streets, lurking in apartment complexes, and skulking in parks. I remember reading about one in Winsconsin who walked around holding black balloons. The crown frenzy has seemingly hit a fever pitch in recent months, with people pushing the panic button and calling the cops as soon as they spot someone in a clown mask. While I think this is simply a trend that will eventually fizzle out, there's no question some people have nothing better to do than try to strike fear in the hearts of unsuspecting individuals. Many of us were scared of clowns to begin with. This surge of clown sightings only heightens people's anxiety, especially in light of the various police shootings and terrorist acts that have dominated the headlines of late. And don't look now, but Halloween is right around the corner. This means we should expect to see more clowns po...

We've all been there: We set the alarm for a specific time in the morning, only to not hear it or repeatedly hit the snooze button. Once we realize what time it is, we scurry to put on our clothes, grab something for breakfast, and dash out the door in hopes of getting to work on time. But what if I shared some handy tricks for ensuring you get out of bed and have ample time to get ready for work? It's simple. First, make sure the song/ringtone you use on your alarm clock or phone is overly obnoxious -- so annoying that you can't help but get up to turn it off. On the other hand, if you opt for tranquil sounds of nature, you'll never have any incentive to get out of bed -- and you risk oversleeping. You'll also want to set the alarm for 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you'd have to wake up, which will buy you extra time to get all your early morning affairs in order. There's nothing more stressful than having to rush out of your house to make it...

Many people vow never to forgive those who have cheated on them, and they're within their rights to do so. Here's my take: If a cheater shows immense contrition -- he or she issues a genuine, heartfelt apology -- then maybe they deserve to be forgiven. However, this in no way means that you ever have to trust or want to reconcile with them ever again. After such a flagrant breach of trust, how can you ever expect the person not to repeat the offense? Surprisingly, many people with hearts of gold give cheaters a second chance. I simply wouldn't be able to do that if I were cheated on. If I cheated on someone -- though I neither have nor ever would -- I wouldn't expect my partner to take me back, as I know the irreparable damage it can cause a relationship and on the wronged partner's psyche. The cheating partner has no right to push the other person to get back with him or her. Once he or she says "no," the person should respectfully back of...

As you probably already know, Kim Kardashian was recently robbed at gunpoint and robbed of millions of dollars in jewelry in Paris. Reports say she was quite shaken up after the incident. As it turns out, a costume company named Costumeish sought to make hay of the ordeal with its "Parisian Heist Robbery Victim Costume Kit," complete with a fake ring, gag, white robe, black wig, sunglasses, and two-foot rope. The $69.99 item was pulled following backlash received on social media and on the retailer's website. The company's vice president said this is the first time it has yanked a product from the site, even though Costumeish has sold several other offensive costumes in the past. It doesn't surprise me that so many people were up in arms over this tasteless effort on the part of Costumeish to capitalize on Kim Kardashian's traumatizing experience. I can't stand her and will never understand why she and her family get so much media attention. Stil...

As I've said countless times, getting someone to change is often a futile effort. It's very difficult to change people's personality, beliefs or attitudes. Not only are we naturally resistant to change, but being prodded into changing usually has the unintended effect of making people double down on the very behavior you're hoping to change. If you want to stand any chance of changing someone, however, it can only be done in two ways: (1) opening one's heart and/or (2) opening one's mind. In other words, you're more likely to get someone to change when you can appeal to their thoughts or their emotions. It's for this reason that advertising can be so effective, especially ads of a negative nature. They not only lead us to rethink our positions, but they stir powerful emotions in us -- from sadness to regret. Whether you want someone to become more respectful or less selfish, it usually starts with a heart-to-heart. Unfortunately, sometimes th...

It's appalling to see so many reports in the news of parents leaving their babies in their cars. How in the world do you forget to get your own kid? In the most heartbreaking cases, the kids are left in cars so hot that they end up dying. Parents who do this should undoubtedly be charged for murder and remain behind bars for the rest of their lives. Such utter carelessness is unacceptable. If people are not ready to shoulder the immense responsibilities of parenthood, they should not have children. I am on the fence about having kids, but I know that should I choose to become a father, I will never let my child out of my sight. A child is not a sweater, wallet, or some other object that you can get away with accidentally leaving behind. Such a careless mistake places the child's safety -- and life -- in grave danger. Not only might heat, a lack of oxygen, and no access to food adversely affect the child, but someone might break into the car and kidnap the infant...

If there's one thing I've learned in this unpredictable labyrinth we call life, it's that we can achieve much more by complaining less . Once you let negative thoughts creep into your head -- like "I can't do it," "I don't want to do it," and "this is too hard" -- your resolve is stopped in its tracks and you become paralyzed into inaction. So how do you avoid this mental trap? You get to work -- without even thinking about it! If you start thinking about the myriad reasons why you don't want to do something, the chances of you doing it drop precipitously. In other words, we won't be inclined to take action when we're subconsciously trotting out reasons for why we shouldn't. For example, let's say you're trying to lose weight. If you find any excuse in the book not to go to the gym -- you're tired after working all day, you don't like to exercise when it's dark outside, you hate being all sw...

How many times have you relied on someone for help or a favor, only to be left in the lurch? Granted, there are some people out there who are truly dependable; maybe it's a parent, a sibling you grew up with, or a best friend. But let's face it -- such people are in the minority. The fact of the matter is that most people are only out for themselves. Even when it comes to doing a favor for someone, they're cognizant of what they can get out of the relationship. Very rarely do people act for purely unselfish reasons. You might be thinking that this is a very cynical outlook on life, but it's the truth. Even my closest friends have let me down on several occasions by taking a course of action that was more beneficial to them -- at my expense. The saying, "You can't get everything you want in life" is especially valid when you're dealing with people. At the end of the day, self-gain is the driving force behind most people's decisions. If g...

How great does it feel after losing 10...15...30 pounds?  No one would dispute that it feels phenomenal. However, I've observed that such feelings give way to cockiness in some people. Admittedly, that happened to me when I lost 25 pounds a couple of years ago. My face looked thinner. My tummy had all but disappeared. Some of my clothes was looking huge on me, forcing me to go a size or two smaller. Now that I was wearing more fitted clothing, I noticed more looks from women -- whether at work, restaurants, or the mall. This is what gave me the ultimate high and motivated to continue working out and losing weight. Now, I'm a happily married man and never even entertained the thought of doing anything more than smiling at these women. Still, the fact they were fancying me in this way -- a confirmation that they were digging something about my physical appearance -- made me feel really good about myself. My self-worth must have hit astronomical levels that year. I sta...

Isn't it ironic how there are so many people in relationships with partners they don't really love, and so many single folks who are dying to be in relationships with people they do love -- but can't? Let's break both scenarios down. In the first case, people might be involved with people they don't love for several reasons: They're with them for their money  They were on the rebound after their last relationship ended in failure  They don't want to be alone  They have no other options at the moment They're trying to please their parents and/or friends For purely physical reasons  And here are some reasons why a person may love someone, but can't be romantically involved with them: He or she is already taken The person doesn't have the nerve to ask them out or try to take the friendship to the next level They don't want to jeopardize the friendship they already have The individual doesn't feel he or she is ...

The things we value most are those we have to work hard to obtain or achieve. If someone were to hand you a trophy with your name and "world's best swimmer" engraved on it when you couldn't swim to save your life, would it mean anything to you? Of course not. You didn't earn it, so it holds no value. If losing weight were as easy as waving a magic wand, do you think one would still feel the same sense of accomplishment as they would upon completing an intense weight-loss program? Not at all. It's one thing to get something done -- it's another to overcome an arduous challenge that tests our patience and mettle. There's a reason most people blow their diets and New Year's resolutions and fail to get through law school and Ph.D. programs. When the going gets tough, many people buckle under the pressure and give up. That's precisely why reaching the finish line can be so gratifying. If something comes too easy, though, we tend not to a...

There's a growing trend in schools across the country that should bring a sigh of relief to many students and their parents: Teachers are assigning less homework, if at all. This comes after scores of parents have complained that their kids are getting far too many homework assignments to complete on a daily basis, preventing them from spending valuable time together. "Kids need time to be kids," insist many of the worried parents. What they mean is that the children need time to play video games and frolic as they please. I remember getting loads of homework as far back as elementary school. The issue is that kids are required to take so many classes in different subjects -- from reading and language arts to math and social studies -- that the work adds up. They might have a different teacher for every subject, none of whom are keeping tabs on the volume of homework assigned to each student. My take is that teachers ought to focus on quality and not quantity. I...

Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States, is undoubtedly one of the least remembered commanders-in-chief in the nation's history. He was born on this day in 1822 in Delaware, Ohio. Though not born into a wealthy family, Hayes went on to study law at Harvard University. As a young lawyer, he lived in his office briefly to save money while building his practice. Hayes, an honest and principled man who didn't drink, was nicknamed “Old Granny” for his attention to manners. He and his family were also temperance reformers and fervent abolitionists. His wife Lucy is believed to have insisted that her husband ban all alcohol from the White House -- an act that shocked visiting dignitaries and earned her the moniker “Lemonade Lucy.” However, it was originally Hayes’ idea to impose temperance on White House visitors. Cabinet members and advisors would frequently join Hayes and his family in prayer and in singing hymns. Supporters appreciated Hayes’ sense of f...

When you look back on the best times of your life, vacations are likely to come to mind -- whether family trips to Walt Disney World as a child, scuba diving adventures with friends, or romantic Caribbean escapes with your spouse. But why is it that vacations hold so much meaning? Why do we have a tendency to say "I need a vacation" in the first place? It's simple: vacations help us escape reality. They offer welcome respite from the daily grind, which, for most people, starts with getting up for work and ends with going to sleep to get up for work. In other words, vacations break a pattern of mundaneness in our life, even if only for a couple of days. Beyond that, vacations create memories, some of which remain etched in our minds and hearts for the rest of our lives. Like eating something new for the first time or entering into a new relationship, visiting a new destination can be very exciting. For example, to behold the Grand Canyon or Statue of Liberty fo...

To help you start the month off on the right foot, I wanted to share with you a quote from Doe Zantamata. This one is worth hanging on your wall or pasting on your nightstand so it's the first thing you look at when you wake up: "Every morning starts a new page in your story. Make it a great one today." Many people I come across spend days harping on the same issues rather than seeing each day as an opportunity to start   anew -- as a chance to resolve yesterday's issues rather than let them fester. You wouldn't want to reserve so pages in your story for things of a negative nature, would you? We should view each day as an opportunity to conquer our challenges once and for all. Each day brings the promise of growth, happiness, success. Optimism is the essential ingredient to making this happen. You have to believe wholeheartedly that things really can and will get better. Let faith and perseverance be your guide, your anchor. Instead of wondering w...

The things people do these days leaves me utterly flabbergasted. A man named Rogelio Andaverde was abducted from his home -- right in front of his terrified wife no less -- by two masked gunmen in Edinburg, Texas. She immediately called the cops, who undertook a search for the 34-year-old, and was subjected to over 5 hours of questioning.  To his wife's relief, he returned the next morning unharmed, claiming the kidnappers had let him go. But the cops weren't buying it; they found his story suspicious, and their doubts were not unfounded.  Andaverde later confessed to staging the kidnapping just so he could go out for drinks with his friends! Two of his buddies had posed as his abductors, both of whom were wearing masks to hide their faces and carrying guns. Andaverde was arrested on charges of making a false report to police, later to be released on bail. A person truly has to be desperate to pull off a stunt like this. Even if we were to assume that...

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put...

We've all heard of, read about, or witnessed for ourselves huge coincidences in our lifetime, but nothing comes close to this, and I think you'd agree. One is probably more likely to win the lottery or get struck by lightening than find themselves in the same situation as the two gentlemen I'm about to discuss. In 2009, a retired policeman named Geraint Woolford was admitted to Abergale Hospital in North Wales and wound up next to a patient 25 years his senior who was also a retired policeman. Not a huge coincidence, right? But it gets better. It turns out the other policeman had the exact name name -- Geraint Woolford! The men weren't related and had never met before, even though they worked for the same force. What's more, they were the only two people in the United Kingdom named Geraint Woolford! The elder Geraint Woolford, who underwent a hip replacement operation, is a past president of the Conservative Club in his hometown of Llandudno. Meanwhile,...