I am always on the lookout for good books, especially ones recommended by friends or new subjects that I have not explored. I was glancing through the Wall Street Journal book reviews when I noticed The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness (Robert Waldinger and …
Youth
My wife and I recently drove to Eugene (Oregon) for the USA Track and Field Championships (USATF). Over four days, the best American athletes competed for a place on the US team that will go to the World Athletics Championship, held in Tokyo 13–21 September. The competition was in The University of …
Human Relations
I had a good relationship with my company’s Human Resources (HR) Department and embraced both their independent perspective and professional skills. During my last assignment, I oversaw the divestment of two international marketing teams, and all the employees were employed by the buyer. In one of …
Sacred
Words matter. About a year ago, President Joe Biden announced that he would not run for a second presidential term. He had the Democratic Party nomination clinched due to a lack of credible candidates willing to run again him, but his poor debate performance against Donald Trump caused the party …
Photos
Summer is the time for projects. My wife and I spend summers on Vancouver Island, and I have more time to do projects when the days are longer. For example, I lug an assortment of books to plow through and try to balance nonfiction books, mainly theological, with best sellers. This summer, my large …
Tears
Rachel Reeves is the United Kingdom (UK) Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour government. Her position parallels the United States Treasury Secretary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer selected her to serve in his cabinet. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is one of the most senior government positions …
F-Bomb
Two things in life are certain: change and paying taxes. Both will happen, whether we like it or not. This past week, both were in full view. Congress was working long hours to pass a bill that retains the tax cuts, due to expire this year, that were enacted during the first Trump term. As for …
Happy Warrior
Last weekend, the world learned that the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear sites that were involved in upgrading uranium to possibly make a nuclear bomb. For most of my life, the United States and Iran have been in conflict. When I was in engineering school, there were Iranian engineering …
Diet Coke
My wife and I enjoy traveling internationally. We have a global wall map upstairs and have placed push pins on the locations where we have visited. The map is covered with push pins, and we add new locations each year. One ritual that we have shared during our travels is a Diet Coke break. Diet Coke …
Pentecost
This past Sunday was the day of Pentecost and the start of Ordinary Time, the last period in the Christian calendar. Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2:1–41. Jesus’ disciples were told to stay in Jerusalem “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) Jews were celebrating the …