Monthly Archives: January 2011

All too often, today’s leaders feel isolated, beleaguered, exhausted, pressured, stressed. The key to being more effective? Doing less.  Early in my managerial career, while a first-line supervisor but still doing science, I had the good fortune to read Conceptual … Continue reading →

If a man is thirty-seven years old, as I am, and compromises what he believes in or knows to be true just because he wants to live a little longer or a little more comfortably, then he may live until … Continue reading →

A soft answer turneth away wrath. Proverbs 15:1 KJV Five reasons for tackling this topic now, and in this blog: 1. After last weekend’s horrendous and tragic events in Tucson, there’s been an outbreak of civility across the land. Will … Continue reading →

Don’t believe this? Or maybe you’re disposed to say, scornfully, “sad but true?” Both these extreme reactions might seem natural enough in the current 21st century of cynicism. But first a story… Shortly after I moved to Washington, DC after … Continue reading →

Likely none of us can give an evidence-supported answer to this question. Ah, but not knowing the answer still doesn’t stop seven billion of us from having as many different opinions! Skeptics would say climate change is a hoax. Others … Continue reading →

Vision is essential for leaders. How’s your vision? How’s our vision as a nation? As a world? And let’s focus…on our vision with respect to Earth’s natural resources; the environment, ecosystems, and habitat; and natural hazards. Rank yourself on this … Continue reading →

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives made headlines by reading aloud the Constitution, or at least most of it, and by announcing that henceforth the House will require written justification of the Constitutional basis for every bill that members submit. … Continue reading →

The core real-world problem all seven billion of us face? Threefold. Coaxing out some of Earth’s resources for our daily use. Protecting Earth’s habitat and lifeforms from our collective clumsiness and missteps. Minimizing Earth’s hazards. Doing all this deftly. Deftly? … Continue reading →

Got a list of resolutions for the new year? Here’s one to add to your list. Resolve that: In 2011, your carbon footprint will be your least consequential footprint. ____________________ By now, you’ve made your list of resolutions for the … Continue reading →