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Bad Weather: Better for Work, Terrible for Everything Else
The Atlantic: Talking about the weather used to be drudgery saved for only the most boring acquaintances. But in the age of temperature selfies and record snow, winter'spopularity on the Internet seems to thrive in spite of the season's toll on our minds (and bodies). Winter and the snowstorms that come with it have traditionally been associated with a drop in economic output, with some estimates in the billions annually for the U.S. alone. But productivity studies hum a different tune for office workers: When the weather's bad outside, workers are more productive at their jobs inside.
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Classes that go off the grid help students focus
Los Angeles Times: USC professor Geoffrey Cowan is a scholar of free speech and communication. But Cowan, the former dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, insists that students sometimes should be cut off from the social media and websites that are so prevalent in their lives. Cowan bans the use of laptops, cellphones and wireless devices during the freshman introductory class "The Changing World of Communication and Journalism" that he co-teaches in the fall with current Annenberg Dean Ernest J. Wilson III.
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The Upside of Waiting in Line
The New York Times: Waiting in line got a bad rap as an ever-present part of the Communist Soviet Union. It could turn out to be a big part of America’s urban future, because some lines are actually useful. To better understand this, consider a contrast between locations. Although I live in Northern Virginia, I visit Manhattan frequently, and I notice how often I end up waiting in line. It’s not just for special events. I wait in line to get into the movies, for a jazz concert at the Village Vanguard or to grab a bite at a Midtown Shake Shack.
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Learning The Hard Truth About Lying
NPR: We all lie sometimes. But if you're in the public eye, the lie can take on a life of its own. NBC's Brian Williams became the victim of his own story last month, exaggerating the danger he faced while reporting in Iraq in 2003. It lead to an on-air mea culpa and a temporary suspension from the anchor desk. A couple weeks later, another public figure, Robert McDonald, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, told a homeless veteran that he was in the special forces — but he wasn't. Coming back from that kind of mistake can be harrowing and life-changing. Read the whole story: NPR
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I Don’t Have a Job. I Have a Higher Calling.
The Wall Street Journal: Travelzoo Inc. ’s 438 employees spend their days trying to find customers a good deal on flight and hotel packages. To hear managers describe their work in meetings, however, booking a customer on a cheap trip to the Caribbean can serve a higher purpose: helping someone get over the death of a loved one or meet a future spouse. “If we all traveled, there would be significantly more peace on Earth,” Travelzoo Chief Executive Chris Loughlin said he has told employees. Can a job just be a job? Not anymore. ... Plenty of employees are fine with being a cog rather than a cathedral builder.
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Thinking of God Makes People Bolder Risk-Takers
Big Think: When people are reminded of God, they are more ready to engage in risky behavior, but not morally wrongful behavior. Isha Aran from Fusion reports on a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science that sought to find out how far 900 online participants could be pushed toward unsafe activities while God was in their thoughts. How much risky behavior would participants engage in knowing God could possibly protect them from negative outcomes? In order to remind participants of God, researcher gave some of the volunteers a word scramble puzzle that contained God-related references or had them read a paragraph about God.
