As we in the United States approach the five-month anniversary of the COVID-19 invasion, we are jogging along two rapidly separating paths.
People populating the first path are adjusting to working from home buoyed by technology while people on the other path are either unemployed or are working service or manufacturing jobs with other people surrounding them, making them more susceptible to the virus. Both groups struggle to balance family and work, but it is much easier for people on…..
While running a strategic planning session at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s, I became disoriented as I wandered from room to room monitoring the discussions of two groups. I stood there, my hand absently grazing the wall, when I happened to find the name of the room in braille about five feet up on the wall to the left of the door.
“This braille label wouldn’t be here pre-ADA,” I thought to myself. “Now I won’t have…..
An abridged transcript of my second coaching session with President Trump. (1)
Peter Altschul (PA): Mr. President. What a surprise.
President Trump (PT): I remember our first worthless session, Pipsqueak Pete. You gave me terrible advice.
PA: So why are you here?
PT: To shut up Jumpy Jared, Grouchy Grassley, and the other losers.
PA: What do they want?
PT: They want me to be less hostile. They say I’ll get more votes that way.
PA: What do you…..
Several years ago, my family and I spent the fourth of July weekend at a time-share near Branson, Missouri. On the way there, we stopped at Lamberts, a restaurant where servers hurl rolls at customers) and serve large amounts of greasy, Southern food. While waiting for our order, Louis, my then fourteen-year-old stepson, announced that he was all for women being treated the same as men but–
Annoyed, I tuned out. I’ve heard variants of this phrase coming out of…..
In 1965 and 1966, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees were both terrible, so I happily chortled when the Yankees frequently lost and was happy when the Red Sox infrequently won.
On a late August evening in 1967, Dad came into my room as I was brushing my teeth.
“We must root for the Yankees,” he announced.
“What?” I spluttered, nearly choking on a mouthful of toothpaste.
Dad explained that the Yankees were still terrible, but that the…..
Around four years ago, I wrote about the numbing shock that engulfed me as I heard about the murders of several police officers in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas within a week of each other, juxtaposed with rays of hope as I learned about how leaders of law enforcement and African American communities were working together to reduce crime and complaints against the police. (1) I wrote about how political junkies from all stripes were bending the facts as part of…..
Around four years ago, I wrote about the numbing shock that engulfed me as I heard about the murders of several police officers in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas within a week of each other, juxtaposed with rays of hope as I learned about how leaders of law enforcement and African American communities were working together to reduce crime and complaints against the police. (1) I wrote about how political junkies from all stripes were bending the facts as part of…..
I snickered while reading an article in The Guardian (1) that reported that around eighty percent of New York City police officers viewed the three-day diversity workshop they were required to take as “a waste of time.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who most police officers view with contempt, required that all 20,000 officers take part in this workshop after Eric Garner’s death by chokehold, promising great things from the program. But according to a high-ranking New York Police Department official,…..
Neuroscientists continue to explore the neural pathways that allow music to bring back memories, tell stories, and change hearts. Music influences us to buy stuff we don’t need. It can bring us together or create social distancing. It has reduced the odds in David vs. Goliath struggles. It does all this and more by connecting with feelings — and feelings, not thoughts, drive action.
Music innovators fall into two categories: redwoods, who create unique styles and spend their lives perfecting…..
During the month of March, I marveled that people from blue and red states were cooperating to address the COVID-19 coronavirus. Physical distancing. Wearing masks. Staying at home most of the time. Volunteering to support others. Adjusting to zooming and home schooling. Slowing down while grieving.
This comfort came to an abrupt end a little after eleven AM on Thursday, April 2, while listening to National Public Radio journalist Sasha-Ann Simons interviewing Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson (1). A highly condensed…..
Breaking Barriers - Working and Loving While Blind