“I’m like a fish out of water / a cat in a tree /I got a big chain around my neck / and I’m broken down like a train wreck / well it’s over, I know it but I can’t let go.” – Lucinda Williams When you’re thinkin’ of things that you might have said…let it [...]
Category Archives: Human nature
The hidden meaning behind the insignificant
One of my pet peeves is the tendency to read meaning into everything we do. It isn’t that there isn’t a reason behind our behaviours. It’s just that the reasons are either banal (basic instincts and human motivation) or are so prone to both misinterpretation and over-interpretation that most attempts to explain them will be [...]
Toilet paper wars
There are no two ways about it. Some people are able to let thinks go while others are obsessive nutcases. Actually those two types of people may reside inside the same individual. After all, don’t we all have have our own little obsessions. For example, I know lots of crazy wine lovers. They go on [...]
What made me so happy?
What question teaches us more: “What went wrong?” or “What went right?” “What the hell happened there?” is a question I often find myself asking when the golf ball I just hit goes sailing off into the forest. More often than not I just scratch my head and really have no idea. On the other [...]
Spurious correlations and you
One of the interesting things in life is in how we make use of observations. We all try to understand why things happen and when we observe a connection – or more accurately, what we BELIEVE is a connection – we feel as if we have gained a sense of control over our lives. Knowing [...]
Why put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow
I used to think that my biggest fault was my tendency to procrastinate. All my university papers were finished at the last possible moment. They were started not much earlier. Every single time, I swore to myself I would do better next time. Eventually I simply gave in and stopped deluding myself. I always laugh [...]
Sad anniversary
Today is the 20th anniversary of Marc Lépine’s rampage. Yesterday, I was in my car and heard two riveting interviews on CBC’s As It Happens. The first was with Nathalie Provost, who was shot by Lepine. The other was with Monique Lépine, Marc’s mother. I thought it might be a good time to re-post a [...]
With all due respect I think you’re a jerk!
Some of the most obnoxious people I have ever met are psychologists. I’ll never forget the time years ago when I attended the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C. You would not believe how many restaurant meals were returned during those few days! Apparently psychologists have little trouble asserting themselves. “I’m [...]
Great Canadian literature?
Hi Folks. Back from vacation. It was nice acting like a kid again (outside most days riding my bike, playing golf, or kayaking). After throwing in plenty of quality time with the family and significant stretches of time spent sitting around scratching my a**, it was perfect. I’ll keep this post brief. I just wanted [...]
