Looking deeper into opinion pieces

When we read a piece in the newspaper, or a magazine, or watch a commentator on television, how much do we know about their "come from?"

While reading Charles Krauthammer's piece on President Obama, I asked myself, "what do I know about the writer?" Nothing.

So I explored and discovered more about the writer and his positions.

On a scale of 1-10, Krauthammer was formerly described as a liberal +5 by colleagues. Today it appears Krauthammer is socially progressive, and internationally as progressive as former President George Bush, or commentator, Bill Kristol, who is defined as a neoconservative. Taking his social biases and adding them to his international views, I'd rank him on the same scale as -5.

Having a few more facts about the writer's "come from" provides insight into his/her perspective and enables the reader to better judge the piece's credibility and validity--that is if the reader retains his/her own neutrality.

Another structured procrastination exercise!

Structured Procrastination

Bob Ingram ©

Yesterday I pulled the 7 of swords, often associated with, yes, procrastination. As I know that is precisely what I have been doing, I went a step farther and thought I'd look up the word and accomplish nothing but a definition.
Instead I discovered this interesting read by John Perry, Sanford University philosophy professor, about "structured" rather than just plain ole "generalised" procrastination.

After thinking about it (yes, my major was philosophy), I realized that structured procrastination reminded me of behavior change. Not just ordinary behavior change, but the change model.

I was at the illustrious university where Prochaska and DiClemente developed their stages of change model and one of its earliest guinea pigs. Although I've always found the model itself brilliant I've not really seen it as much more than procrastination in its various applications.

Now of course I see why that tiny light bulb went off in my head: structured procrastination = change model.


And this entire blog entry has been not much more than structured procrastination!