Alison Gopnik: What do babies think?

I hope to continue to learn like a child!

TED: Graham Hill: Less stuff, more happiness

The man has a point!

Question: Why Isn't the Pro-Life Totally Pro-Life

My question for the day is about the Pro-Life movement.

Lately, I've seen/read/heard conservative politicians trying to defund Planned Parenthood to allegedly prevent abortions. They've also attacked Healthcare Reform in ways that limit a woman's options regarding healthcare. I get that they want to prevent abortions and protect innocent, defenseless fetuses. But are the politicians and the Pro-Lifers really "pro-life"? Pro-Life supporters are very concerned about the unborn children in wombs all across America. They seem very unconcerned about the life of people prior to the conception of that child as well as the time after the birth of said child.

I would be able to listen and take to heart to the concerns of the Pro-Life movement if they could prove to me that they concerned with ALL human life. Isn't any death kind of like a retro-abortion? I would like to see the Pro-Life movement embrace the preservation of all life. This would mean they would:

• be against the death penalty
• be against war
• support efforts to end hunger, particularly with children
• support adoptive services
• support nutrition issues for all, especially for mothers-to-be and children
• join in an effort to bring an end to poverty
• endorse and support education
• support equal opportunity for all kids
• support education and services of all new mothers

I know, I know - you might be thinking that with all these causes, it might diffuse the Pro-Life message. I would argue that, for the thinking individual, it would do just the opposite. Instead of seeming like a bunch of irrational baby lovers harping on the joy of new life and the sins of others, Pro-Life members could be such a positive force that it would be hard to deny their sincerity.

I believe that there are many, many people who have a very prayerful, sincere belief that abortion is sinful and terrible. I'm not that crazy about it but I won't have to make the choice. I also have a belief (that I would love to have disproved) that the architects of the movement are concerned only about American, Caucasian babies for reasons too involved to list in this post. For a group that at times is so fervent about the preservation of life, I find it interesting that I do not see the primarily Caucasian Pro-Life groups protesting in front of minority clinics. In fact, some of the same Pro-Life members want to deport babies born in this county back to the country of their parent's origins. That doesn't seem caring or pro-life to me. I don't understand why they do not involve themselves in the world to make it a more loving world so that abortion would be the absolute last choice.

What do you think?

IMO: Live by Your Hourly Wage

Wouldn't life be easier if we could make all our decisions by what the cost was? Well, I kind of think we can (with conditions, of course).

Some may balk at reducing life's decisions to dollars and cents; but, many times, we already do this. For example, if you are buying a car, you figure out what you can afford. If you're planning a trip, you save up for it after figuring out how much it's going to cost. I would argue that many of us could use this methodology a little more in our lives.

Let's set up the criteria for the following examples. Doug makes $30,000 a year, which works out to $14.42 gross per hour/24 cents gross per minute. We'll call the per minute rate Per Minute Value (or PMV). 

My theory is that I want to come out ahead most of the time and that my time is valuable; in fact, using the example criteria, my time is worth 24 cents a minute. This value, by the way, is a lot more than one can earn in many other third world countries. So the questions I would always have to ask myself is, "Is what I'm doing worth my time? Will the outcome of what I'm doing be worth my invested time?" It doesn't work for every situation; however, I find it a great starting point for deliberation.

Example #1 - Watching an hour-long TV drama

Okay, let's do the math. For the sake of argument, the show is 60 minutes; so the PMV is $14.42. Was the show you just watched worth that much to you in enjoyment? In other words, would you pay $14.42 to watch that show (on top of what you're already paying for cable access)?

Example #2 - Working on my online store

Let's say I work on stuff for my online store (site, blogging, tweeting, marketing, creation) and I spend 14 hours on it for the week. That would result in a PMV of $201.88. Was it/will it be worth it? If it's the beginning of your online business, you can expect start-up costs. But if it's Year 3 and you've only sold one item, maybe you need to think about if this is still worth doing. If you're really happy, so be it. But I would re-examine why you started this in the first place and if there's anything you can do to change your results.

Example #3 - Working out at home for 30 minutes 3 times a week

Two words - heck yea! You spent $21.63 of your PMV and, aside from saving money not paying the gym, you're most likely adding years and quality to your life. I definitely think you come out ahead on this one.

Again, you may not be able to apply this to every situation in your life; in fact, I recommend that you don't. It's important not to over-value yourself when doing this. But this can be a very useful tool in the evaluation toolbox when examining life's choices.

A reminder to yourself and others to make "right now" count! Available at http://www.zazzle.com/dougeshirts .

Right Now Was The Future Shirt from Zazzle.com

Right Now Was The Future Shirt from Zazzle.com

A reminder to yourself and others to make "right now" count! Watch in fascination as people get what you're saying. Available in shirts, key chains and mugs.

I always like paradoxes and irony. It must be because of my love of time-travel stories in comics. As I get older, I realize more and more how little time we have in this place. Knowing that we're constantly living in our realized futures puts the pressure live our lives in the NOW.