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The Bonus Book of the Week is “When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing” by Daniel H. Pink, published in 2018.
The author cited various studies that focused on timing, rather than the contents of events. The results of one study he cited, indicate a counter-intuitive aspect of human nature.
The study asked different groups of subjects to evaluate the overall moral character of a fictional man who was hypothetically their boss. Different groups were given different scenarios describing his awful and good behaviors. “Indeed, they [the subjects] evaluated a life with 29 years of treachery and 6 months of goodness the same as a life with 29 years of goodness and 6 months of treachery.” When the last 6 months were good, the subjects were forgiving, and seemed to forget the character’s past sins.
Religion might account for some of the study’s results; some evil people find religion when they have a near-death experience– like surviving a plane crash, or surviving a bullet that should have killed them. They believe that when they are baptized, all their sins are washed away. So they empathize with the aforementioned fictional character– their past criminality doesn’t count.
That could be why people elect politicians who are serial criminals, and why men in sinful or controversial fields of work– have an attack of conscience and turn traitor at the ends of their careers. Here is a little ditty about the collective mood in this country, notwithstanding the fact that the people gets the government it deserves.
ANOTHER DAY
sung to the tune of “Another Day” with apologies to Paul McCartney and whomever else the rights may concern.
Every day the media incite wrath,
at the news we glare,
politicians-wrap LAWyers ’round them.
They’re teaming up with corporate chairs.
It’s just another day.
Sidling up to donors,
they know how to schmooze,
dipping in the pockets of the taxpayers.
It’s just another day.
At the office where their powers grow,
they’re one big herd.
Doling out the Kool-Aid.
And we find it hard to trust their words.
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
So sad, so sad. Sometimes we feel so sad.
Unheard and harmed we dwell
till a less bad leader
comes to give us, a better sell.
Ah, can’t-wait.
Don’t stand us up.
Vote against the-bums,
but some stay,
and we continue to pay.
So sad. Sometimes we feel so sad.
As they plant another story for their favorite cause.
Their colleagues rally ’round them.
We find they don’t obey their own laws.
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
So sad, so sad. Sometimes we feel so sad.
Unheard and harmed we dwell
till a less bad leader
comes to give us, a better sell.
Ah, can’t wait.
Don’t stand us up.
Vote against the-bums,
but some stay,
and we continue to pay.
So sad. Sometimes we feel so sad.
Every day the media incite wrath,
at the news we glare,
politicians-wrap LAWyers ’round them.
They’re teaming up with corporate chairs.
It’s just another day.
Sidling up to donors,
they know how to schmooze,
dipping in the pockets of the taxpayers.
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, baa
It’s just another day.
***
Read the book to learn of additional studies that show how doing certain things at certain times can make a difference.