What Was I Thinking? The Dumb Things We Do and How to Avoid Them

By William B. Helmreich, Ph.D.

What Was I Thinking? The Dumb Things We Do and How to Avoid Them is an in-depth exploration, both serious and humorous, of the dumb things we all do and how we can stop them from messing up our lives by William Helmreich, a prominent sociologist at CUNY Graduate Center.  It sheds new light on the well-known foibles of the rich and famous - Bill Clinton, Martha Stewart, John Edwards, Roger Clemens, Bess Myerson, James Frey, Paris Hilton, Saddam Hussein, Lindsay Lohan, Stew Leonard, and many others. In addition to these well-known personalities, this book also deals with the many dumb things ordinary folks do - for example: telling your boss off and losing your job; ending a great friendship over something minor; road rage; suing someone over something not worth spending a lot of time on; or lying when you don't have to.

But this is far more than an entertaining read. Based on hundreds of interviews and exhaustive research, Helmreich concludes that this behavior isn't only a result of psychological problems; it's also based on our very culture, history, and values. Topics discussed include the larger world we live in, arrogance, honor, looking for the easy way out, paranoia, and insecurity.

Only when we understand these causes, says Helmreich, can we begin to address our behavior and improve our lives. The stories of how and why these people screwed up their lives are meant to be cautionary tales from whom valuable lessons can be learned. In addition, Helmreich drives home these lessons with 42 concrete solutions and suggestions on how to avoid doing dumb things.

This is a topic that Helmreich has explored for a very long time and with every passing day, another famous person does something dumb; yet we're all still stunned by the news. Dr. Helmreich's recent article in Newsday - "Men (and women) behaving badly," is about the resignation of "David Sokol, who just threw away a chance for the world's best job - succeeding Warren Buffett as head of Berkshire Hathaway - because of questionable financial behavior." Helmreich added, "Did he forget what happened to Martha Stewart?  Hadn't he heard of Bernie Madoff, Enron, WorldCom and the many other names that have become synonymous with corruption, dishonesty or misuse of insider information?"

"These people (and so many more) now have tarnished reputations, but have they really been punished?  It seems that these days, all you have to do is issue a sincere-sounding apology - adding, perhaps, that you're in therapy or you've found God - and all is forgiven.  The rest of us are reluctant to banish these people.  We need our heroes as much as they need us.  But there's a real danger here - one that threatens to destroy the trust that society depends upon.  Its most common expression is, 'Everyone does it.'

"There's a way out of this mess, but it won't be easy.  Schools need to develop ethics programs that begin in pre-K and continue throughout their education.  We also need to punish the misbehaving icons of society - sending Lindsay Lohan to jail for violating her probation was a good example.  Everyone - especially young people - is watching, and bad behavior merits consequences; and we need to create positive peer pressure that looks down on dishonesty."

Having lived in the Middle East in preparation for a film, Helmreich interviewed Hamas leaders and other terrorists.  He says on Muammar Qaddafi: "Never back an unstable person into a corner unless they're harmless. With a trained army, thousands of African mercenaries, large stockpiles of weaponry, including 23 tons of mustard gas, vast oil reserves, and billions of dollars in cash, Muammar Qaddafi could make a lot of trouble, including unleashing terrorist attacks throughout the world, something he has done in the past. He's a paranoid megalomaniac, given to delusions of grandeur. That type of individual will act irrationally if pressured enough.

"To back Qaddafi into a corner would be dumb. Even if you win, you lose in terms of the collateral damage. The right strategy is to punish him and show you mean business without attacking his sense of honor or threatening him with death. If he feels he has a way out, he may retreat. He did it before when he paid 1.5 billion in damages for terrorism and the U.N. and the U.S. basically forgave him. So it's worth a shot."

William Helmreich, a prominent sociologist at CUNY Graduate Center, is the author of What Was I Thinking: The Dumb Things We Do and How to Avoid Them. He has been interviewed by Oprah and Larry King and regularly offers expert commentary on radio and television. He's also head of the City College Conflict Resolution Center. In preparation for a film on the Middle East, Helmreich interviewed Hamas leaders and other terrorists.

'Food Shock' Report Details Real Story Behind Rising Food Prices & How Families Can Find Relief

The world's food supply is shrinking and as it does the price of food continues to climb, reaching record levels and leaving most of the global population in a state of emergency. This isn't an opinion created out of thin air; it's a strong message that has been researched and delivered by the United Nations. In an article published on Bloomberg.com on March 31, 2011 a representative from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization surmised that world food production would have to increase by 70 percent by 2050 to meet the increasing demand from an expanding global population that is expected to eclipse the 9.1 billion mark by 2050, a dramatic rise from the 6.9 billion that make up today's world population.

Simply put, we need a real solution to the global food crisis. While recognition from the UN may help legitimize the food supply crisis we now face it doesn't solve the problem. For that solution we are forced to look elsewhere and fortunately the answers are delivered in a special report titled "Food Shock: Why 2011 Could Be the Most Important Year Ever to Plant a Family Garden," now available for download when individuals sign up for the free OffTheGridNews.net weekly newsletter.

Authored by OffTheGridNews.net founder Bill Heid along with political analyst and survival expert Brian Brawdy, "Food Shock: Why 2011 Could Be the Most Important Year Ever to Plant a Family Garden" not only details the issues and events that have caused food prices to increase, it explains how a single setback like a regional drought, natural disaster, or crop disease could threaten the entire world's food supply, as well as provides reasons for why food production has become more difficult and reveals how the quality of the crops produced has actually become not only less nutritious but toxic. The special report also outlines steps that can be taken by each individual to ensure that these issues can easily be overcome and the safety of the food supply can be protected. [more...]

D.C. Parents Call on Congress to Put the Needs of Kids Ahead of Special Interest Politics

Vote Expected Next Week on Extension of D.C. School Choice Program

Families from across the District of Columbia called on Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to restore the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) and provide hope to thousands of low-income children.

According to D.C. Parents for School Choice, legislation sponsored by House Speaker John Boehner (the SOAR Act) will likely lead to higher graduation rates for low-income D.C. children, higher parental satisfaction rates with education, increased achievement in reading, and a significant improvement in D.C.'s public schools. A vote on the legislation is expected by next week.

"We call on all Members of Congress to put the interests of children and families first and to vote 'yes' on Speaker Boehner's legislation," said Virginia Walden Ford, executive director of D.C. Parents for School Choice. "It is morally outrageous that President Obama, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and special interests have waged a battle against a program that helps low-income children who live just blocks from the White House. Passing the SOAR Act will right this grievous wrong."

The program, which allows low-income parents the opportunity to use vouchers and send their children to high-quality private schools, has yielded significant, positive results.

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences, the program yielded 91 percent graduation rates for students who used their scholarships - more than 30 points higher than the graduation rates for students in conventional public schools. More than 3,300 children have benefited from the program since its creation in 2004.

A poll released earlier this year demonstrated that more than 74 percent of District residents want Congress to reauthorize the program, and more than 8,000 residents have signed petitions urging the OSP's restoration.

"Parents across the country are watching Congress right now to see if their Members will do the right thing and stand courageously with children who only want a better future - or if they'll side with richly-funded special interest groups that place adults and the status quo above the needs of low-income families," Walden Ford said.

A companion bill in the U.S. Senate is sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, and Lamar Alexander.

Virginia Walden Ford is the Executive Director of D.C. Parents for School Choice. She is an African-American single mother who almost single-handedly lobbied Congress to enact the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program after she secured a private scholarship for her son, William, who later went on to graduate and then serve our country in Iraq. Virginia is a fellow at the Heritage Foundation and also speaks on behalf of the Foundation for Educational Choice. She was an advisor to John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008. Interestingly, she’s from Little Rock, Arkansas and was in the second group of children to integrate Little Rock Central High School. [more...]

THE QUR'AN DILEMMA

THE QUR'AN DILEMMA

COMPELLING BOOK SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE QUR'AN

 

Radical Islam, Sharia Law, Jihad are all common themes often raised and discussed whenever Islam is at the forefront of current events in the U.S.  However, all of these labels share the same foundation: The Qur'an. 

How is one to know the truth about The Qur'an - the most controversial holy book in the world today, especially post-9/11?  Now, the average person who wants to understand the controversies and myths surrounding The Qur'an will be able to know the truth by studying The Qur'an Dilemma - a critical analysis unlike any other. The top editor of this 10-year-long research project, Al Fadi, is available for interviews to analyze and discuss this comprehensive new guide on the teachings of Islam.

This extensively researched commentary examines Islam's holiest book, challenging serious readers to ponder its true origin and purposes as they increase their knowledge of Islam and its teachings.

• Is The Qur'an a book of peace or a blueprint for terror?
• Is Islam's holy book an inspired message from God or a political agenda?
• How is the role of a woman actually defined in The Qur'an?
• Does The Qur'an really advocate tolerance for people of other faiths?

This first volume investigates the first nine chapters of The Qur'an. Each chapter contains the text of The Qur'an complemented with these well-annotated elements:

• Introduction, which outlines major subjects and key political, historical, social, or controversial issues;
• Critical analysis of key verses, which focuses on relevant historical accounts, linguistical errors, scientific information, and literary structure, coherence, and cogency;
• Variant readings of certain verses, which highlight differences in syntax, word choice, and meaning among current common readings of the Arabic text, emphasizing those variations that differ from the codification made by the 'Uthman committee; and
• Abrogated verses with analytical comments, which explain the ramifications of such nullified verses on their subsequent authority and understanding.

This volume also contains nine articles to provide readers with the necessary background and context concerning key topics and issues of The Qur'an, including "Compilation of The Qur'an," "Women in The Qur'an," and "The Qur'an and People of Other Faiths." The last section of this book contains a comprehensive collection of resources and references, included selected readings, a "Who's Who" section, a glossary of definitions, timeline and maps, index and endnotes (the complete documentation of the Arabic and non-Arabic sources used in the research for this book).

Though The Qur'an Dilemma uses Islamic classical references to satisfy the scholar, this commentary is written in a fluid language that will interest, inform, and enlighten the average reader.

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Al Fadi is a scholar and expert on Islam, and a leading Middle East analyst.  He has a Masters in Biblical Communications, Engineering, and is a teacher of Islam.  He is also the Director of The Qur'an Project Group and a guest speaker for national churches and mission conferences' events on the topic of Islam.  He has been on numerous Arabic satellite TV shows and is a frequent guest on radio and TV throughout America, educating the U.S. on the topic of Islam and The Qur'an.

DICK MORRIS LAUNCHES THE DICK MORRIS POLL

DICK MORRIS LAUNCHES THE DICK MORRIS POLL WITH FIRST PUBLICIZED POLL OF WISCONSIN VOTERS ON ISSUES IN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PROTEST

New York, NY, February 25, 2011 -- Dick Morris, a veteran pollster with thirty years of experience in national and international polling, is announcing the launch of The Dick Morris Poll, which will focus on timely political issues and candidates. Drawing on his polling expertise, Dick will provide the results and an analysis of each poll.

Dick Morris was President Clinton's pollster for 20 years, and has done polling for 30 Senators and Governors and 14 presidents or prime ministers in foreign countries.

The Dick Morris Poll, to be published at least once a month, will use the traditional polling method of telephone calls to registered voters. On occasion, Internet polls will be done of a carefully drawn random sample of likely voters - in order to avoid the bias of relying only on those participants with a political predisposition.

The initial poll is the first published poll of voters conducted within the state of Wisconsin and was completed on Monday, February 21, 2011 and Tuesday, February 22, 2011.

WISCONSIN POLL RESULTS

The Dick Morris Poll conducted a telephone survey among 409 likely Wisconsin voters. The survey has a margin of error of +- 4%.

Findings: Wisconsin voters break almost evenly on Governor Walker's proposed reforms, supporting them by a margin of 51-47.

They support many aspects of the proposal by significant numbers:

VOTERS SUPPORT CHANGING THE BENEFITS TO STATE WORKERS, PAY, AND AUTOMATIC DEDUCTION OF UNION DUES

By 74-18, they back making state employees pay more for their health insurance.
By 79-16, they support asking state workers to contribute more toward their pensions.
By 54-34, Wisconsin voters support ending the automatic deduction of union dues from state paychecks and support making unions collect dues from each member.
By 66-30, they back limiting state workers' pay increases to the rate of inflation unless voters approve a higher raise by a public referendum.

VOTERS OPPOSE CHANGING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS

On the issue of limiting collective bargaining to wage and benefit issues, however, they break with the Governor, opposing the proposal by 41-54.

If the issues to be taken off the bargaining table are related to giving schools flexibility to modify tenure, pay teachers based on merit, discharge bad teachers and promote good ones, however, they support such limits on collective bargaining by 58-38.

ANALYSIS: Voters back the principal of collective bargaining. But they are also willing to limit these negotiations so that they would not impede education reforms.

For Governor Walker to prevail, he must focus on his goal of achieving reform in schools. He will not prevail as long as his proposal is essentially negative in nature (i.e., limiting collective bargaining). But if he emphasizes the positive intent that lies behind the proposal (i.e., giving schools the flexibility and freedom to implement education reforms), he will find a solid public majority behind him.

Dick Morris's "Revolt!" Has Arrived!

Now that the Republicans have taken the House, how can they use their majority to reverse Obama's Socialist agenda?

REVOLT!

How to Defeat Obama and Repeal His Socialist Programs

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Dick Morris

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How do we defund and block Obamacare?

How can the Republicans cut government spending?

How can we block tax increases?

How do we stop Obama's FC from crippling talk radio and taking over the Internet?

How do we stop the EPA from imposing cap and trade?

How do we reverse the job-killing big-government policies of Obama?

...And how do we defeat President Barack Obama in 2012?

Dick Morris provides the answers in this up-to-the-minute discussion of how the new Republican House of Representatives can defeat Obama and the Democrats. Dick should know; he strategized Bill Clinton's defeat of the GOP Congress in 1995-96. Now he applies his knowledge to reversing, repealing, and replacing Obama's Socialist programs - and helping the American economy live and prosper again. It's all here. The strategy, the tactics, and what each of us must do to save our country from Obama's socialism.

REVOLT!: How to Defeat Obama and Repeal His Socialist Programs lays out a game plan for success. Morris explains how to use the debt limit and budget fights to force Obama to accept Republican policies while, at the same time, undermining his chances of victory in 2012.

• Obamacare? Morris explains how to block the IRS enforcement of the requirement that everyone buy health insurance and how to stop the Medicare cuts and rationing.

• Crippling Talk Radio and Taking Over the Internet? He explains how to prevent the FCC from blocking free speech in America.

• Cap and Trade? He offers a blueprint for how to cut off EPA funding to stop it from imposing carbon taxes and regulation.

Unless we read Dick's plan and act to implement it, Obama will raise taxes, end the mortgage interest and charitable deduction, raise Social Security taxes, and add trillions more to the federal deficit in the process. Conservatives need to fight back and Morris explains how to do it.

REVOLT! is Dick's most important book yet. The GOP won the elections of 2010. REVOLT! explains how to translate this avalanche of votes into power and action in Washington. His plea: Don't surrender. Don't compromise. Don't give in. Just push ahead and win! REVOLT! is the next step.

Morris's Outrage, Fleeced, Catastrophe, and 2010: Take Back America laid out the problem, predicted Obama's polices and their results, and articulated a plan for victory in 2010. Now REVOLT! explains how to use this new power to defeat Obama.

New film documents how adult interests are turning schools into 'dropout factories'

Assembly-line model to blame

"Kids Aren't Cars" is a new short film series set for national release February 1st.  Using examples from the Midwest, it documents the negative impact organized labor has had on the American education system, creating a one-size-fits-all assembly line model that leaves students behind and treats teachers the same, regardless of their skill level and classroom effectiveness, stifling innovation and improvement.

See the trailer here.  The films will be released two per week - Tuesdays and Thursdays - at KidsArentCars.com, beginning February 1st.  A total of 9 released are planned.

Our government education system has been spending more and more each year, yet the results have been the same.  While unions demand higher spending - which of course ends up in the pockets of their members - student test scores remain static.

"Kids Aren't Cars" tells the story through the words of education veterans who have been in the trenches and have watched our schools deteriorate.

  

An executive director of a literacy clinic in Detroit - where high school graduates go to learn how to read - compares the actions of the pro-union school board to the Ku Klux Klan.  "If they were sitting up there in Klan robes," she said, "we would be marching and screaming." [Eight of the 9 school board members are black.]

It tells the story of two Indiana teachers recognized statewide for their impact on students, only to be fired literally the next day because they lacked seniority of their co-workers.

It reveals details about a union-owned insurance company that forces its expensive health coverage on public schools in Michigan, stealing millions that could be spent on students. A former executive director of the company admits that it's a scam to raise millions for the teachers unions at the expense of taxpayers and students.

Numerous leaders sound the alarm throughout the series of films, but do elected leaders have the courage to stand up to the all-powerful teachers' unions?  "Kids Aren't Cars" illustrates the dire need for our leaders to take action and reform our public schools before it's too late. The United States continues to slip globally, with student achievement lagging behind nations like Iceland and Hungary.

"Our public school system, under union domination for the past four decades, is now designed to benefit adults, at the expense of children," said Kyle Olson, founder of Education Action Group and director of the film series. "The focus has been on spending - which invariably ends up in pay, health benefits and retirement for the employees, but everyone has forgotten about the kids.

"'Kids Aren't Cars'" is an unflinching look at the state of public education in America and what can be done about it,” Olson said.