In Fast Company

The quarterly FEC report is taking longer than expected. In the interim I offer this for your enjoyment:

I’ve mentioned this before but Fast Company is among the periodicals I read regularly; it is the general business title in the mix. Before the stack of recent issues goes into the recycle bin, here are a few of the really good articles they’ve had in the past few months:

May 2008

“Get laziness on your side," by Dan Heath and Chip Heath. More on the Nudge theory of manipulating social behavior. Example, in Germany you have to opt in to organ donation (12% do). In Austria you have to opt out (1% do). So if you want people to donate organs or save for retirement make it the default and you have to actually check a box or fill out a form to not participate

“Why Americans are going abroad for health care,” by Greg Lindsay. Interesting concept but I have a lot of qualms. At present some people voluntarily go overseas for surgery and other treatments, where health costs are lower. It’s the thought of it becoming mandatory that scares me.

June 2008

There are a number of articles on this issue on China and Africa (or China in Africa) by Richard Behar that are a must read for anyone interested in foreign policy. In print they are all put together but online they are listed as separate. Fascinating.

July 2008

I haven’t finished with this issue yet, but there is a good article on Gettysburg.
“Gettysburg battle site revamps to attract tourists,” by Evan West