The other day, I had someone email me and basically say: “I’m very interested in the Medifast diet. I’m very intrigued by the dramatic results my friend has had, but I want to know if I can just substitute the Atkins shakes in the grocery store for the Medifast ones.” I have to say that probably the majority of questions that I get about this diet have to do with the shakes.  There seems to be a perception that this plan is defined by them.  I understand this somewhat.  These items are tasty, filling, and pretty convenient, so there is a lot to like about them.  But, there are only one of many food choices.  However, I’ll answer the question about substituting the Atkins shakes in the following article.

Why Medifast Shakes Are So Popular And Are Beyond Comparison:  I believe that these shakes get so much attention because they are known to be pretty tasty while still being very low in calories and carbohydrates, and very high in protein and fiber.  There are not a lot of diet foods which are able to retain a decent taste and texture while being so sound nutritionally.  This combination (along with the other foods) puts you body in what I called the promised land which is technically defined as ketosis.  In this metabolic state, your body begins to turn on and burn it’s fat stores because you aren’t giving it the excess carbohydrates that commonly help with this job.

If you pick up and examine say a slim fast shake, you’ll see that there is really no comparison.  Most “diet shakes” are really full or sugar, calories, and carbs and therefore aren’t nearly as effective in getting you into ketosis.

Medifast Shakes Versus Atkins Shakes. Which Is Better?:  OK, let’s take a look at them side by side. I’ll be looking at the chocolate royale for Atkins and the dutch chocolate 55 for Medifast.  And know that I’m evaluating them based on their ability to get you into fat burning mode. (Although I do have to say that the Atkins shake has that chalky after taste that is nasty and typical of so many diet foods. I don’t find this on the 55 version. ) Any way, these two shakes are pretty similar in terms of protein, carbs, sugars and fiber.  In all of these categories, either would get you in ketosis (so long as you ate either diet’s meals for the remainder of the day.)  However, the chocolate royale has a whopping 170 calories per serving.  This is almost double the dutch chocolate’s 90 calories.

I find this to be a deal breaker. That’s almost like consuming two meals (at least in terms of calories) instead of one.  The whole point to this is to keep your calories low so that you can get in fat burning mode.  Why go through all the work and trouble and then consume a product that has twice as many calories?

What Are You Really Saving With The Atkins Shake?: I asked the person who sent the email why she wanted to substitute the other shake? She said she liked that she could pick them up at the grocery store and she perceived them to be a bit cheaper.  This actually isn’t really true.  These shakes average out to be well over $2 each. This is about what you would pay for Medifast too, sometimes less. 

And, I can’t stress this enough.  You are eating a variety of foods on this diet, and many of them aren’t liquid.  You will also eat eggs, chili, oatmeal, bars, etc.  And, most people place monthly orders and have the food shipped right to their door.  You don’t need to buy grocery store products on top of that. If you do, you’re spending more money than you need to for something that has many more calories than what you would get other wise.

If you use coupons or discounts, you can basically get 5 Medifast meals each day for about $8 each day (less then $2 each.)  But, if you add on a grocery store shake or two onto this, you’re bumping this up to $10 -$12 per day for food you don’t need that is giving you more calories.  It’s just unnecessary when they provide you with everything you need.

She left me chaotic. I was hurt. My past life was not pleasant. It was the landlord who helped my mother bring me up after he killed my father. He was into divination and allured my mother into it promising that she would be the heir of his property. He handled poisonous snakes. He locked his eyes with the snakes and demonstrated his powers to control them. There were a lot of snakes all around.

As I grew I saw snakes guarding the 90 years old mansion. There was a large courtyard with overgrown trees. The flower bushes were once a rose garden. Not maintained though but the house did give a glimpse of its glorious past. Deep blue shutters and awnings decorated the doors and windows which were left open as no one entered the premises for the fear of snakes. The snakes never harmed me. I grew up with them.

A pretty girl with her parents lived next door but had never visited my home. I was seeing her for more than 6 months and slowly she started to love me. I felt an electrical connection with her. One day she visited my home and in the flickering light of the crescent moon we were making love. The light summer breeze added to our ecstasy, the stars were showcasing our love when suddenly she got a glimpse of something shaking near the sandalwood tree.

She strained her eyes and yelled in fear. At first I didn’t know what was she looking at but I soon realized that the snakes on the sandalwood tree scared her. I started laughing but she was too terrified. In the morning she wanted to have a stroll outside. I accompanied her. Suddenly we heard a typical sound. On turning back I saw a nightingale holding a plastic in her beak and shaking her neck to warn us of something. Suddenly a peculiar sound filled the air.

The birds started coming nearer. I could hear a strange sound from the tree slowly descend. It was a snake with a bird in its mouth coming down the mango tree. The snake took few minutes to kill the bird and swallowed it. The red whiskered nightingale lost her chick.

My sweetheart was a bird lover and was very upset. She was in tears and I knew it was all over. I emailed her, she did not answer. If I could only heed the Nightingale’s warning it could have ended well. Lesson learnt was that we ought to protect birds and wild life.

My restless and chaotic sight searches for her as though to go to her. I lost all peace so decided to leave for Costa Blanca. I left my mom with her splendid nineteenth century inheritance. Though my mom is no more I have no intentions to get back to the mansion that stands deserted and lost amidst houses newly built on the land that was once a rose garden.

California Earthquakes

California earthquakes are developed by movement of huge blocks of the earth’s crust; the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is moving northwest, scraping horizontally past the North American Plate at a rate of about 2 inches per year. About two-thirds of this movement occurs on the San Andreas fault and some other parallel faults. Over time, these faults produce about half of the significant earthquakes of the region, as well as many minor earthquakes.

Earthquake Prediction in California

Earthquakes occur suddenly without warning, during any season, and at any time of day or night. Sponsored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Geological Survey (CGS), and Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC); the 2007 Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities, released the Uniform California Earthquake Forecast (UCERF). It states that California has 99.7% probability of having a moment magnitude Mw = 6.7 earthquake (same as Northridge event) during the next 30 years. The southern segment of San Andreas fault has the highest probability of generating such an earthquake scenario in southern California with a 67% chance of striking the greater Los Angeles area, while Hayward fault is the most likely earthquake source in northern California with a 63% chance of striking the San Francisco bay area. Larger earthquakes are less likely during the same time frame; 94% probability of Mw = 7.0 event, 46% probability of Mw = 7.5 event, and 4.5% probability of Mw = 8.0 event. For all magnitudes, the earthquake is more likely to occur in southern California than in northern California.

Hazards Associated with California Earthquakes

1. Liquefaction susceptibility where partially saturated soil deposits may completely lose cohesion during prolonged shaking, behaves like a liquid, and loses their ability to support structures. The highest hazard is in low-lying areas where there are loose, sandy soils or poorly compacted artificial fill. A liquefied sand layer can shoot to the surface through cracks, forming a sand-blow, and depositing sand on the ground. This results in permanent ground deformations such as lateral spreading and settlement, both of which increase the likelihood of damage to buildings and infrastructure. Areas prone to liquefaction include, but not limited to, the southern Coachella valley and the upper Santa Ana river basin in southern California; San Francisco bay area, northwestern Alameda county, and northern Santa Clara valley in northern California as predicted by the USGS.
2. Landslide susceptibility where steep sloping areas underlain by loose or soft rock are most susceptible to earthquake-induced landslides, damaging buildings and other structures. Areas prone to landslides include, but not limited to, eastern San Gabriel mountains.
3. Surface fault rupture where shallow faults can breakthrough the ground surface as they displace against each other during an earthquake causing severe damage to building and infrastructures.
4. Fires where earthquakes in urban areas are often followed by destructive fires because of gas lines break and electrical shorts that may quickly spread due to clogged roads and collapsed bridges that prevent firefighter access, or damaged water tanks that limit water for firefighting. Without fires, the casualty and economic losses would be halved.
5. Tsunamis where major earthquakes occurring in the Pacific Ocean may displace the ocean floor, generating tsunami that could affect the West Coast.

Expected Economic Losses focusing on Northern California

There is a 62% probability that at least one earthquake of Mw = 6.7 or greater will occur in the San Francisco bay area before 2032. Hayward fault has the highest probability of 27% of generating such earthquake event, while the northern segment of San Andreas fault has a probability of 21%, the Calaveras fault of 11%, and the San Gregorio fault of 10%. It is well-known that soft soils in San Francisco bay area would amplify and prolong the shaking even at great distances from the ruptured fault. Consequently, a repeat of the 1868 Hayward earthquake is expected to cause significant loss of life and extensive damage to homes, businesses, transportation systems and utilities. Several hundred thousand people are likely to be homeless after the earthquake. Economic losses exceeding $120 billion is expected. These losses include damage to buildings and contents, business interruption, and living expenses, with more than 90% of both residential and commercial losses being uninsured.

Expected Economic Losses Focusing on Southern California

A 2008 comprehensive study, known as the ShakeOut scenario earthquake, by the USGS and CGS of a hypothetical Mw = 7.8 earthquake rupturing the southernmost 200 miles of San Andreas fault has been performed. The fault rupture will produce more than 100 seconds of shaking throughout southern California. The event initiates from the epicenter at the Salton Sea producing very strong shaking along the fault as it ruptures until it ends near Lake Hughes. Soil conditions at sites along the fault will generally tend to amplify earthquake shaking. Deep soils in Los Angeles sedimentary basin would generate persistent shaking as the seismic waves are trapped and reverberate. The intensity of shaking will also be strong in San Bernardino valley, in areas prone to landslides mainly in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, and in areas susceptible to significant liquefaction mainly in the southern Coachella valley where the two conditions of liquefaction applies; strong shaking and a high ground-water table. However, localized liquefaction is likely to occur in the upper Santa Ana and Santa Clara river basins. In areas of strong shaking and liquefaction, the ground will shift violently back and forth; collapsing thousands of older buildings, shoving houses off foundations, and sending unsecured furniture and objects flying. Such an earthquake event will cause some 1,800 deaths and 53,000 injuries. Fires are very likely to occur. The estimated economic losses total $213 billion due to earthquake shaking and its consequences specifically fires.

Get Ready to ShakeOut

You should participate in the annual Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. You can register at the ShakeOut web site now for the 2010 ShakeOut Drill on October 21 at 10:21 a.m.! It is a great opportunity to learn how to protect yourself and your family during earthquakes, and to get prepared. More than 6.9 million Californians participated in the second annual earthquake drill in 2009. They were reminded to maintain their earthquake preparedness plan by preparing a personal survival kit for each family member and a household emergency kit, and to stockpile emergency food and water for 1-2 weeks to be prepared for the next inevitable earthquake. The magnitude 7.0 Haiti earthquake demonstrates the necessity of earthquake preparedness for anyone living in an active seismic region.

Interesting Fact on Earthquake Insurance in California

Homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for earthquake damage to your home. It is surprising to know that 33% of homes were covered by earthquake insurance in 1996 when the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake was still fresh in people’s minds, but in 2006 just 12% of homes maintained coverage, according to California Department of Insurance. Californians living in older homes should re-reconsider buying earthquake insurance as an effective way to manage potential costs of future inevitable earthquakes, especially after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Concluding Remarks

The 2010 Haiti earthquake is a wake up call for Californians to develop, update, or maintain their own earthquake preparedness plans. If you live within 15 miles of an active seismic fault and/or liquefiable area, you should re-consider retrofitting your home and mitigating its contents to protect yourself and your family. The benefits of seismic retrofitting and mitigation go well beyond being simply reducing financial losses. It will make your home safer and help in returning your family much more quickly back to their normal life style. In addition, re-considering earthquake insurance would help in managing potential costs of future earthquakes. Finally, develop an earthquake preparedness plan that includes maintaining emergency food and water for 1-2 weeks along with personal survival kits and a household emergency kit.

Like an earthquake, coronavirus has shaken, and is shaking, millions.

Earthquakes are sudden, dangerous and scary. They shake what we assumed was safe, strong and stable.

It is important to remember and consider the precious things coronavirus cannot touch – the unchanging, unshakeable truths that have not changed, because they cannot and will never change.

Things that were true before the coronavirus will remain true long after.

They are massive pillars sunk deep down into the eternal bedrock. We can stand on them, when much else we relied on has been shaken.

Our gracious God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is unchanging.

God declares He is the Alpha and the Omega – who is, and who was, and who is to come – the Almighty.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever – the Holy Spirit is described as ‘the eternal Spirit’.

God’s Word is as sure and firm now, as it has ever been. His Word is living, abiding, and imperishable.

God’s unchanging covenant love gives solid foundational ground for our faith.

Jesus Christ was interceding to the Father on our behalf long before coronavirus, and the current pandemic has not stopped him. He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.

The coming of Judgement Day is a sobering thought. Coronavirus has postponed or cancelled many meetings, but each of us will keep this appointment. It cannot be avoided.

Peter reminds us that in Christ we have an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

Unchanging truths can produce unshakeable disciples.

Near the end of his life Paul wrote – “I have fought the good fight – I have finished the race – I have kept the faith”.

To fight the good fight, and finish the race – we need to keep the faith.

Whatever situation you are in today make sure your commitment to Jesus Christ is solid and firm and sure.

Remember that Jesus Christ, risen and alive, will never ever let you down, fail you or disappoint you.

We need to know that with certainty in these awkward challenging time.

“Almighty gracious heavenly Father – no matter what is going on all around me – as I read this article and pray – hear my prayer and answer me and strengthen me so that I may keep the faith and serve loyally – and never give up or give in. Hear me Father as I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen”

It is a simple matter for you to get enough protein in your diet on a daily basis from regular foods. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention women ages 19 to 70 should have 46 grams of protein per day while a man should consume 56 grams per day. With the average protein powder carrying about 20 grams of protein per scoop you are getting almost half of your nutritional needs in one sitting.

A powdered breakfast goes quickly from your stomach and in to your blood system. If you tend to get too much protein in your diet your body just eliminates any of the excess. It is much better to spread out your intake of all your nutritional requirements over the course of the day. An adult male who needs just 56 grams of protein per day can get all he needs from the following:

• 1 cup of milk has 8 grams of protein

• A 3-ounce piece of meat has about 21 grams of protein

• 1 cup of dry beans has about 16 grams of protein

• An 8-ounce container of yogurt has about 11 grams of protein.

Breakfast as well as all of our other meals should be balanced consisting of a protein, fibrous carb and a starchy carb. The protein is necessary to slow the break down of the starch and the fibrous carb will keep the metabolism burning steadily and for a longer period of time. This is where our breakfast shake recipe becomes a better alternative. This breakfast blend was taught to me by Dr. Cliff Sheats, PhD, CCN Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist and author of the “Lean Bodies for Life” in Dallas, TX.

For a quick breakfast shake blend 1 cups oats (raw) which both our fibrous and starchy carb requirement because it is a whole grain that has not been broken down. The second ingredient should be one of the following Proteins: 8oz.yogurt, 10 oz. skim milk. Next add water and ice cubes and blend for at least 30 seconds. For flavor you can add your choice of: 1/2 cup berries or sugar free Crystal-Light, Tang, Kool-Aid, Nestles Quick or any other fruit or sugar free syrup.

As you can see for yourself there are many breakfast shake combinations that will keep you from getting bored with your breakfast. I believe that is half of the battle when trying to lose weight. Always remember that real food is all you really need to ever consume. Food is the medicine that you feed your body to lose weight and keep yourself healthy and strong.

So, you plan to have a tattoo. For you, it’s a great way to express yourself, and it’s a tool to convey how you feel. But then, you’re somehow hesitant to have even just a single piece of body art on your skin due to some false impressions that you might give the people around you. Well, it’s understandable. Even your loved ones might have some negative reactions. They might actually be the first ones to object. But, do you really want to “get painted”? If so, then prepare to be judged. Below are some false impressions or sort of judgments that you might probably receive once you get tattooed:

• You’re a weirdo.

Not all people would love to have pieces of art drawn on their bodies; hence the impression. This is especially true if you choose designs and colors that many don’t appreciate. If people see some “unusual things” on your body, they might quickly judge you as someone who has an equally unusual personality.

• You opt for an unconventional lifestyle.

Because people around you think you’re a weirdo and something “abnormal” is going on in your head, they might also think that you generally prefer unconventional stuff. They might think that you always go for unusual choices in life.

• You are an attention-seeker.

There’s this one person who will always have this misconception whenever he or she sees someone who acts differently or makes an unusual choice in life. He or she might think that you’re carrying those “drawings” on your body merely because you want to turn heads.

• You are an impulsive person.

Because many people believe it’s weird to have tattoos and that it will surely have negative consequences, there will be those people around you who might conclude that you made that decision without thinking. For this, it is possible for them to see you as someone who is generally impulsive; someone who doesn’t think carefully before making any move.

• You will certainly regret your decision.

As mentioned in the previous item, some people think that getting tattooed is a result of an impulse decision. And if you make decisions without thinking, you’ll probably regret it in the end. Additionally, getting tattooed is painful and you can’t just remove it if you want. So, what if you lose your appreciation for that particular piece of art on your body? There comes the thought that all tattooed people come to a point of regret.

These are just some of the misconceptions or judgments that you might hear once you get tattooed. There’s a lot more! So, yes, you need to prepare for possible judgments and just shake off any negative comments. Can you do that? If yes, then go ahead and have your first tattoo! As they say, to each his own. If you want to have a piece of body art on your skin, it should be just fine. It’s your right to do whatever you want as long as nobody suffers because of your act. Art is beautiful, and it becomes even more beautiful if it is done with no harm intended.

Given their size, Springer Spaniel ears are prone to problems, so it is essential that you take good care of them which, in turn, will help to ensure that you keep your Springer Spaniel healthy and happy.

Make sure you check her ears every few days. Lift her ears up and have a look inside. If they look mucky and brown and/or have a musty smell to them, then it’s time to be cleaning them out.

In my opinion, the ideal time to clean your Spaniel’s ears is just before you go out for a walk. This is because when you clean your dog’s ears, it will be followed by a bout of head shaking. Cleaning your dog’s ears before you are going for a walk will ensure that all of the head shaking will be done out side of your home!!

You can obtain cleaning fluid/oils to clean your Spaniel’s ears from your Vet. A top tip is to ensure that you have a stock of this at home, so make sure that when you visit the vet, you have stocked up on the ear cleaning solutions they provide. Alternatively I have also used Olive Oil, as that can help to keep your spaniel’s ears clean.

How to Clean Springer Spaniel Ears

Just before your walk, ensure that the family is ready and then go outside with your spaniel. Once you are outside of the house, administer the cleaning treatment in one ear. Then hold the base of the ear canal between your thumb and forefinger and massage the fluid in.

Holding the ear next to her head, turn her head over in order to administer the cleaning fluid to the other ear and repeat the process.

Then get a ball of cotton wool and clean out the gunk that you will have dislodged with this process. Don’t be scared to get right into the ear to clean it out, their ears are pretty robust and actually your Spaniel will quite like it!!

Your Springer Spaniel will now embark on an ear shaking spree, spraying what’s left of the treatment everywhere. Don’t worry your Spaniel is fine, just wondering what the hell that was in her ears. This is the reason though, that I suggest you do the treatment outside. On looking inside the ear now, you should a reduced amount of muck.

Ear cleaning complete, you can now take her out on a long walk where she will shake lots more. When you get back home give her a bath.

To aid in keeping your Spaniel ears clean, you should also ensure that your Springer Spaniel’s ear hair is clipped short at the entrance to the ear canal.

In this article, I’ll show you how to make a nutritious protein breakfast shake. Bear in mind that making anything during the morning can be stressful because everyone is rushing for time. So the recipes in this article are meant to help you create protein shakes using quick and convenient methods.

Recipe 1: Whey protein breakfast shake.

This is the simplest form of a protein shake. Simply add 2 to 3 scoops of whey protein powder to milk or soy milk and you are done. Chill the milk if you prefer to consume a cold shake. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shakes can be produced in just a couple of minutes.

Recipe 2: Fruit protein shake.

A protein shake may be high in protein, but low in other types of nutrition such as fiber and vitamins. To compensate for the lack of these nutrients, you can consider mixing fruits in your drink so you don’t have to spend time eating them separately. Mix a banana or an apple with your milk and protein powder. A banana will give your shake a frothy texture. Use a frozen banana for maximum taste. You may also wish to add cereal or nuts to your drink.

Recipe 3: Natural protein drink.

If you don’t want to spend money on protein powder, which can be costly, then you can make natural protein shakes. Instead of using milk, use soy milk. Mix 3 eggs, nuts, and 1 slice of bean curd together. Throw them in the blender together with a banana and you have a delicious and completely natural protein drink!

All of us have at some stage of our photography had a problem with camera shake and the resulting blurry image. Looking at the image on the camera’s LCD screen we see a nice image. But once we get home and view it on the computer or have it printed out at a photo lab the disappointment sets in. How do we resolve this problem? Let’s take look at a few easy steps to eliminate camera shake.

1. Tuck your elbows in

By tucking your elbows into your body tightly you help steady your camera and make it one with your body. This prevents the camera moving when your arms move even if it is very slightly. You want a firm platform for your camera. This is especially so when shooting with a wide aperture or a slow shutter speed. Before you press the shutter take a deep breath then exhale completely. You want to prevent even the slightest movement when breathing.

2. Place your feet apart

By placing your feet slightly apart and standing firmly but comfortably you form a solid foundation. This will help you keep your balance and anchor you firmly to the ground. Balance is so important when shooting an image while standing straight up. Never place your weight on just one foot as you will begin to sway slightly. This is often just enough to add a little movement which removes the sharpness from an image.

3. Use a tripod or monopod

When a situation allows it, use a tripod. There is nothing like a sturdy tripod to eliminate camera shake completely. When shooting in low light you need to reduce your shutter speed to allow in more light. This will emphasise camera shake dramatically because even the best photographer cannot completely eliminate it. If a tripod is not possible a monopod can be extremely useful. Not as sturdy as a tripod, it will give you a firm base for your photo shoot.

4. A bean bag

A small bean bag is an essential item in any photographer’s photo bag. This allows you to rest your camera on a firm surface forming a cushion for your camera. Any surface that will securely support your camera is a temporary tripod. But, none of us want our cameras scratched or damaged by a rough or dirty so this is where the bean bag comes in handy. If you don’t have one use any cloth bag and fill it with rice or corn and then sew it up or staple it.

5. Remote shutter release

All digital slrs have an input for an electronic shutter release. They aren’t expensive and are invaluable when using a tripod or bean bag. Even with a tripod you introduce shake when pressing the shutter button. What the release does is allow you to press the shutter off camera via the cable that connects to the camera. This can also be wireless using a remote. You can also use the shutter release timer setting that allows a delay between the time you press the shutter and the time the picture is taken.

6. Mirror lockup

A digital slr camera has a mirror that sits in front of the shutter which covers the sensor. This reflects the image up through the viewfinder. When you press the shutter button the mirror flips up out of the way so that the image can be exposed on the sensor. When the shutter closes again the mirror drops back down into position. This causes micro vibrations which cause small amounts of camera shake even though the camera is mounted on a tripod or bean bag. Most slrs have a setting called mirror lock-up. Once you have composed your photo engage the mirror lock-up. You will no longer be able to see the image through the viewfinder. Now press the remote shutter release and photo is taken without any extra vibrations from the mirror.

These are just a few tips for reducing camera shake and increasing the sharpness of your images. There are many other tips which I will cover in a future article. In the meantime, try out these and you will be pleasantly surprised at the improvement in your images.

I’ve often written in the past about decision-making biases. ALL OF US rely to some degree on decision-making approaches that yield suboptimum results. Most of those are unconscious. An example is the human tendency to use past experiences, even if statistically insufficient, to make critical decisions about the future. Another – confirmation bias – compels us to depend on evidence that conforms to our preconceptions and ignores evidence that contradicts our preconceptions. There are a lot more of these.

The discipline of Behavioral Economics examines the ways in which human psychology intersects with traditional economic theory. The concepts are easy to understand and still easier to apply TO OTHERS when we see examples. However, we rarely if ever, see evidence of those decision-making biases IN OURSELVES.

To illustrate and instruct, I often ask a group of executives to take a “test” that involves reading a simple three-paragraph story, and then answering twelve questions about what they read. That test follows. Read the instructions, and then answer the questions. At the conclusion, I’ll ask you to consider the ways in which your preconceptions or biases may have affected your answers. I’ll include the correct answers, but don’t read ahead, or you’ll be wasting your time.

JUST THE FACTS EXERCISE

Read the following story, and then respond to the statements that follow with True, False, or Unknown.

The supervisor yelled at the new recruit.

The young man waited until the supervisor was gone and poured sand into the machine, smiling and shaking his head.

Later that month, the boss discovered the problem and fired him.

TRUE, FALSE, OR UNKNOWN

I. After being yelled at, the young man poured something into the machine.

II. Two men are involved in this story.

III. If the supervisor had not yelled at the young man, he might not have ruined the machine.

IV. It took the supervisor one month to realize that the new recruit had ruined the machine.

V. Sand was put into the machine.

VI. One man yelled at another; the new recruit poured sand in a machine; someone was fired.

VII. The supervisor fired the new recruit.

VIII. The new recruit was a man.

IX. The new recruit got revenge on the supervisor, but the supervisor retaliated in the end.

X. No one was fired.

XI. The new recruit waited until the boss was gone before pouring sand in the machine.

XII. When the supervisor found that sand had been poured in the machine, he fired the young man.

It seems like a pretty easy exercise, but it’s not. Its simplicity illustrates the point that even in routine situations, we frequently over-rely on our inner voice of experience, bias, or speculation when making decisions.

The correct answers: Number 5 is true; number 10 is false. All the rest are unknown. Go back and tabulate your score. If you got them all correct, you are in a VERY small minority. A few questions for those of you who DIDN’T get them all correct:

• What assumptions did you make where no facts were given?

• What preconceptions or biases might be the source of those assumptions?

• When confronted with more difficult decisions, how might your decision-making be clouded, and what might be the consequences of that?

• What formal decision-making structures and methods do you have in place to countervail legitimate or incomplete intuition, as well as biases and preconceptions? How well are those structures and methods serving you?

I help executives create formal structures for legitimate decision-making. Those honor experience and intuition, but recognize that ALL of us rely too heavily on arriving at the answers we WANT rather than those that we NEED.