When the pandemic came to an end, many people who had been working from home assumed they would be allowed to maintain that habit at least a few days a week.

But today in the U.S., a third of companies have forced everyone back to the office full time and have banned remote and hybrid work.

Some leaders say they insist on full-time in-person work because it boosts productivity, despite clear evidence that it does not.

Others claim it’s about collaboration, creativity or culture.

Our new research reveals that the objection to any work from home is more likely to be driven by something else entirely: ego.

It’s purely an attempt by those in charge to elevate their status in the workplace. (NYT)

Well, what did you accomplish last year?

We’re half way through 2026.

So, how is this year going?

I really believe in the power of a goal oriented life!

And the attainment of small goals can lead to a lifetime of achievement.

I also believe there is a direct linkage between setting goals and self esteem.

Achieving goals leads to a CAN DO attitude!

Try it. You’ll like it.

If not today, when?

It’s like a scene from a Hollywood movie:

A major earthquake along the San Andreas fault ripples through Los Angeles, decimating infrastructure, sparking fires and triggering landslides.

For decades, scientists have been investigating when and how this disaster could unfold.

Now, researchers report that such a quake could be more widespread and damaging than previously thought. 

Their study found that southern portions of the San Andreas fault and parts of the adjacent San Jacinto fault line are locked and loaded to their highest stress levels in 1,000 years.

This increases the probability of a significant earthquake.

If a strong earthquake hits either fault zone, the researchers say the seismic rumbles could cascade into its neighbor through an “earthquake gate” and spread damage from north of Los Angeles through San Bernardino, Riverside and the Coachella Valley simultaneously. (CNN)

Unlike the song by Ella Fitzgerald, livin is not easy!

Actually, millions of American families are struggling together.

And there seems to be no end in sight.

The presnt situation reflects the precarius balancing act that the majority of families must endure.

Neither the Administration nor Congress seem to be capable or willing to right the ship

If not today, when?

I hear a lot of talk about red and blue states.

But not much about UNITED STATES!

I don’t know who started the red and blue states.

But it was and is a BIG MISTAKE!

The term UNITED STATES brings us together.

Red and blue states sets us apart.

We have too much divisiveness as a society.

AND too much divisiveness as a country!

The 4th of July is around the corner.

Time for PATRIOTISM AGAIN!

Many Americans believe that if only they were wealthier, more accomplished or more beautiful they would feel more loved, happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky and relationship researcher Harry Reis explain.

The science tells a different story.

Instead of trying to impress, seek to be known, the authors urge in their recent book, “How To Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most.”

Lyubomirsky and Reis offer evidence-based strategies for forging meaningful, loving ties — quality connections that studies show have an impact on both sickness and health.

• Listen to learn.
• Show genuine curiosity through asking better questions
• Share important parts of yourself,.
• Share warmth and kindness. 
• Show nonjudgmental compassion.

You know the old chestnut that the first pancake you fry is for the dog?

That’s because if you HAVEN’T LET THE BATTER REST, those first few pancakes will turn out too thin, with the batter runnning all over the pan.

Letting the batter rest fixes this, giving the flour time to hydrate and the batter a chance to thicken. It also lets the leaveners (baking soda and baking powder) fully dissolve and disperse, so you get an even rise.

The sweet spot is 10 to 30 minutes on the counter, but the batter will keep in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

A longer rest actually deepens the flavor:

The buttermilk has more time to work on the flour, yielding something slightly more complex. (Milissa Clark)

This morning, I visited a friend who is serving time in prison.

I sat in my car waitng for visiting hours to begin.

At the edge of the parking lot, there is a very long steel fence with concertina wire along the top.

I was trying to imagine what it must be like to awaken each morning to the sight of that wire.

So cold! So harsh! So forbidding!

Welcome to another day in cellblock H74458!

Reuters- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media sites for under-16s.

And impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms, in some of the world’s most far-reaching online restrictions to date.

The sweeping changes will reflect Britain’s values, helping to protect children online while pushing back against the power of big technology companies, Starmer told a press conference.

“It is clear to me a full ban is the right choice,” he said.

“This will change the conversations that parents have and the expectations of children over time.

It will make a huge difference, it will make our children safer, it will make our children happier, it will give them more time, more security, more freedom to grow up, more opportunity.”

When today’s teenagers and young adults are struggling emotionally, some are turning not only to friends, family members and therapists but also to artificial intelligence.

Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults have used AI chatbots for advice or help when they felt upset, nervous or anxious, according to a new study published June 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Researchers also found that many of these young people use chatbots repeatedly and consider the advice helpful.

This suggests that AI is already becoming part of the mental health information ecosystem for millions of young people.

Those insights are raising important questions about how these tools should be used and where their limitations lie. (CNN)