Thanks to rational minds, we have this thing called Western Science. One of the components that make it work is this wonderful thing called theoretical knowledge. The purpose of a theory is to serve as a guideline for successful action, as opposed to acting on superstition.
If we examine the way that we let our lives be guided by nonexistent beings, mysterious powers of intuition, and what we feel like believing, we might begin to see that our feelings are really based on the fumblings of mystical fear.
Millions of people are transported over the Pacific Ocean in airliners. Not a singled flight was based on vague feelings or mysticism. If you do not apply rational knowledge with one hundred percent consistency, it will be difficult for you to attain lasting success in life. That's because we have this thing called reality and evidence.
Reminiscent of the average book store or magazine rack, the World Wide Web is overflowing with magnificent content, and the trashiest subject matter imaginable. We can find relevant information, or childish and inflammatory debates. Even so, the net effect of the Web is not unlike a global brain, serving to enhance human knowledge and creativity.
Online dating services are among the most lucrative websites (besides social sites and pornography). These sites must, because of the fierce competition for subscribers, come up with new ways in which to match people. For instance, some Japanese and Korean websites focus on blood types as a way to gauge compatibility. This is the equivalent of the Western fascination with astrological birth signs in matching people (also trendy in Japan). However, neither blood types nor birth signs are related to successful marriages or divorce rates*. This is the conclusion of researchers examining thousands of people.
Telecommuting may be an important wave of the future, but for now, most companies refuse to offer it. However, if more of us worked at home, we could be more productive, and do much to cut down on traffic, traffic accidents and our carbon footprint.
So much of what we do today is travel to work, sit in a cubicle, and work on a computer, which could just as easily be done at home. In many work environments, we do many things by email, and then spend half an hour, an hour, or more commuting back to home. Considering what it takes to commute, manage the kids, prepare meals, etc., our employers could make life much easier.
One study looked at employees who telecommuted*, and found that they were free to rearrange their work hours when needed; many had arrangements where two or more people shared the duties of one full-time employee. People with flexible job schedules had healthier lifestyles, were more likely to exercise, eat right, and get adequate sleep.
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* Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, December 2007
