When I first saw Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, I thought, "Now this guy is one big kid!" His boyish passion and wide-eyed enthusiasm were irresistible. Whether he was sticking his head in a crocodile's mouth or picking up an irritated snake by the tail, I couldn't stop watching. Needless to say, Kim and I were saddened to hear about his death yesterday. …
Does the Pope Have Adultitis?
I can't imagine a guy with the potential for more day-to-day stress, pressure, and overall responsibility than the pope. (With the possible exception of the President of the United States and the committee who decides what colors will be fashionable this season.) Yet somehow, Pope Benedict XVI (that's the sixteenth for all you non Super Bowl fans) manages to stay relatively Adultitis-free. Just last week, the pope gave a speech advising everybody to, um, chill out. Too much work and busyness is no good for the soul, he said. And it can make you stupid, too. I am paraphrasing a bit, but …
Dictators Get Stressed Too
Fidel Castro says his problems were brought on by stress. I for one have never served in the role of dictator for any small island nations, but I can see how that job -- not to mention maintaining one's position on the list of world's top ten biggest jerks -- might be a bit taxing. I want to help, I really do. I thought about sending him a copy of Escape Adulthood, but ultimately decided it probably wouldn't do much good. Not that the book doesn't have some good things going for it. On the contrary, allow me to shamelessly and oh-so-proudly share a recent review I got the other day from a …