Why should smokers pay for fatties?

Americans get really weird when we talk about obesity. They’re terrified of hurting the feelings of fat people and treat their condition as a mystery, a phenomenon that modern science may someday unravel. If you can’t drink four litres of cola a day and stay skinny, it must mean you have a slow metabolism or something – anything rather than admit that junk food creates porkers. Take California. Research shows that obesity costs the state almost $7.7bn a year. With this in mind, the state legislature last week proposed a new tax on… tobacco.

Just 13% of adults smoke in California, yet lawmakers want to penalise this harassed minority to help pay for the ballooning costs of obesity. But why not tax fast food instead? American shops are awash with sugary and fried snacks that contain almost no nutritional value. It’s not food, it’s calorific entertainment – so charging extra for it is reasonable. It wouldn’t bankrupt junk-food makers, and junk-food eaters might not even notice. But it finally would force junk food to contribute to healthcare instead of just weighing on the system.

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Originally posted 2008-11-18 00:02:05.

8 tips to charm your way to the top

Do you want to use charm and charisma to advance your career?

Although difficult or even impossible to define accurately (due to an abundance of wildly diverse criteria in regard to the trait), charm is often used to describe an elusive, even undefinable personality trait that often includes the seemingly ’supernatural’ or uncanny ability to lead, persuade, inspire, and/or influence people. It refers especially to a quality in certain people who easily draw the attention and admiration (or even hatred if the application of such charisma is perceived to be negative) of others due to a ‘magnetic’ quality of personality and/or appearance.

“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer ‘yes’ without having asked any clear question.” – Albert Camus

Here are eight easy ways to charm your way to the top:

1. Inspire people

Think Martin Luther King. Appeal to people’s emotions by showing them how it could be if only they dared to dream. Your optimism will pull people in.

2. Share your passion

If you can’t find enthusiasm, find an angle. Link the new performance-management system into how you helped your son transform his grades, or how your football team shot up the league. Showing you care brings a topic to life.

3. Surprise ‘em.

Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev banged his shoe on the table in response to a speech criticising the Soviet Union’s role in eastern Europe. Unconventional responses to familiar situations get our attention.

4. Create empathy.

Give natural synergy a nudge by consciously matching others. Try speaking at the same volume or pace, and reflect movement. Be subtle though. You’ll know it’s working when you laugh and they laugh too.

5. Add some sparkle.

Use words that express emotion [excited, nervous, thrilled), evoke sounds [crash, whoop, boom) and are descriptive [immense, shimmering, fierce).  Be a wordsmith: use language to change how people feel, not just what they think.

6. Captivate your audience.

Draw people in with positive comparisons: Just like you, Ben's always coming up with solutions.' A little flattery goes a long way.

7. Be generous.

Give answers that go beyond what's needed: 'An excellent book - practical as well as an easy read, rather than 'It was fine'. Interesting people share colours and flavours.

8. Tell stories.

In his victory speech, president-elect Barack Obama told how 'change has come to America' through the eyes of 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper. He took the audience on her journey. We felt the 'heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress' that she did. Next time you hear a good story, note it down. It could come in useful.

What do you think? Have I missed any points? Please leave your comments below:

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Originally posted 2009-01-02 22:48:40.