The O'Leary Letter

Fireworks are legal today

on Twitter, apparently View onlineSocial media thrives on rankings and lists. A fellow I never “followed” but showed up a lot on my Twitter feed thanks to mutual “friends” and followers decided to post something about best and worst preside ...

You better move on

just the title of Arthur Alexander's great hit song View onlineArthur Alexander is now a largely forgotten artist. He died in 1993 at age 53. In what may have been his prime years, Alexander had left the music industry entirely, choosing to become a ...

Paul is not dead

The goal is to be an 'embarrassment to the family'

Not an epistle about RFK, Jr. View onlineI failed to mention last week that one of my all-time heroes completed yet another trip around the sun. At one point, he had his entire life going for him: A track field standout and star player in college f ...

The value of independent thinking?

The jury is out View onlineWe live in a culture that pretends to champion individuals thinking for themselves. This is a supposed cultural value. We all were told to think for ourselves in school. However, when one breaks free from the hive-mind an ...

On consistency and 'courtesans'

Redefining focus View onlineI've said over and over that consistency is better than proficiency. Recently, I got some pushback on that. Not from our readers or listeners, per se, but from some things I've been reading. The argument—and it's a goo ...

Slaying the king (of late-20th Century pop-psychology)

Instead, tell joke. Get check. View onlineJay Leno recently appeared on Fly on the Wall podcast with David Spade and Dana Carvey.  I'm a huge believer in no self-esteem.  I can speak for most everyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s: self-esteem wa ...

65 years ago, a toilet was more controversial than children playing with a live alligator

and other oddities View onlineSome folks are happy that I have directed my breadth of somewhat useful knowledge and have chosen to pass it on to others. So… We have another Daily 3 of “fun facts” (plus bonuses) for you today. (1)The first to ...

Crazy facts about animals

Trivia day View onlineFeedback is the name of the game here. People tell me they like The Daily 3, where I have three points on which deserve some deeper attention. I’m changing it up a little bit today, however. What follows is The Daily 3 of a ...

I don't expect you to read this

but thanks for doing so View onlineRecently, I had a chat with one of our good folks—a fellow who is up to speed on all our emails and podcasts. He comments (and questions) regularly around here. Nonetheless, still a friend. “So, are we going t ...