Craig Ruvere

31Jul 2024 by CJ

People Without Children Are Not Without Concerns

Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance (or, as some have affectionately called him, Just Dumb Vance) may only be 39 years old, but his beliefs and ideals toward people without children are as antiquated as the now-defunct Ford Model T, which was produced from October 1908 to May 1927. Vance's first and most infamous claim says, "We're effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too. And it's just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC – the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children." As…

28Jul 2024 by CJ

Say the Right Thing to Inspire the Next Generation

Information & Education

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Benjamin Franklin. In society today, it's not difficult to uncover politicians from across America—influential individuals whom the old and the young look up to and even model themselves after—who forget how to say the right thing. Turn on your television or log in to your preferred online news source on any given day, and you'll witness firsthand exactly what I'm talking about. American politicians seem to have lost their ability to filter information appropriately, a skill many hardworking Americans must conform to (and rightfully so) to maintain their community standings and employment status. But politicians of late seem to be above any…

01Jul 2024 by CJ

What’s wrong with lying in dating apps, resumes, and politics? A lot!

Information & Education, Life & Living

"My father always told me that what's wrong with lying is that it's an admission of weakness. If you're the strongest, you can afford to tell the truth." K.J. Parker, British novelist A few days ago, I stumbled upon some information that I've struggled to purge from my mind. This information suggests that society cannot fully grasp what's wrong with lying, especially when creating a fictitious version of oneself to appear more desirable in a given situation or circumstance. In a 2023 survey by Bright Futures, 90% of online dating app users admitted to lying on their profiles. The most common lies were age, height, career and financial status, location, and appearance. In a 2022 survey by LinkedIn, 72% of respondents admitted to lying on their resumes. The most common…

10Jun 2024 by CJ

Sign of A Good Leader? Leading with Compassion

Generosity & Kindness

“The sign of a good leader is easy to recognize, though it is hardly ever seen. For the greatest leaders are those who share as equals in the trials and struggles, the demands and expectations, the hills and trenches, the laws and punishments placed upon the backs of those governed. A great leader is motivated not by power but by compassion.” Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year If you were to ask what the sign of a good leader is in mixed company, respondents would inevitably draw upon their employment experiences and the many managers and supervisors they've interacted with throughout their careers. This would be a perfectly natural response, as we often equate leadership with those possessing managerial or…

01Jun 2024 by CJ

Acceptance Is a Lifelong Struggle That Never Gets Easier

Life & Living, Love & Relationships

"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation, that the circumstance goes away, or that we necessarily feel better about it. The impact and emotions it evokes is present irrespective of whether we accept it or not. The question is whether we're layering on the pain and further intensifying and exacerbating what already exists." - Michelle P. Maidenberg (psychologist and professor) The post you are about to read has been challenging for me to write, taking considerably longer to complete than any in recent memory. While the subject matter for this post was clear from the onset, as were my intentions for writing it, I found myself staring at a blank page for hours, even days, jotting down a cluster of ideas, ultimately leading to nowhere. Anyone who writes understands there are occasions when the artistic energy…