For many reading this newsletter, the extent of your artistic expression might be juggling three conflicting meetings while keeping all parties happy, or creating a particularly compelling and colorful chart for a management or board meeting. In the past I have railed against the societal pressure to specialize, advocating being at least conversational in nearly any discipline, rather than being the most knowledgeable person on earth about a single micron of the human experience. Part of this breadth of knowledge is finding some kind of artistic outlet.
 
Surely someone with a more scientific bent could extol the benefits of using the various portions of the brain that artistic pursuits invoke, but I think the benefits are far more simple. Creating is an integral part of human existence, and letting that part of our being go unused makes us less human. Whether your personal artistic outlet is snapping a couple photos of a family member and hanging them on the refrigerator, or more complex forms of expression, the method and medium are far less important than the act itself.
 
At its most noble, creating art provides new perspectives, and allows the analytical portion of our minds to draw on a greater body of experience. If nothing else, unleashing your inner artist might result in some new refrigerator decorations, or some interesting banter at your next cocktail party.

We have once again arrived at the time of year where we are deluged with advertisements touting the latest technologies to help you meet your New Year's resolutions. A world of pills and creams in every imaginable color promise a cure to every ill: from effortless weight loss to miracle cures for everything from hangovers to "enhancement" of various body parts.
 
My favorite part of these commercials is the carefully chosen litany of disclaimers. The pill peddlers make promises that sound compelling, yet mean absolutely nothing. Upon closer examination, bold claims like "lose up to 15 pounds overnight" are meaningless. A modicum of thought concludes that zero is included in "up to" fifteen pounds. On the quasi-medical front, most of these advertisements contain fine print reporting that no statement made in the commercial has been evaluated by anyone with anything resembling a medical qualification, or one of my favorites: "results are not typical," all while smiling spokespeople spout dramatic claims.
 
Perhaps my favorite word in these commercials is "virtually." The flagship of meaningless marketing terms, "virtually" is the linguistic equivalent of a used car salesman, diffusing meaning and allowing the marketer to claim whatever they want. Products are "virtually indestructible" or "virtually identical" to something costing thousands more. Depending on your criteria, an egg might be virtually indestructible, and an old jalopy "virtually identical" to a new Ferrari.
 
In my own contribution to your health in the New Year, I am pleased to report that virtually everyone that reads Foresight in the coming year will lose up to 100 pounds or your money back! (note that this claim has been evaluated by no one and results are not typical)