I have a really hard time convincing certain people why I don’t like buying pirated copies of movies – or why I refuse to take advantage of discounted appliances because they “fell off the truck.” “It’s a matter of principle,” I’ll say. “By buying this kind of stuff I’m encouraging more dishonesty.” “Who cares? You’re […]

Before I moved into my new home, the seller and I had a few papers to sign, so we met up at her soon-to-be-my place with her realtor and mine in tow. We were making small talk about our jobs, when she suggested that, as a professor, she was an excellent judge of character. “You’re […]

I don’t know how to change a flat. I also don’t know how to make cheesecake, dye my hair, fill in a cavity or wrap presents that are not perfectly square or rectangular. So when it comes to practical stuff, I am willing to turn to others for help. However, if I’m struggling with an […]

Walking into my mother’s house is like navigating a minefield. Every time I pay a visit, I hold my breath and cross the threshold…and wait. “Why are you out on such a cold day?!?” *beep* She does a once-over of my attire, focusing intently on the parts she doesn’t like. “That coat doesn’t suit you.” […]

Watching political debates is like putting a group of toddlers together in a room with one lollipop: There’s going to be a lot of whining, temper tantrums, name-calling, and gibberish. I believe that some of the people who decide to pursue a political career do so out of a desire to initiate change. They’ve faced […]

When I think Type A, I think of those cheesy, feel-good family movies with the mom or dad who’s always working and keeps missing their kid’s baseball game or ballet recital. After experiencing a sudden health scare or other emergency, the parent has a sudden epiphany: Family is important, kids grow up so fast, money […]

If I’m sitting at the table with you, especially if there are other people around, don’t assume that my silence is anger, a sense of superiority, or a sign that I’m not having fun. I’m just taking everything in. I’m listening and observing, because that’s what I do best. Don’t worry about uncomfortable silences (although […]

A lot of experimenters hate it when their theory doesn’t stand up to research, which is understandable. Personally, I love to be pleasantly surprised. I like it when our studies at Queendom reveal the unexpected, like just recently, when our research on gender roles indicated that younger men adopt more traditional beliefs, while older men […]

In a recent episode of Dr. Phil, he was helping a woman come to grips with the fact that she had be conned out of her money – and I don’t mean a few thousand dollars. For the past few months, she had been engaged in an online relationship with a man who, according to […]

I’m not always the sweet, giving, caring, as-close-to-angels-as-you’re-gonna-get specimen that you’ve come to know me as. Sometimes, I just can’t help but be sarcastic, or wonder why some people are just so…so…what’s a nice way of putting this…short-sighted? Clueless? Hang on… *types therausarus.com in URL* …ah – obtuse! Like that woman who was sitting in […]

Moms always advise their children, regardless of their age, to leave with a smile on their face and a pair of clean underwear. Makes total sense. Here’s what I else I suggest: If you’re going to nurture any traits in your children, let it be these four: Emotional Stability, Agreeableness, Openness, and Conscientiousness. And for […]

I have a rule that I like to follow at family gatherings: Stay away from woo woo topics – the paranormal, psychics, alternative healing, etc. To have to explain to people why I prefer to keep an open mind on these issues is just frustrating and exhausting. Frankly, I’d rather endure my brothers’ flatulence (I […]