Psychologist Bella De Paulo of the University of California at Santa Barbara specializes in studying people who lie.   Her research reveals that college students tell an average of two fibs a day, while  average community members tell one lie per day.

She divides falsehoods into three categories:

• Self-serving
• Kind
• Cruel

She claims that college students tell cruel lies less than 1% of the time; average citizens come in at 2.4%.   According to De Paulo,  President Trump had a 50% rating for fabrications in the third category, disparaging others.

CHRISTMAS COME?   Given huge changes in technology, watch for a wave of “sociable robots” for children.   The new robots far surpass computer assistants like Apple’s Siri.  These toys are designed to be “human” and likely will look to young children as a person rather than an appliance.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT.   We understand that one of this year’s new Barbie dolls is a Muslim-American  wearing a hijab.

CHRISTMAS PAST.  A dear friend of ours is a Vietnam veteran with PTSD writes moving poetry.  One of his poems  describes evil, intrusive thoughts which can bring down the warrior.    Many suffer from again imagining the anguished screams of the enemy . The poem ends on a happy note – after expert help with PTSD, things gradually improve.

LAWYER’S CORNER.    We keep encouraging a little bit of respectful courtroom humor, when appropriate, to ease tension.   Perhaps a humorous “take” might be allowed in describing the military specialty of those involved in the trial.

Some examples:

• military podiatrist – time wounds all heels
• motor repair shop: invite us to your next blowout
• electrician – let us remove your shorts
• maternity ward – a door which says push, push, push
• military veterinarian temporarily absent from duty: Be back in five minutes. Sit! Stay!
• computer guy/gal: Adam and Eve were the first people to not read the Apple terms and conditions.
• chaplain: too hot to keep changing the sign – sin bad, Jesus good.  Details inside
• psychiatrist: forgive your enemies – it messes with their heads
• social media person: tweet others as you would like to be tweeted

A PATRIOTIC NOTE.   Going the rounds on email is the story of an airline captain and an American soldier, killed in battle, being returned home.

The pilot announces to the plane’s passengers:

Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.  His name is Private X, a soldier who recently lost his life.  Private  X is under your feet in the cargo hold.  Escorting him today is Army Sergeant  Y.  Also  on board are X’s father, mother, wife, and daughter.  Your entire flight crew is asking for passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first.  Thank you.

The captain continues:

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands.  Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping.  Words of ‘God Bless You’, I’m sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the
airplane.

He concludes:

It is worth reflecting on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of America.