Lots of interesting items come across my screen every week.  Here are some that didn't make it into the blog this week, but which may make interesting reading for you this weekend. 

This week I'm pointing you to articles about wireless messaging crime fighting, the state of the American Dream, questions not to ask when you interview, and two articles on emotional intelligence.

From the Wall Street Journal: Murder, She Texted: Wireless Messaging Used to Fight Crime
"Text messaging, a form of wireless communication that's gaining traction in the US, is turning into an effective crime-fighting tool around the world. Police agencies from Beijing to Boston are encouraging citizens to use it to report crime or inform on criminals."

From the Christian Science Monitor: American dream still burns bright for many – but results vary
"Men in their 30s earn about $5,000 less in real terms than their fathers' generation did, according to a new study."

From the Kansas City Star: Question these job questions
"If applicants don’t complain to authorities, interviewers aren’t likely to get in trouble for asking legally prohibited questions. But an unsuccessful applicant who thinks interview questions were discriminatory can cause costly business disruption. Here are some guidelines for legal pre-employment interviewing."

Wally's Comment: This is the cleanest explanation I've come across about what you shouldn't ask. You may want to clip this one or send the link to the people who interview.

From CIO: Soft Skills for CIOs and Aspiring CIOs: Four Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence
"Emotional intelligence and "soft" skills are musts for today's CIOs and other IT workers. From entry-level coders to those in the C-suite, few people have the luxury of a lone wolf mentality. Research shows it's your soft skills and emotional intelligence (EI) that determines everything from whether you get promoted to how happy you are at work. Luckily, with knowledge, awareness and practice, you can boost your EI."

From the Graziado Business Report: Emotional Dynamism: Playing the Music of Leadership
"Once thought of as something to be managed, controlled, or avoided in pursuit of rational management, we now understand that emotions play a vital role in many facets of leadership. New discoveries in neuroscience, medicine, and psychology underscore the notion that emotions are the pathway to more effective decision-making, stronger interpersonal relationships, resilience in the face of stress, and enhanced creativity. This article introduces the idea of Emotional Dynamism—a new framework for understanding how a leader can leverage the power of emotions. We also include questions for assessing Emotional Dynamism and recommendations for self development."

Wally's Comment: These two articles sing an excellent duet. Be sure to drink lots of water, though, because the prose is pretty dry in spots.

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Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

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