"To make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." – Carl Sagan When I was in High School, we read some studies involving rats – rats in a maze, rats on different diets, rats in overcrowded cages, and so on. Back then, it struck me that just as caged rats turned … Continue reading Where Everybody Knows Your Name →

I mentioned my cardiologist in a previous post, Intelligence. In another of our conversations, when we were both in our late fifties, he said words to this effect: You know, not that long ago, if someone made it into their fifties, that was considered a long life. Life expectancies were shorter, and most people could … Continue reading 100 →

From an Essay written in 2013 “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – Jesus of Nazareth (John … Continue reading The Needs of the Many →

Parenting is hard. Old school. At a parent-teacher conference long ago, the father told the teacher, “Look, if Tommy steps out-of-line, I want to know about it. We don’t put up with that kind of thing at home and we don’t expect you to, either. Believe me, whatever punishment you dish out here, Tommy will … Continue reading The College Try →

Each in 200 words or less... Telepathy Five continents and countless villages. Millie was a seasoned Veterinarian Without Borders. She had helped save the lives of many animals caught in illegal snares, injured in fighting rings, and wounded by poachers. And those that lacked vaccinations, water, shelter, or proper nutrition. There were accidental injuries. And … Continue reading Three Short Stories →

Many years ago, on a trip to Las Vegas, we encountered a mother with her young son. The boy was in the throes of a tantrum as we boarded the top of an outdoor escalator. He was screaming, kicking his feet, and being a general nuisance as she held him – all the way down. … Continue reading Grow Up →

I’ve probably watched too many movies. I confess that while I’ve found some better than others, I’ve enjoyed just about every movie I’ve ever seen. Many were fun, and some were meaningful. Before someone accuses me of having no ability to tell good from bad, I want to add two things. Thing One: as a … Continue reading With All Your Faults →

Written while recovering from Covid. I admit I’ve spent way too much time scrolling through online news, opinions, ads, click bait, and various polemics. Discouragingly, most of what I’ve seen is noise – underscored by smug declarations of victory – sometimes using the expression, “mic drop,” among many others. Full disclosure. My non-charitable impulse is … Continue reading Mic Drops →

Information isn’t necessarily knowledge. And knowledge isn’t necessarily wisdom… When the worldwide web became available on college campuses, we generally agreed we would need to help students navigate the sea of information available, just as our professors had helped us learn how to search the library and evaluate books and periodicals. I remember growing up … Continue reading Vanity Fair →

A pep talk for myself – and others who feel overwhelmed… A Day in the Life by John Lennon begins, “I read the news today, oh boy…” I express the same thought just about every day. Sometimes I’m tempted to give up. “What’s the use?” many of us think. And it’s deeply discouraging to learn … Continue reading The Darkness →