Life, Death, and Taxes: How Language Impacts Reinvention and Motivation

“Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes.” From Christopher Bullock, the Cobler of Preston (1716). Often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. “The only thing we can count on is death and taxes.” So goes a standard version … Continue reading →

Will Superstorm Sandy Finally Silence the Climate Science Deniers?

“For us to say this is a once-in-a-generation, that it’s not going to happen again, as elected officials that would be short-sighted. This city, this region, is very susceptible to coastal flooding. Part of learning from this is learning that … Continue reading →

What’s So Funny About Peace, Kindness and Understanding?

It’s a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than “Try to be a little kinder.” ~ Aldous … Continue reading →

It’s Time to Make Election Day a National Holiday (Once Every Four Years!)

It’s come around again: election season in the Divided States of America. And not just any election season, the big one, the presidential election. And in our politically divided country, presidential politics have reached new levels of animosity, spending, partisanship, … Continue reading →

Russia’s Human Rights Problem and the New Post-Soviet Social Revolution: Pussy Riot Won’t Be Silenced

If you haven’t been living in an Internet-free zone, you already know a few things about the Russian Punk band called Pussy Riot. They were arrested in March, and charged with hooliganism after a February performance in Moscow’s main cathedral … Continue reading →

Dunbar’s Number: Can We Reinvent Our Number of Meaningful Social Connections?

In our ever accelerating information age, it’s easy to think the sky’s the limit. Facebook lets you have up to 5,000 friends, you can collect millions of Twitter followers, and new social media platforms are emerging, each one wanting to … Continue reading →

Digital Fire: Moving Beyond Common Sense to Complex Sense

Common sense is something we think we all have. We claim to possess common sense with the same self assurance as when stating we are good drivers or citizens engaged in the political process. And yet, car accidents happen every … Continue reading →