Communities – Not the Nation, Not Individuals – Might be the Answer

We are pretty good at staying mad at each other. Might the mid-level of human interaction offer a break in the pattern of constant conflict? Some years ago, many political scientists lamented the truism made famous by Tip O’Neal that “all politics is local.” The concern was that this condition …

Let Me Tell You a Story….

Story Telling as High Culture and Community Connector. Most of us have good childhood memories that begin with the phrase “tell me a story.” Stories are some of the earliest connections we have with those we love. They can fire our imagination, touch our emotions, teach us valuable lessons. That …

I Visited a Food Bank. I Loved it. I Hated It.

Hunger in America is rampant. Why the Hell Do We Allow This? This past weekend, I invested some time with our local foodbank. It is in every sense a model operation, rightly cited as one of the best in America. The talented people who work there are dedicated beyond measure …

The Larger Legacy of Senators Collins and Flake

Decisions Count, Patterns are Illustrative, and Values are Revealed. To say that a lot of people are disappointed in Senators Flake and Collins would be a mild understatement. That is a fair call. People on one side of the Kavanaugh nomination got their hopes up and felt let down. But …

Night Owls, Early Birds, and Variations Thereof

When do YOU Do Your Best Work? We all know the stereotypes. Heck, most of us ARE the stereotypes. Night Owls tend to get their second wind about the time most people are going to bed. Around midnight or so, these people hit their stride in productivity or creativity. They …

The Relationship Between Science and Science Fiction

An Ideal Partnership That Nourishes Both Partners For as long as I can remember, I have loved science. Not to say I always understand it. A good case in point: a couple of years ago I watched a program about string theory. It looked fascinating. I understood almost 5% of …