Who hasn’t needed a little extra sleep? That’s why snooze buttons were invented. But what really happens if you push it? A recent post on the “Science of Us” website addresses this question. It cites a Wall Street Journal column by behavioral scientist Dan Ariely that reports using the snooze button (especially multiple times) doesn’t
What if you were a real meat-lover, and one day, after decades of eating whatever you wanted, you suddenly developed what appeared to be an allergic reaction a few hours after eating a steak? Your family physician will tell you no, you’re wrong, you can’t be allergic to meat, it must be something else (or
On the eve of this very important election, I thought it would be interesting to compile some memorable thoughts about tomorrow’s decisions — A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user. — Theodore Roosevelt A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t
Insects are tiny creatures. So why are many people afraid of them? A recent article on the Science of Us website (http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/10/why-are-so-many-people-scared-of-bugs.html?) explores this phenomenon. There are several reasons for an elevated fear factor. First, insects can be really dangerous. The ones that bite or sting can cause real trouble, especially if an allergy is
Today, while working as a substitute teacher at the local high school, I had a chance to sit in on a motivational speaker. It was all oral, so I have to rely on my memory for the details, but this man told a story that really made an impression on me. He is a high
This piece is for my fellow Disney fanatics. I have been reading the book Cleaning the Kingdom: Insider Tales of Keeping Walt’s Dream Spotless by Ken Pellman & Lynn Barron (Synergy Books, 2015). I’m only about two thirds of the way through (it’s 439 pages of narrative plus supporting material), but it’s the best book
Here’s a quick Halloween-inspired story — Never Trust a Donut Friday! This was Stu’s favorite day. Not only because it was the end of the week, but also because he stopped at “The Hole in the Wall”, the best donut shop in town. As the name implies, this was a cozy place, but they
Happy Halloween! I’m writing this after having spent two hours on the front lines, handing out candy at the bottom of a driveway. This has become such a major holiday — I suspect number two now, behind Christmas — that it makes one wonder how we got here. The best explanation I’ve seen so far
You know you exist. Everyone around you can see you exist. But legally, how do you prove it? Yesterday, while I was out running, I listened to a podcast about a young lady who was trying to establish a legal identity. She had been born at home, delivered by a midwife. No birth certificate was
If you were living in the Jurassic era, what kinds of sounds would you expect to hear from dinosaurs? That takes some detective work because soft tissue isn’t usually fossilized. But according to the EarthSky website, a team of scientists has found the vocal organ of a bird that’s a relative of ducks and geese
