I doubt many would be surprised to learn that the processes of investigation and revelation occur in different parts of the brain.  Investigation involves a system of methodical trial and error while revelation is an “ah ha” moment that comes at the speed of light, as if a switch

Last Friday, the nation celebrated its 238th birthday with the usual fanfare.  However battered our democracy may seem at times, it’s still a work in progress and looks to the future.  Generations upon generations of citizens have carried this political experiment forward, though

Is it me or does anyone else see irony in the way we humans wring our hands over climate change but do little about it while at the same time, we expend great amounts of energy to preserve our health?  Today there are electronic gadgets that measure every facet of our anatomy, our he

I admire science.  Because of it, we no longer live in caves or worry about why the sun sometimes goes dark.  I’m curious, however, about what attracts a scientist’s attention.  Writer Ray Bradbury wrote that to touch a scientist is to touch a child which means, I suppose, that

The other day at the mall, I was buying postage stamps from the same woman who’s been behind the counter of the little shop for years.  The place is usually busy so we’ve never stopped to chat, but on that day, she and I were alone.  As I handed her the money for my purchase

Today I’m uncertain about whether or not I’ve done a good thing or a bad thing.  A friend has completed his second novel and I have encouraged him to send it out to publishers.  His first book was self-published and he seemed happy enough with that launch, so who am I to interfe

“Nothing has ever given us as much pleasure as our pocket money when we were 12,” observes A. A. Gill in a recent article for Vanity Fair. (“Perfection Anxiety,” by A. A. Gill, Vanity Fair, May 2014 pgs. 120-122.) I would add, that as for the 12 year-old, the link between mon

I had a little fun with my blog recently talking about yoga breathing. (See blog 5/5/14) Nonetheless, studies about the various forms of Eastern medicine reveal the disciplines deserve respect. Experiments performed with mice are underway which suggest acupuncture may be useful as tre

The other day, as I entered the dental clinic, I met an acquaintance I hadn’t seen for 15 years. She looked wonderful and as I stared into her deep brown eyes, I remembered she’d once been a bathing suit model. With almost no imagination, one might suppose she still was.  We chat

I was comparing notes about a book with a friend the other day and learned I’d missed a key element of the plot. I admit, I didn’t like the story and had scanned parts of it, which may account for my oversight. Then again, maybe not. New research about our plastic brains suggests