THE SACRED MATRIX Every day science reveals more about the workings of the human brain. We now accept the idea that the mind functions like a computer. But while machines work from a series of 1s and 0s, the mind’s inputs read “well-being” and “ill-being.” (“The Politi
THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS E. M. Forster’s “A Passage to India” explores the racial tensions and prejudices that existed during the 1920’s between the indigenous people of that country and the British colonists. The novel documents the misunderstandings that existed a
WHEN GENDER ISN’T GENDER BUT A WORLD VISION An article in the September “Vogue Magazine” covers the contributions women made in the Libyan uprising. In fact, if journalist Janine de Giovanni is correct, the rebellion was actually begun by women. They organized the hospit
THE HEROES AMONG US One of those Nick Adams stories by Ernest Hemingway begins with an image of starving wolves. They’re so hungry they devour their own entrails. In a strange way, it might have been an image of Hemingway’s life, a man who pushed himself to satisfy his pas
LAUGHTER THAT KILLS In 1729 Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” in which he suggested the Irish poor might ease their penury by selling their children as food to satisfy the refined tastes of wealthy Lords and Ladies. His purpose was to satirize the heartless attitude
VULNERABILITY THAT BECAME LEGEND Marilyn Monroe still compels 49 years after her death. She even wrote two of the many books about her life and career. Not even Elizabeth Taylor, equally beautiful and living a life that often made headlines, seems to have captured the public’s imagi
v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} MORE CHAPTERS FOUND A while back I wrote that one of the frustrations with being a teacher is to watch students graduate and never hear from them
JUST ASKING I picked up a book at the dollar store the other day by George Lakoff, “The Political Mind.” In it I found a succinct description of the difference between the public and private sector: Protection and empowerment are part of the moral mission of government. That is
TREES ARE NEITHER RIGHT NOR WRONG I’ve mentioned Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees” before. It begins: “I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree…” But as I walked through the park this
SOMETIMES WORDS REALLY DO MATTER (in memory of 9/11) In their book, “Listen Up, Mr. President” coauthors Helen Tomas and Craig Crawford offer examples of speeches made by presidents in a time of crisis, words that helped to hold the nation together. Few question the importance o