First Blog

  ODD THOUGHTS FOR FRIDAY (9/5/25), argument, treasure, wisdom, gifts to kids A.     No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude. - Karl Popper, philosopher B.     The true treasure hunter is the one who knows treasure when he sees it.   C.     The pause taken before a decision may open the door to wisdom. D.     Instead of buying your kids all the things you wished you had, teach them all the things you wish you had been taught. --- Bruce Lee (paraphrased)

1.      Introduction. Your marvelous brain not only thinks but can think in a variety of ways. Thinking in evolutionary terms, most have practical roots, but others are new and learned. It is almost wonderous the scope of these modes of thinking, almost as if it was designed for tasks that lay ahead. In this short essay we give brief descriptions of some of our many thinking modes we use to solve problems. The sheer number of thinking modes suggests another point of separation between humans and other animals. For example, most predators think tactically, but how many think strategically? Not all these thinking modes come naturally. Many must be learned, practiced, and then perfected. Various personalities specialize in various types of thinking, which while adequate for some are insufficient to become a great thinker. The greatest of all is the human’s capacity for metacognition, its ability to control thought, or think about thinking. After this discussio...

  Abstract. Hate has repeatedly served as a catalyst for political mobilization, social cohesion, and authoritarian consolidation throughout history. Hate is with us here in the USA more than ever. The last time we saw it was in the 1950s with McCarthyism. Few of us remember. Let us meander a bit from fascist movements in Europe to white supremacist organizations in the United States and genocidal regimes in Africa and Asia. In all we see that political groups have exploited hatred as a means of constructing collective identity, simplifying complex problems, and legitimizing violence. This essay examines the political uses of hate across a range of contexts, including Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Ku Klux Klan, Rwanda’s Hutu Power movement, Stalinist Russia, Maoist China, and the Yugoslav conflicts of the 1990s, while also reflecting on the less overt but still destructive politics of ideological hate in the United States during the McCarthy era. By comparing these cases, the es...

  A.     The Ostrich Syndrome is a metaphorical expression derived from the popular myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand to avoid danger. While this is a misconception, it has become a powerful allegory for human tendencies to ignore, deny, or avoid problems rather than confront them.   B.     “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” --- Mark Twain   C.     Sometimes the best way to teach a child is to let them watch (just watch) you doing it. Twenty years later, they can do it too, and you are amazed. They watch and learn, even the bad stuff.   D.     Don’t waste time on what might have been. --- Fortune Cookie Wisdom 

The question of whether one's life is justified is a deeply personal inquiry that touches on purpose, meaning, and individual impact. So, what is it? "Justification" means in this context whether it needs external validation, a measurable contribution, or an internal sense of fulfillment. We suggest a life is justified not by grand achievements or universal approval but by the authentic pursuit of personal meaning and connection. Every individual exists within a unique set of experiences, relationships, and choices. The justification of a life lies in how one navigates this web with intention. For some, meaning is found in creating art, ideas, or innovations that ripple outward. For others, it’s in the quiet acts of kindness, like supporting a friend, nurturing a family, or even moments of personal growth, such as overcoming adversity or learning from failure, that lend weight to a life’s purpose. For still others, it means finding a religious faith, or even finding a tru...

A.     Jealousy is a form of passive aggression. B.     Voting for skill is quite different than voting for ideology. For the first, you need hope; for the second, you need prayer. C.     In Russia, the elite are thugs; in America, the elite are thieves. D.     “If one has no sense of humor, one is in trouble.” --- Betty White, TV actress

A common misconception is that mathematics appears difficult to some learners merely because of the manner in which it is presented. According to this view, if the curriculum were simply redesigned with more effective packaging, the subject would become universally accessible. This assumption, however, does not withstand scrutiny. Mathematics, even at its most elementary level, is inherently abstract. Its foundational concept—numbers—is not an instinctive capacity of the human brain, but rather a construct that requires deliberate training to comprehend (Dehaene, 2011). The subsequent development of arithmetic skills similarly demands sustained practice, patience, and discipline, with some learners requiring considerably more time than others to achieve proficiency (Geary, 2013). Efforts to reform the teaching of mathematics are not new. For centuries, educators have attempted to devise methods of instruction that would render mathematics easier to learn. If a universally effective ped...

  See the pictures below? Pretty yes? She has 100K followers. The only problem is that she does not exist. All are AI-generated. In the next few years, you will be reading about massive fraud via AI. Get ready.

 In Stephen Vincent Benét’s allegory, The Devil and Daniel Webster , the Devil comes to collect a soul, armed with the fine print of a contract and the inevitability of human weakness. Daniel Webster, the great orator, wins the day not by denying humanity’s flaws, but by appealing to its higher nature. The story warns us about the bargains we make and the price we might pay when power comes too easily. Consider the allegory of Goethe’s “ Faust” as a substitute if Benét’s story is unfamiliar. Today, Artificial Intelligence stands in a position uncannily similar to the Devil in the old tale. It offers dazzling speed, vast knowledge, and seemingly miraculous powers, always at just the right moment when we are tired, overwhelmed, or greedy for an advantage. It whispers I can solve your problems, do your work, make your life easier; just trust me. Playing the role of Daniel Webster is only these few pages, but it is you or me that have signed the contract. The “gifts” AI offers ar...