Essays
The (AI) Kids are Alright
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last few months, you’ve no doubt heard the buzz about ChatGPT and other generative AI text and image systems. After the initial hype, we’ve seen much pooh-poohing of the real capabilities of these tools. Instead, I want to plant a flag that these baby AI…
Self-Partnership > Self-Mastery
Is your present self sabotaging your future self? It’s time to get all your selves on the same team.
The Future of American Politics
As I write this, the United States stands on the precipice of an election that will radically shape the future of American politics. The whirlwind of news and hot takes is nearly overwhelming and will likely continue even after the final vote is counted. But amidst the torrent, we have a chance to step back…
The Great Pedagogy Experiment
COVID-19 is forcing an educational experiment like nothing the U.S. has even seen. How do we support students, families, and teachers?
Whatever Happened to the Truth?
We’re living in the post-truth era, but it will take more than social media disclosures or an election to fix the problem. It’s up to each of us.
Recovering American Decency
Americans are struggling to reconcile individual liberty with community well-being. But we should be using our freedoms to make our communities stronger.
Reviews
Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
In my review of the first book in the series, Peter and the Starcatchers, I explained that I’m a huge Peter Pan fan, and my expectations for new works are always high. I’ve been disappointed many times – Hugh Jackman in Pan, Disney’s emo-Pan adaptation in Peter Pan and Wendy, and dear, sweet Christopher Walken…
Illuminations by Alan Moore
It’s hard to believe that anyone wouldn’t have encountered an Alan Moore work at this point. He’s essentially the crazy wizard grandpa to the comics industry, and his most popular graphic novels, Watchmen and V Vendetta, have become successful movies and tv shows. Personally, he’ll always have a place in my heart as one of…
The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Jonathan Blum and Rupert Booth
I have to start by trying to describe the 1960s British television show, ‘The Prisoner,’ and that in itself is a challenge. The show began when actor Patrick McGoohan decided to leave his successful spy thriller tv show in the 1960s. As an alternative, he pitched a show to the network in which he would…
How Not to Kill Yourself by Clancey Martin
On the title alone, How Now to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of a Suicidal Mind is a daunting prospect. Add in the page count (nearly 500) and that even trying to Google he book will fill your screen with suicide support numbers, and it’s fair to say that this book isn’t for everyone. The author…
Better Never to Have Been by David Benatar
Hold onto your hat for some pretty serious philosophy with this one. Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence by South African philosopher David Benatar is not for the faint of heart. His essential premise is this: It is always harmful to bring a conscious being into existence. Not just to…
Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke
Maybe, dear reader, you are one for only the most respectable of books, but for myself, I couldn’t help but pick up Butts: A Backstory for the author’s sheer audacity to write a butt book to begin with. Let’s start with a spoiler – no pictures. Now, moving on… The book is effectively a collection…