How humans have gone from the equivalent of wolves to domesticated dogs in just a few generations

Golden retriever sleeping on a plaid blanket-covered couch inside a warm cabin with a fireplace; a gray wolf walks in a snowy forest under northern lights outside.

We might fault the wolf for fighting a losing battle, but there is something to admire in their tenacity compared to the dog, which is all too eager to beg for a meal rather than obtain one on its own. Though wolves and dogs share enough DNA that they can successfully mate, producing offspring that… Continue reading How humans have gone from the equivalent of wolves to domesticated dogs in just a few generations

Cooking at home versus eating out, life lessons from a middle class man whose most agonizing decision is what Porsche to get next

Great Food Debate

Whatever some may claim, it doesn’t take any particular genius, athletic ability, or stamina to boil a pot of water, roast a chicken, and toss a salad, and the difference between the cost of dining out or ordering in matters enough to purchase a luxury automobile over the years. Earlier this week, Shark Tank’s Kevin… Continue reading Cooking at home versus eating out, life lessons from a middle class man whose most agonizing decision is what Porsche to get next

I am a crab and I have evolved at least five separate times, but no one knows why

Underwater scene with migrating crabs and other small marine creatures among colorful coral reefs

We are present around the world, in every ocean, in some lakes, even on dry land.  We are an old, proud order having shared the world with the dinosaurs 200 million years ago, but some of us aren’t even true crabs. They are imposters that have evolved separately, over and over again. I am a… Continue reading I am a crab and I have evolved at least five separate times, but no one knows why

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the great cultural battles of our time, and the real problems with the film

Circular stone maze lit with blue light on a rocky island at night

Perhaps, low expectations will leave me pleasantly surprised while high expectations will have the inverse effect for others, or perhaps we all simply have far too much time on our hands to bicker about a movie as though it were deeply important to our lives. Rarely, does a film generate controversy three months before its… Continue reading Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the great cultural battles of our time, and the real problems with the film

The midterms still favor the Democrats, but not by much and much remains impossible to predict

Red and blue electric energy streams crossing over cracked rocky terrain

Democrats are offering Republicans an opportunity that they probably don’t deserve at this point, but as we all know, deserve has nothing to do with it. While there are clear historical trends favoring Democrats in the midterms and it’s no secret that President Donald Trump has chosen to launch a largely unpopular war that has… Continue reading The midterms still favor the Democrats, but not by much and much remains impossible to predict

Reminder: Democracy continues to be whatever Democrats claim at the moment and that just happens to be what will make them more powerful

The U.S. Capitol building divided showing bright spring weather with green trees and water on one side and dark storm clouds, lightning, and rocky ground on the other

I’ve long maintained that politics is the pursuit of power, but it’s not everyday that politicians so clearly demand changing the rules of the game to suit their needs and democracy without rules isn’t democracy at all. Less than two weeks ago, Democrats were giddy that Virginia voters narrowly supported a referendum for a supposedly… Continue reading Reminder: Democracy continues to be whatever Democrats claim at the moment and that just happens to be what will make them more powerful

Iran and the sunk cost fallacy

Map of Middle East with glowing tectonic plate boundaries outlining regions including Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and surrounding countries

Why are some unwilling to take half-a-loaf by forging a less than satisfying deal or even reverting to the status quo, making not getting the optimal outcome into an embarrassing defeat? While the conflict with Iran lumbers onward through an admittedly bizarre non-ceasefire ceasefire, some are arguing that we have only two options:  Either accept… Continue reading Iran and the sunk cost fallacy

The strange state of the conflict in Iran and why Republicans better hope something happens soon

Three abandoned rusted tanks in muddy battlefield with destroyed buildings in the background at sunset

The war has entered a sort of slow moving stasis rather than anything resembling the frenetic pace of the first five weeks and time is running out to pivot to the midterm elections. I’ll admit it upfront:  I didn’t expect the Iran War to devolve into a non-ceasefire ceasefire for almost a full month.  While… Continue reading The strange state of the conflict in Iran and why Republicans better hope something happens soon

Zip ties and duct tape, life lessons from racing cars

Panda Dragon on the race track at Watkins Glen International

We spent Saturday morning wondering what hell could be wrong with our car and perhaps more importantly, could we fix it? This wasn’t merely an academic question. If we were unable to figure out, our weekend would’ve been over almost before it began.  On Saturday morning, my brother and I were stuck in the garage at… Continue reading Zip ties and duct tape, life lessons from racing cars