Category Archives: Culture

On the Wizard of Oz

Posted on December 31, 2015 by a1skeptic

Back in 2005, the University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner published a book called “Freakonomics.” The book has been described as attempt to meld together pop culture with economics. By 2009 it … Continue reading →

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On Cognitive Biases

Posted on December 30, 2015 by a1skeptic

Cognitive biases have fascinated me for a long time. Like cognitive dissonance. Eliot Aronson and Carol Tavris, in their brilliant book, “Mistakes Were Made (But not by Me),” demonstrate how cognitive biases can work in the context of a child … Continue reading →

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The Spotlight Film

Posted on December 13, 2015 by a1skeptic

Yesterday, I wrote about the movie “Bridge of Spies.” Another film that I saw recently is the movie Spotlight, which follows the efforts of the “Spotlight Team” at the Boston Globe to investigate allegations – allegations that are now well … Continue reading →

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Bridge of Spies in German

Posted on December 12, 2015 by a1skeptic

While I was in Germany I saw Bridge of Spies with my friend. It’s in English, of course, directed by Steven Spielberg and with the screenplay written by the Coen Brothers and some guy I’ve never heard of. Because it’s … Continue reading →

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The Year of the Asshole

Posted on December 8, 2015 by a1skeptic

It’s become clear that, with respect to the American Presidential Campaign, this has become the Year of the Asshole. Donald Trump is obviously exhibit #1, but he’s hardly the only one. On the Republican side, the other candidates who have … Continue reading →

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Little signs of change, and of the Apocalypse

Posted on December 5, 2015 by a1skeptic

I recently spent a week in Berlin at the invitation of an old friend. ”Come for Thanksgiving,” she said, so I did. Even tough Thanksgiving isn’t really celebrated in Germany. I haven’t been here in about four years, so it’s … Continue reading →

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I’m Glad They’re Dead (Farouk and his wife, not the innocent 14)

Posted on December 4, 2015 by a1skeptic

It’s one thing when you go out and murder people that you don’t know, as happened in Paris. It’s another thing when you decide to go on a rampage to kill your colleagues, people that you’ve worked with for five … Continue reading →

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A Nice story on Human Contact and Perspective

Posted on December 1, 2015 by a1skeptic

This is one of those nice stories that was making the rounds on Facebook recently. You may already have read it. It was originally authored by the Palestinian poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye, and is about how your perspective … Continue reading →

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Can one die of a broken heart?

Posted on November 28, 2015 by a1skeptic

Can you die of a broken heart? Maybe. Maybe so. There was a story recently that Doug Flute – he of the “Hail Mary Miracle in Miami” win over the Hurricanes back in 1984 – lost both his parents within … Continue reading →

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Black Friday Sucks

Posted on November 27, 2015 by a1skeptic

In case you don’t know it, it’s stores like Walmart that took the Christ out of Christmas. Not the progressive who are trying to be inclusive of Jews, Muslims and others by using the hated “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry … Continue reading →

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