Blog 3 Columns

Why Gratitude Is So Good for You (and for Those Around You)0
- Philosophy
- August 1, 2018
Gratitude may be more beneficial than we commonly suppose. One recent study asked subjects to write a note of thanks to someone and then estimate how surprised and happy the recipient would feel – an impact that they consistently underestimated. Another study assessed the health benefits or writing thank you notes. The researchers found that
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Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against Blueprints for 3D-Printed Guns 0
- Politics
- August 1, 2018
Late yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the release of design files for 3D-printed guns. The order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a number of state attorneys general who claim that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in reaching a settlement in a lawsuit brought by Defense Distributed, a
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Goya’s Painting of Saturn Devouring His Son: A Study in Damnation 0
- Culture
- August 1, 2018
It’s one of the most horrific images in the history of Western art. As the myth goes, Saturn (or Cronus, as the Greeks called him) was king of the universe, but was warned by a prophecy that one day he would be overthrown by one of his sons, just as he overthrew his father Uranus. To preserve
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Chesterton: Science Is a Tool (or a Toy), Nothing More 0
- Culture
- August 1, 2018
While he was never a teacher, G. K. Chesterton did help instruct his readers about how to think about many things. Far from the least of those things was science. And while he was never a scientist, Chesterton certainly knew something about thinking about science. To be succinct, Chesterton regarded science as either a “tool or a
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Americans Are Rapidly Warming Up to Porn, a New Gallup Poll Shows. Here’s Why.0
- Family
- August 1, 2018
According to a new Gallup poll, 43 percent of Americans now see pornography as “morally acceptable.” This is a 7-point increase from the previous year and a 13-point increase since 2011, the year Gallup first began measuring public perceptions of porn. Gallup says the change corresponds with a larger shift in morals that began in
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3 Reasons Kids Are Misbehaving More—and What Parents Can Do About It 0
- Family
- August 1, 2018
A few years ago, I took a summer job working at a local school’s childcare program. I was placed with a group of students grades four through eight. I had a great experience, but I will admit it was not easy. Some of the children had me positively pulling out my hair. I’m not alone
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What is a Humanist Wedding and Why is it Becoming Popular?2
- Culture
- July 31, 2018
According to Brides.com, the months from late spring to early fall are generally considered to be “wedding season.” My fellow Alcuin Fellows and I found that we each know roughly half a dozen or so couples that have gotten engaged in the past year, and have noticed the summer wedding trend. A wedding trend that
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The Weak Science Behind the Self-Esteem Movement 0
- Culture
- July 31, 2018
Many want to build their self-esteem and confidence. A Google search reveals over 500 million entries on confidence building. Self-help books and scholarly articles abound. An influential bestseller by Harvard professor Amy Cuddy, Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, was on lists of best business books in 2015 and 2016. If you believe Cuddy’s
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Man Changes Gender to Lower Car Insurance Premiums, Saves $1,100 Annually 0
- Culture
- July 31, 2018
A man the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation identified as David–a pseudonym–is saving $91 every month on his car insurance. No, he didn’t switch to Geico. All it took was for David to identify as a woman on government forms. “I have taken advantage of a loophole,” said David, who reportedly is in his early 20s and
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Why Gratitude Is So Good for You (and for Those Around You)0