Blog 3 Columns

5 Scientists Skeptical of Climate Change 0
- Politics
- June 16, 2017
We’re often told that the science on global warming is “settled.” Our planet is warming, humans are the primary or sole cause, and something must be done or our planet will soon look like this. But is that really the case? As it turns out, many distinguished scientists are not on board with this assessment.
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‘Deadbeat Dad’ Stigma Should Be Brought Back 0
- Culture
- June 16, 2017
“Deadbeat Dads”—absent fathers who don’t provide financial support for their children—are one of the most significant factors contributing to child poverty in America. So why do some single women have children outside of marriage when they know they will receive little to no support from the child’s father? A 2014 study from the University of Georgia and
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‘Preaching to the Choir’: A New Theory on Why American Politics are So Polarized 0
- Culture
- June 16, 2017
There is an enormous body of research out there that explores why modern American politics are so polarized. It’s also a question many Americans are asking. (The question comes up second on Google if one types in “Why is American politics…”.) There are many good theories out there. Bill Bishop’s “big sort” hypothesis suggests Americans
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The Disappearing Valedictorian: Another Victim of the Participation Trophy Generation?0
- Culture
- June 15, 2017
One of the central plots in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables concerns the fractious relationship between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. This friction primarily plays out in the classroom where Anne determines to get ahead of Gilbert in every subject even if it kills her: “Now Gilbert was head of the spelling class;
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NYT Writer: Cultural Appropriation is the New Blasphemy 0
- Culture
- June 15, 2017
Whether it’s hoop earrings, dreadlocks, or Taco Tuesdays, America seems to have a fascination with cultural appropriation. So much so, that it appears things are getting a little out of hand, a fact which author Kenan Malik noted in the New York Times the other day. According to Malik, various editors and artists who reference
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Is Our Culture’s Focus on Gender Childish?0
- Culture
- June 15, 2017
One of the joys of being a parent—I have three children, ages 6, 4, and 8 months—is that one gets to witness individual case studies in human nature. It’s no secret that small children are basically all id. They are capable of warmth and compassion, but those traits often disappear as soon as
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Four Reasons Why College Degrees Are Becoming Useless 0
- Culture
- June 15, 2017
Students are running out of reasons to pursue higher education. Here are four trends documented in recent articles: 1. Graduates have little to no improvement in critical thinking skills The Wall Street Journal reported on the troubling results of the College Learning Assessment Plus test (CLA+), administered in over 200 colleges across the US. According to the
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Can Western Civilization Survive the Next Stock Market Crash?0
- Economics
- June 15, 2017
In a recent interview, legendary investor and author Jim Rogers forecasts a financial market crash that would be the “biggest in my lifetime.” Such dire forecasts are not hard to find, but, with the stock market hovering at all-time highs, it is easy to dismiss doomsayers. Given sustained, problematical monetary and fiscal policies, the odds
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‘Fear of Missing Out’ is Not a New Condition 0
- Culture
- June 15, 2017
Everyone has seen it happen. Suddenly, in the middle of a conversation at an event, a person feels compelled to answer an “urgent” message, frequently without bothering to offer any explanation. This compulsive behavior is triggered by the fear of missing out on some social interaction which the person judges as critical. Courtesy and good
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5 Scientists Skeptical of Climate Change 0