Do you reach for your phone while you’re engaged in a face-to-face conversation? Don’t feel bad; most of us do. But our phone-grabbing habits may interfere with our ability to engage in genuine, personal communication. In this October 2015 Guardian interview, London-based journalist Tim Adams converses with author and psychology professor Sherry Turkle about—what else?—conversation. …
Continue reading Pro-conversation: Tim Adams talks with Sherry Turkle
Does boredom enrich your life? No, really, we’re serious. Think about it. Philosophy professor Andreas Elpidorou has thought about it a great deal, and he concludes that boredom is necessary and valuable. Read his ideas in this July 2015 essay in Aeon. Read it here: Elpidorou, "The quiet alarm" In regard to boredom, Elpidorou states …
Continue reading The quiet alarm: Andreas Elpidorou on the virtues of boredom
An old cartoon shows a small child with a hopeful, questioning face looking up at a perplexed parent holding a gallon jug and stammering, “Um, well, I don’t know the cow’s name, but you need to drink the milk anyway.” The cartoon is funny, but maybe the joke is on us. Harvest Public Media reporter …
Continue reading Plenty to chew on: Luke Runyon on corporate consolidation in agriculture
“How do I know something is true? Well, I read it online, so it has to be true, right?” How silly. And yet, we’ve probably all said it, at least once. New York Times technology writer Farhad Manjoo examines some of the consequences of our easy access to abundant information (and misinformation) in this pre-election …
Continue reading I read it online: Farhad Manjoo addresses our grip on the truth
It’s that time of year again—falling temperatures and Major League Baseball’s grand finale event, the World Series. With the Cleveland team participating, increased media attention is predictably drawn to the team’s caricature mascot. NBC Sports staff writer Craig Calcaterra wants the national organization of MLB to take a public stand on the mascot, and he …
Continue reading Do something: Craig Calcaterra on Major League Baseball mascot images
At a time when the problems and challenges of higher education make headlines every day, and when so many students struggle to earn their degrees, community colleges quietly get the job done for millions of people. Haven’t they earned a little more respect than they usually get? Instructor Brian Goedde of Community College of Philadelphia …
Continue reading Talk to us, Mr. President: Brian Goedde on community colleges and prestige
What to wear on the first day of school. Who doesn’t stress out over that decision? Novelist Laurie Frankel was stressed out plenty about her first-grader’s first day, but the child was calm and certain. This September 2016 New York Times article describes what happened. Read it here: Frankel, “’From he to she in first grade” Frankel’s …
Continue reading Clothes or costumes: Laurie Frankel on parenthood and gender choice
What do you think of when you hear the Star-Spangled Banner? Fireworks? Parades? Football? Ramparts? Recently, the silent acts of some professional athletes have led to scrutiny of the custom of playing the national anthem before major league sporting events. Journalist Zack Beauchamp explores the history of the practice in this September 2016 essay on …
Continue reading Oh, say, can we see: Zack Beauchamp on the national anthem at sporting events
Until 2007 (in June, to be exact), every human who’d ever lived did so without the benefit of a smartphone. How did they manage?!? Novelist and freelance journalist Michael Grothaus accepted his editor’s challenge to live without his smartphone for one week and write about the experience. Read about his experience in this July 2016 …
Continue reading Taking the challenge: Michael Grothaus on his smartphone-free week
How often do you check your phone? Do you feel addicted to it? According to former Google product philosopher Tristan Harris, we check our phones 150 times per day, on average, and yes, we’re addicted. He explains why and proposes a solution in this July 2016 essay in Spiegel Online. Read it here: Harris, "Smartphone addiction: …
Continue reading Your personal slot machine: Tristan Harris on smartphone addiction
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