The pandemic was six years ago—a somewhat faded memory, but not forgotten. It was a time of isolation and frustration as governments around the world ordered lockdowns. This hit musicians especially hard. Not only were gigs and concerts canceled, but a means of deeply personal expression was stripped away.
My friend Bill, a retired actuary, invited me to his garage workshop. He was excited about something and wanted me to come right away to see it. “No one in human history has ever done this!” he yelled over the phone. Balding with white hair on both sides of his
I have a special gift: I can read minds. Not only that, but in the right situation, I can sense the hopes and fears of the person I’m talking to, feelings often hidden from view. Yet, these feelings are absolutely clear to me. And the best part is that
Future, the entity who shapes the future for all of us, was having a bit of a crisis. She was worried that the events she set in motion were either too predictable or too far-fetched to be believable. She wanted her creations to hit a sweet spot: predictable enough
In my book “Immortality Is Really Forever,” an undeveloped society is just barely in the agrarian stage. The main character, the immortal Mathew Sella, introduces a cart to shift the burden of transport off human backs, thereby ruining the livelihood of "carriers," those hired to carry cargo: Why
When I first heard of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I assumed it was over for Ukraine. Clearly, I thought, there was no way Ukraine could fight the Russian bear, and even if they did hold out, Russia would simply overwhelm them with waves and waves of soldiers. And I
Years ago, I attended a job seminar designed to help job seekers find work. After speaking for a while, the presenter made an observation that has always stuck with me: "Of all the things we talked about today, the most important tool you will use is your Rolodex."
Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it. – Jonathan Swift, preface to The Battle of the
I hate tailgaters. They are the bane of my existence. I generally stay in the slow lane when I am on the New York State Thruway, ground zero for tailgating. However, even though I drive at a steady, modest pace, there are those who are just too slow. So sometimes
What do we actually mean when we say "elite"? It’s a word bandied about but weakly defined. I would say it’s someone who has status, ensconced fairly high up in one of our many human hierarchies. Money helps, but it isn’t necessary—status within a
People Are Finally Reading The Odyssey—After 3000 Years. Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon got people to do what teachers never could. —Wall Street Journal Headline, July 18, 2026 Things are getting really crazy. That alone is not a news flash, but what is new is that it’s crazy
Tom, with a bouquet of flowers, got in his autonomous vehicle (AV) to visit his girlfriend across town. As is customary in the AV world, he went into the back seat. Blessed with a constitution that can read in a car without mild queasiness, he opened his book—still a