A comparison habit can wreak psychological havoc, generating envy and leading to depression, so common wisdom has long warned against it. Writer Mark Twain once said, “comparison is the death of joy,” and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti told admirers, “I never compare myself with anybody, but I learn from everybody, including presumptuous idiots.”
Problematic information comes in various forms, each uniquely irksome. Yet people are quick to blast all inaccuracies as “fake news,” reinforcing the sense that facts are a thing of the past.
Marijuana consumers have long proselytized for their drug of choice with the notion that it’s nature’s herb. Weed is of the Earth; it grows naturally, and so is relatively clean compared to synthetic concoctions like cocaine, say.
Shakespeare was probably wrong to suggest there’s little to labels. There’s evidence that a Rose by any other name would not smell as sweet after all.
The total solar eclipse on August 21 is expected to help shed light on “a number of unique science and engineering problems,” according to NASA. In fact, solar eclipses have long been scientifically important: during these moments of darkness, rare nature observations are made and certain mysteries are illuminated.
Americans believe deeply in their right to speak freely and will proudly cite the First Amendment of the US Constitution to support it. There’s often a fundamental misunderstanding about what kind of speech is protected precisely, and Americans tend to believe they are more free than they really are.
Believing in personal freedom isn’t just a philosophical balm; it seems to have practical psychological benefits. According to a new study, feeling a sense of free will provides a greater sense of satisfaction at work—regardless of what type of work you do, or where you do it.
Cursing is a good way to be bad. It’s mostly harmless and signals authenticity to listeners. For the linguistically bold, vulgarity is just one element of a rich vocabulary, a spice for speech. Yet even those of us who curse like sailors shirk the word “cunt.”
Pretty much everyone knows and loathes “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli, the former Turing Pharmaceuticals executive notorious for hiking an AIDS drug price so high it seemed like a crime. But that’s not why he was found guilty of fraud today (Aug. 4).
The American Civil Liberties Union isn’t exactly known for its sense of humor. But on Aug. 1, the defenders of free speech filed a jocular amicus brief in perhaps the most comical case of 2017, a year that’s proving pretty amusing for US courts.
The total solar eclipse that will be visible in parts of the US on August 21 is the most anticipated event of the summer. And you’re invited. No need to RSVP. But do grab astronomer-approved solar glasses in advance because staring at the sun is always dangerous.
Put a wolf and a human in a room with a box full of sausage and the wolf will tear into the food, ignoring the person. Try this with a dog and the canine will be torn between two delicious possibilities—gazing at the person or grabbing the treat.
Necessity is the mother of invention but marketing is the engine of sales. He who tells the best tale captures the market. Jack O’Neill, founder of the multimillion-dollar wetsuit and surf lifestyle brand O’Neill, was a seaman who spun a strong yarn.
Long live the public library! It’s not dead yet. The internet hasn’t rendered physical reference centers obsolete, thanks to millennials.
The US Food and Drug Administration today announced it will develop new standards reducing nicotine in cigarettes. The goal is to make cancer sticks less addictive, which in turn should minimize the number of long-term smokers, and the number of Americans who die of smoking-related diseases.
The proliferation of devices in daily life has led to an international handwriting crisis. Teachers, parents, and politicians around the world are debating why they should bother spending time teaching what some say is a dated skill. Accustomed as we are to speedy, wifi-connected devices, we’ve come to prize the efficiency of typing and there seems to be no point to picking up a pen and scribbling on paper when keyboarding is so convenient, neat, and easy to copy-and-send.
🎶 Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone. 🎵
The hot dog has been much considered in American law. In fact, the skinny sausage eaten hugged in a bun—often on the run—helped lead to the first US food-safety regulations after Upton Sinclair’s 1906 report on meat industry horrors in The Jungle.
Donald Tump tweeted the word “covfefe”—possibly a typo?—in the wee hours of May 31. Since then, the US president’s linguistic mystery has inspired 35 trademark applications at the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).
Like rare birds, US Supreme Court justices aren’t easy to spot, especially outside of Washington DC. But the justices do spread their wings in summer.
Dear Ms. Earhart:
The first tennis players would not recognize the sport played today at the annual Wimbledon championship in London. They were cloistered, 12th-century French monks living in monasteries, hitting balls between them with the palms of their hands.
May it please the Court of public opinion (though it probably won’t), I am a lawyer. As such, I move here to dismiss claims that a chatbot can do an attorney’s job.
