On Writing and…the Word of the Year
As you likely know, at the end of each year the authoritative folks of Oxford English Dictionary select a “word of the year”—a word that resonated in the culture by growing use, significance, and baggage…
Sheepdogs and Savages
The odds against American Sniper winning the Academy Award for best picture are long. Only four times in the last 25 years has the top revenue generating film walked off with the Oscar. And…
MLK Reflection
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will forever be remembered for his I Have a Dream speech as the pinnacle of his nonviolent efforts to change the Jim Crow laws and racist behavior of the South…
It’s Not Easy Being a Priest
A Review of Calvary starring Brendan Gleeson…Jean-Paul Sartre famously said in his play No Exit that “Hell is other people.” There is some dispute about the accuracy of the translation from the French; one…
What impact will the new governor have on Illinois?
Dr. Steven Nawara, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lewis University, talks about Governor Bruce Rauner assuming his role in Illinois. He talks about the challenges ahead including the budget deficit, unfunded pensions and the…
Let’s Have a Conversation…
…About Death and Dying. This is the challenge laid down by Atul Gawande in his latest book, On Being Mortal. Gawande wants individuals, physicians and the health care industry to engage in a serious…
What happens to a child after he/she suffers sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse in childhood has serious and lasting psychological consequences. Long term psychological correlates of childhood sexual abuse include depression, suicidal tendencies, sexual dysfunction, self-mutilation, chronic anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, memory impairment and somatization.…
Gasoline Price Economics
Just like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, my wife and I are late for an important date! I pull up to the Shell pump and go in and tell the cashier I want…
Artificial Intelligence? Yes. Artificial Humanity? No.
I recently saw a Facebook friend decry the ubiquitous end-of-year cards Facebook had created for each of its users, the ones that allow people to share the highlights of their year in the style of an…
Old Whine in New Wineskins
A PROFESSOR REVEALED THROUGH HIS LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. Popular culture is replete with portraits of caring, dedicated, and inspirational prep school teachers from Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr Chips to Robin Williams in The Dead…