Writers are numerically confused and quantitatively torn—or maybe just hypocritical.  We decry the unwillingness of people to read novels along with their affinity for Tweets.  On the other hand, writers love to craft aphorisms, microessays, haikus, six-word memoirs an...

Maybe Kenny Rogers isn’t the best source for deep questions about life, but listen to “The Gambler” and ponder this central challenge: “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” 

What makes for a good quit?  Some people abandon tough situations too soon—...

          Back in the 1960s, my family watched Art Linkletter’s television show, which included a segment in which he asked children questions or vice-versa.  This format gave rise to a series of books titled, “Kids Say the Darnedest Things.”  The notion was that the s...

          I bristle at the notion that basic science, which eschews the crassness of economic utility, is more virtuous than applied research, which pursues gritty questions and messy answers needed by farmers, nurses an...

The Ucross Experiment is an ongoing venture to see what happens when artists and scientists collaborate in the mutual making of authentically shared works that reflect both of their insights and understandings (see video below).  This year, the composer was paired with...