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Episode 299-When Acronyms Become Words
Acronyms are "words" that are abbreviations. But they differ from abbreviations because they can be pronounced like a word. Many of these acronyms, like the 'ZIP' in 'Zip Code,' aren't even known as …
Published on 10 hours ago
Episode 298-What Do You Hear?
Author John Stilgoe exhorts us to go outside, take a walk or a bike ride, and tune in to the world before us that we miss when we whiz by in a car. I implore you to do the same thing--but instead of …
Published on 10 hours ago
Episode 297-The Real Mister Bojangles
I was listening to music the other day while driving to and from the dump, and one of my favorites came on: Mr. Bojangles, by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Like most of the songs that rise to the top o…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
Episode 296-More Thoughts on Writing
Some additional thoughts on the craft of writing.
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
Episode 295-The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built
Episode 295-The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built by Dr. Steven Shepard
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Episode 294-Serendipity and Curiosity in Monterey
I spent a great deal of my life in Monterey, California, most of it under the water while teaching SCUBA diving. I recently discovered a Monterey story that held me spellbound. It begins like this: A…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Episode 293-Homage to Greatness Revisited
An homage to Jane Goodall and others like her. This is a repost from 2021.
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Episode 292-The Lessons of History
This essay contains an important story for the ages. Given current events, and the absolute truth that history does repeat, the lesson is plain, and chilling. 1492 and the years leading up to it in M…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Episode 291-The Dance of Curiosity, Awe and Wonder
Sometimes, curiosity, awe and wonder are the only tools we have. But when it comes to the majesty and magnitude of the night sky, of all the things about it we can’t possibly comprehend, they’re actu…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Episode 290-The Research Myth
I recently had a conversation about technology’s impact on research today. It’s an argument I could make myself—that technology has resulted in access to more data and information. For example, befor…
Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago