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Fifteen From '76: The Music That Made the Year
Star Wars, Cray, and Apple herald a transition. Society was changing and moving toward today's world - although people might not have noticed at the time. Rock music was still as strong as in previous years.
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Fifteen From '75: The Music That Made the Year
As the decade reaches its midpoint the music gets better and better with tracks like "Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan, "Young Americans" by David Bowie, and "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.
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Fifteen From '74: The Music That Made the Year
Reconsidering 1974, a flawed year that gave us "Angel from Montgomery" by Bonnie Raitt, "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie, and "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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Fifteen From '73: The Music That Made the Year
Remembering 1973, one of the strongest years of the decade, with tracks like "Money" by Pink Floyd, "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye.
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Fourteen from '72: The Music That Made the Year
1972 was a goldmine for rock fans with standout songs like "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos, "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon, and "School's Out" by Alice Cooper.
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Fifteen From '71: The Music That Made the Year
1971 was a great year for rock music, including such classic anthems as "Life on Mars" by David Bowie, "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, and "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.
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Thirteen From '70: The Music That Made the Year
Celebrating 13 of the best songs from 1970, including "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison, "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield, and "Lola" by The Kinks.
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10 Essential Tracks from the '80s
Some people may disregard the 1980s, but there was a lot of great music, including "Combat Rock" by The Clash, "Purple Rain" by Prince, and "I Wanna Be Adored" by The Stone Roses.
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10 Essential Tracks from the '90s
A look back at the music of the nineties, including "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., "Wonderwall" by Oasis, and "Scar Tissue" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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Nasty, Brutish, and Short. Thomas Hobbes and the State of Nature
Hobbes was a philosopher who continues to have a huge impact on political science. This is a simple guide to the basic idea behind his major work - Leviathan
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American Factory - A Netflix Documentary
What happens when two cultures collide? This documentary charts the history of a Chinese company's experiences in Ohio. Can we draw any general conclusions from this?
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The Nature of Myth: Beyond Truth and Falsity
What functions did myths play in society? Were they meant to be believed, or are they simply stories?
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Fighting Fentanyl: Stepping Back from the Brink
Fentanyl is unlike any other addictive substance. It is a modern scourge that is affecting all levels of society. And it is deadly. Is there anything we can do?
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Adolf Eichmann: The Mechanization of Death
Adolf Eichmann's role in the Holocaust raises some difficult questions. How do we deal with the memory of a monster?
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Creative Destruction - A Blessing and a Curse
The idea of creative destruction is an essential feature of modern capitalism. There are advantages and disadvantages and we should pay more attention to the implications of this seemingly paradoxical concept.
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Netflix Notables: "Beef"
Stuck for something to watch on Netflix? Check out these reviews to find something to your taste.
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Netflix Notables: "Collateral"
Our attention turns to another Netflix series. This time, it's the turn of Collateral. Should you invest your time in this police drama' Read on to find out if it's for you.
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Netflix Notables: "The Serpent"
This is the first in a series of reviews that examine some of the many programs that Netflix offers. First up is "The Serpent", Enjoy!
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The Origins of Modern Poetry. Imagism and Ezra Pound
Anyone who reads the major poets of the early twentieth century will come across Ezra Pound. Imagism was one of his schools. What was it?
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Is the Age of Empires Over?
The world has changed a lot and continues to change with ever-increasing rapidity. Are our traditional views of world order out of date? Has the concept of "empires" run its natural course?
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A Death in Vain: Thomas Ray and the Bay of Pigs
Nobody ever seemed to be in control of the Bay of Pigs operation. What went wrong and why did people like Thomas "Pete" Ray pay with their lives?
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Rethinking the City: The 15-Minute Movement
Are modern cities fit for purpose? Are they too big, too crowded, and too polluted? How might we make the urban space more liveable?
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Keep an Open Mind: Skepticism as a Necessary Virtue
We are a divided society in which people see opinion as truth. A healthy dose of skepticism will help us all.
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"The Future in America": H.G. Wells Looks at the United States
Writing in 1906, Wells takes a look at the United States and wonders how it will all turn out.
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"Famine, Affluence, and Morality": Reflections on Peter Singer's Essay
Fifty years ago, moralist Peter Singer reached a startling conclusion about our moral obligations. Was he right?
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The Woke Culture Dispute: Wake Me When It's Over
Why are we arguing about whether something is "woke" or not? Why do conservatives use "woke" as an insult?
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Controlling Addiction: Why the War on Drugs Will Fail
"Just Say No!" It's easy to say, but the slogan marginalizes the power of addiction. We can't win a war on drugs with current tactics.
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Upton Sinclair: "The Jungle" and American Socialism
In the early years of the 20th century, socialism was winning adherents and seemed to pose a threat to the old order. Upton Sinclair was a prominent socialist who used his novel "The Jungle" to illustrate the inequities of capitalism. Its effect was not what he expected.
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Atlantis - the Civilization That Won't Disappear
The story of Atlantis has captured the public imagination since Plato first mentioned it nearly 2.5 millennia ago. Many are convinced that Atlantis was real. Unfortunately, there isn't a shred of evidence.
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The City of London: Power and Privilege
The City of London is a mysterious place. A place of enormous power that is largely hidden from the eyes of the world.
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Jimmy Carter and the Crisis of Confidence
How should we judge Jimmy Carter's presidency? Was he a weak leader or a victim of circumstance?
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The Milgram Experiments - Obedience and Abuse of Power
How far are ordinary people willing to go when they believe that they are following orders? Stanley Milgram attempted to find out.
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Barbarossa: A German Mistake
Could Germany have won the Second World War? At the time, many thought it was possible. In fact, the Germans faced insurmountable obstacles.
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The White Rose Resistance Group: A Lesson in Courage
The courage of the members of The White Rose serves as a lesson to us all. The members were naive, and their actions were largely ineffective. Still, they stood up. Would we have been brave enough to do so?
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The Conservative Flaw
In 1837, Benjamin Disraeli coined the term "One-nation Conservatism". British Conservatives have paid lip service to the idea ever since. What is the Conservative flaw?
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Cut to the Chase - The Best Put-Downs
A witty, stinging insult or comeback can be toe-curling. Most of us wouldn't want to be at the end of the remarks that we list here.
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How (not) to Throw a Great Dinner Party
You've got guests coming over for dinner but you're not used to cooking for others. There are pitfalls that you can avoid and make your evening a success.
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A Shock to the System
Life seems to exist wherever it can get a foothold. We are probably near the point where we will discover simple life in our solar system. We are actively looking in our galaxy. But what happens when we find it?
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The Gambling Trap: Bet Your Bottom Dollar
Many enjoy a harmless flutter, but for some the chances of winning big turn a pastime into an addiction. Why?
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A Flight of Fancy? The Strangeness of the Quantum Universe
What is it about quantum physics that is so different from classical physics? A beginner's guide to the quantum universe.
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Fall of the Dragon: The Challenge Facing China
China is fast approaching a crisis point. How it handles the next few years will decide its future.
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The Second Coming - An Analysis of Yeats' Poem
The Second Coming is perhaps the best-known of Yeats' poems. A close reading will help us understand what Yeats was trying to tell us.
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Teaching History to School Students - A New Approach
History helps us understand how we got to be where we are. The young should find it fascinating but, unfortunately, many don't. Here are some thoughts about how to change this.
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Enceladus - Saturn's Surprising Child
Enceladus was of little interest for many years. Further research has uncovered some very surprising facts. Is there life on this tiny moon?
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Help Your Doctor Help You: How to Have a Healthy Doctor-Patient Relationship
We're sometimes our own worst enemies when it comes to talking to our doctor. Here's how to help..
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Is There Anybody out There? the Search for Life in Space.
The successful launch of the Webb telescope has given us a powerful new tool in our search for life on other worlds. Will we find anything?
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Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. The Work of a Lifetime.
Fascinating and endlessly frustrating. Brewer's world is a world of shifting mists. Did you know that people from Nebraska are called "bug-eaters"?
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Behind Bars - Is Prison the Best Option?
Are we dealing with criminals in the right way? Are there more constructive options?
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The Emptying of Spain
Vibrant Madrid and the bustling coastal resorts hide a grim reality. Many areas of the interior are dying. Why is this happening and what can be done?
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Why Conspiracy Theories Persist
Why do so many people believe in conspiracy theories? Why do such beliefs continue even when they can be shown to be wrong?
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Neoliberalism: Paved With Good Intentions
Something has gone wrong in western liberal democracies. The political landscape is riven with infighting and the division between the left and right has never been so stark. Is it time to rethink our standards?
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Wild Predictions That Were Very Wrong
The future is uncertain but some of us are certain about it—certainly wrong!
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Is the Market Moral?
Is there a problem with how markets work?
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Route 66 Playlist: 13 Artists Rockin’ the Mother Road
Route 66 winds through the fabric of modern America. Follow the road and listen to some of the artists connected to its cities.
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A Perfect Societal Storm
That light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. Can we get out of the way?
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10 Great Songs of Loss and Longing
Songs of longing and loss can transport us back in time to experiences that, for good or ill, made us who we are today. From "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" to "Diamonds and Rust," here are 10 of my favorites.
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The Day She Dreamed Of
A topical story about loss
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What Is the Future of Work?
Society is changing rapidly, and with it, the way we work is changing too. What does the future hold?
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Fear of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a plague that sweeps all before it. What makes it so dangerous? How do we deal with it?
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How Can I Know What Is Right?
As societies become more complicated, old certainties come under pressure. What are the implications for our moral code?
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The Bleak World of Eliot's " The Hollow Men".
In "The Hollow Men" Eliot returns to the desolate world of "The Waste Land". This much shorter poem contains some of the most quoted lines in modern literature.
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Walking the Camino de Santiago
The French portion is still the most popular route of Camino de Santiago. Here you'll find tips and anecdotes that will make your journey memorable.
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How to Get the Most Out of Google Reviews
People read Google reviews. Building a portfolio of customer reviews will boost your business. How you deal with your reviews says a lot about your business.
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Omegle: Too Many Red Flags for Parents
Omegle is just one of many chat platforms. What's wrong with it? Does it represent a threat to our kids?
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Hayek on Planning an Economy
Is the economy beyond rational control? What did Friedrich Hayek think?
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Thoughts on "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
This well-known poem talks about the choices we make. Here are some thoughts that might help students to focus on the poem's implications.
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Is Franchising for You?
Starting a franchise can be an exciting opportunity. But there are things you should think about before taking the plunge.
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Stalin: The Man Who Wasn't
Stalin was one of the most dreadful tyrants in history. But who was he really?
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A World Without God
Nietzsche caused a scandal when he declared that "God is dead!". Why did he come to this conclusion? What had happened in the world that led him to believe that God was absent?
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Freedom and Its Constraints: The Limits to What We Should Do
In mature democracies, we take the notion of freedom very seriously, perhaps without thinking of the implications. The distinction between "free to" and "free from" causes much disruption in society.
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The Problem With Identity Politics
"Identity politics" divides the left and infuriates the right. Why? What are "identity politics," and why are they so divisive?
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Dunbar Numbers - the Key to Understanding Society?
Robin Dunbar noticed something important about groups of primates. Can his findings be applied to human society? If so, what do they tell us about ourselves?
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Different Voices: A Reading of “the Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
“April is the cruellest month...” Why wake us from our dreams? In “The Waste Land,” T.S. Eliot discusses a world that we know all too well.
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Pol Pot - The Forgotten Dictator
In a century with more than enough tyrannical killers, Pol Pot was among the worst.
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Robert Owen, A Man Who Always Put Others First
Robert Owen was a man who recognized the problems that the Industrial Revolution had caused. Whether his response was the best one is open to debate...
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Capatalism 1 vs Marxism 0
When Henry Ford raised wages to $5.00 a day, he started something that ran out of control.
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The Birth of Frankenstein
What does a volcano have to do with the birth of Frankenstein? This unlikely tale led to one of the most celebrated creations in English literature.
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James Webb Telescope: Triumph of Science or Waste of Money?
Should we have spent so much on James Webb when there are more pressing problems?