Category Archives: Culture

The Times They Are A’changin’

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Jim Wheeler

COVID-19 has already changed lives radically, but it remains to be seen how much change we’ll see long-term, but some change seems inevitable because it’s happened before.  Its easy to see why people say “bless you” when someone sneezes. Will … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture, Economics, Healthcare | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

VIOLENCE!

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Jim Wheeler

What does science have to say about man’s tendency to violence? That is the subject of the latest episode of PBS’s NOVA program. Surprisingly, someone has found a way to quantify episodes of violence throughout history by statistical analysis of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ethics / Morality, Politics | 5 Comments

Good Writing

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Jim Wheeler

As an example of good writing I offer the following short essay by a favorite author, Lee Child. Titled Telling Tales, it is from the New Yorker magazine’s online newsletter and it struck me as a little masterpiece. Its candor … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, writing | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Make America What Again?

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Jim Wheeler

Prime among the apparent reasons for the political ascent of the phenomenon of Donald Trump is his theme of “Make America Great Again.” This has captured a populist revulsion for the ethnic and cultural changes that have been trending for … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

Artistic Genius?

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Jim Wheeler

I don’t get it.  I just don’t.  My inner curmudgeon demands expression. The artist formerly and lately known as Prince is being hailed, almost universally it seems, as a musical genius.  Admittedly, I’ve only listened to samples randomly encountered, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Measuring Up, Plan or Plot?

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

How does a parent measure a dose of liquid medicine for her child when the label says, give child ¾ teaspoonful by mouth twice a day for 5 days ? This was the real-life example used in a report by … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, government regulation, Healthcare | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

There, I feel much better now!

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

We humans are unique in being capable of abstract thought, and critical to that process is language.  Spoken language preceded the written form but writing has added a wealth of complexity, and capability.  If there is to be hope for … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Hooked in America

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

I just read an article by Nick Wing pointing out that the United States puts a greater percentage of its population in jail than any other OECD country. The OECD distinction excludes a number of countries that have poor regard … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | 5 Comments

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

Anonymity. It’s common on the internet of course. I recently had an interesting exchange of views about it with an anonymous blogger who uses the pseudonym “jonolan”. He is articulate and his comments usually reflect intelligent analysis, albeit they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, anonymity, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

It’s Only “Biddness”

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Jim Wheeler

Evolution is a systems phenomenon that applies to more than mere biology. Noted evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson postulated that it even applies to culture. Last week I noticed that it applies to the media as well. I’m talking about … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments