Nikolaas "Niko" Tinbergen captured the world’s attention when he managed to monopolize the attention of male butterflies with his cardboard female that looked much sexier than the real deal. Niko Tinbergen was a Dutch ornithologist and biologist interested in explaining animal instincts, and what the factors...
Seventeen months in the nation of Denmark made me an odd kind of conservative. A good friend, Bryce Johnston, is fond of saying, “I served a girl’s mission.” (We’ll see if he ever reads these columns.) He refers to the fact that, for just a few...
Last week I commended the book, “The Road Less Travelled” by Dr. M. Scott Peck. The book is a very positive view of live and of love, and encourages the reader to stretch and to grow. This week I review another of his books, “People...
“Life is difficult. “This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer...
Marriage is fraught with difficulties, requiring adjustments on both parts that can take careful planning and accommodation. Much of my work is helping good people to not become overwhelmed with discouragement when they learn to work within some of their inherent incompatibilities. Ruth and I had...
Marijuana is often described as a harmless recreational substance. Many have pushed for legalization, claiming that is would replace the use of alcohol, making our roads and children safer. Others have promoted pot use a means of becoming more thoughtful and creative. Not so, according to...
Oxford professor Mark Williams notes that many adults suffering from serious depression are essentially discouraged and hopeless about feeling discouraged and hopeless. In other words, they are depressed about being depressed. All, or nearly all, or us experiences low moods. These can be associated with experiencing...
I am a rock star. Well, I do sometimes dream of impressing people by playing beautiful or exciting music. My instrument of choice in these brief flights from reality is the guitar. Most often it is a Gibson Les Paul—you know, the preferred instrument of rock...
When our son was born the doctor generously offered to let me cut the umbilical cord connecting him to my wife. While that seemed like a lovely idea, I have to say that it was surprisingly tough, and a little on the gross side. So...
Sunday evening my wife called my attention to the lead article in Saturday’s Standard Journal. She pointed out that Chris Mann was the only member of the city council to oppose the recent proposal that Rexburg loosen liquor laws. “Props” to Mann for taking a...