It’s the last Thursday in June, National Handshake Day. So, gimme five, friend. But wait. As the old cartoon stallion, Quick Draw McGraw used to say: “Hold on there, Baba Looey!” Since … more

In a recent column, I averred that the George Floyd death and protests-in-reaction represented a classic case of the powerful “us versus them” syndrome that is baked into the human brain. Racism … more

When I was a senior in high school, I received a telephone call from a man who was obviously disguising his voice, claiming to be a scout for the Chicago Bears. I knew right away it was Uncle … more

In his illuminating 800-page book “Behave,” Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky describes how the brain shapes our actions, sometimes based on hard-wired “Us versus Them” … more

The next time you snack on almonds, add blueberries to your smoothie or eat pumpkin pie, thank a pollinator and thank farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners who work hard to create and maintain their habitat. more

This essay is not about who should be elected president in November, but about something arguably as important: How to avoid a sloppy election count, which could throw the nation into chaos. … more

Dick Poppe once gave me $10, out of the kindness of his heart. Technically, it was a bet, but it was one that Poppe knew from the jump that he had no chance of winning. He came to our counter the … more

Organizers of a Black Lives Matter protest in Anna, Illinois, figured 10 people might show up for their event on June 4. The organizers endured threats of violence for days leading up to the … more

Saturday, June 6, marks the 76th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, France, that launched the United States and its allies on their path to victory in World War II. Many historians … more

A familiar narrative has gained traction in the wake of the oil demand shock brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. According to one pundit, “The inexorable decline of oil has begun.” Reports … more