From sports coaches to marketing experts, we all use numbers every day. We need them to understand the world around us, to communicate with each other, and—sometimes—to convince people to take action. Just one problem: the human brain didn’t evolve to readily digest big numbers. It’s not just you; none of us have the right […]
The Dark Truth Behind AI
What is artificial intelligence? If you ask someone on the street, they might mention Apple’s Siri or Tesla’s cars. But the real answer is far more complicated. Examining the origins of AI and its pitfalls, writer and academic Kate Crawford wants people to know that the AI industry depends on cheap human labor to do […]
A World Turned Upside Down
January 2021 was the worst month of US Congressman Jamie Raskin’s life. After a long struggle with depression, Raskin’s only son Tommy took his own life on New Year’s Eve. Just one week later, violent insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol. January 6 was Raskin’s first day back to work after his son’s death. It was […]
Mindfulness for Annoyed People
When you think of meditation and mindfulness, what comes to mind? A calm afternoon on retreat, perhaps, or a mountain cabin vacation. But mindfulness should be an everyday practice, not just something that happens when conditions are right. The Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh said that you can practice mindfulness anywhere, whether […]
How to Retire Early
If you want to retire early, you need to make sure that you’re focusing on the right strategies now. Just working hard to get a raise probably isn’t going to get you there. There are three main types of income: ordinary, portfolio, and passive. Ordinary income is working for money in the form of paychecks, […]
How to Create Branded Content
A post is never just a post, especially if you want to be a paid influencer. No matter what platforms you’re using, brands will be scrutinizing your content to see if you’re someone they want to do business with. They’re closely studying photos of you and photos of your surroundings to see if your image […]
The Invisible Influencers
The most talented ones are all but invisible. But whether or not you know their names, public relations professionals deeply influence our day-to-day lives, working behind the scenes to shape our opinions. The public requires information about…well, everything. And we use that information to formulate the judgments that make the world move—pressuring politicians, interacting with businesses, […]
Make Your Money Work for You
The last few years have vividly demonstrated that some money matters are outside our personal control. Even the savviest investors can’t change the fact that financial losses will inevitably happen. What we can control is how we respond. Financial literacy has never been more important, but it’s not taught in most classrooms. When kids think about money, […]
True Love isn’t Just a One-Time Deal
With a fake identity and very little money, Katie is hoping to start a new life in Southport, North Carolina. She’s running from her abusive husband, Kevin, who had beaten her horribly for years. He kept promising to do better, but the beatings had gotten worse. Katie escaped, but she knows that Kevin is looking […]
Who’s Pulling Your Strings?
Propaganda doesn’t have the best reputation. We often associate it with manipulation, like Nazi propaganda in World War II. And we can still see its negative effects today, playing out in places such as Eastern Europe. But propaganda isn’t inherently good or bad. It can be used for a wide range of purposes. Consider public […]
