Education
Education
Quantitative Easing: A Simple Explanation
Although “quantitative easing” sounds complex, the idea is relatively simple in economic terms. The central banking system, the Federal Reserve in America, buys bonds from private or commercial banks. As the Wall Street Journal explains, “Bonds are a form of debt. Bonds are loans, or IOUs, but you serve as the bank. You loan your
Are You Honest?
When people think of Will Shakespeare’s Hamlet, they either think of “alas poor Yorick” and some dude with a skull, or Hamlet’s “To be or not to be.” The latter speech is incandescent in the play. But I would argue that the scenes which follow “To be or not to be” would tell you more
Cheating the System
My mom likes to tell a story about a letter she received from the state of California following her decision to keep me out of the public school system when I turned six years old, electing instead to become my teacher herself. She wrote to the education department requesting specific guidelines for keeping me on
Sentence Tightening
This sentence tightening video features a workshop on improving sentence-level clarity. The workshop includes discussions on the active voice, removing prepositional phrases, proper comma usage, avoiding redundancy, and so on.
Pioneer Profiles: Alice Bemis Taylor
Alice Bemis Taylor was a pioneer of arts and social programs in Colorado Springs. Although she preferred a quiet, humble lifestyle, her legacy has been the foundation of many familiar landmarks of Colorado Springs. In 1881, Alice Bemis was four years old when her family to Colorado Springs for her mother’s health. This was a common
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Novels and Collected Works
Flutes in History
Flutes are the oldest instrument in the world. Hollowed bird bones, with holes cut for tone changes, have been found in archaeological sites as old as 40,000 years. Early man may have heard wind whistling across the tops of reeds and designed an instrument that produced the same sound. Early flutes were played vertically, with
Joseph Campbell on Schopenhauer, Will, and Life’s Composition
In his splendid essay called “On an Apparent Intention in the Fate of the Individual,” Schopenhauer points out that when you reach an advanced age and look back over your lifetime, it can seem to have had a consistent order and plan, as though composed by some novelist. Events that when they occurred had seemed
Ten Reasons to Enjoy Shakespeare’s Works
In Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, Harold Bloom argues that Shakespeare did more than just shape the structure and content of the English language—he created human nature as we understand it today. As James Shapiro explains, “Shakespeare remains so popular and his most memorable characters feel so real because through them Shakespeare invented something that hadn’t
Some Advice for Professors Everywhere
Following is some advice for professors everywhere that should serve as a useful reminder. I offer it with respect and good intentions, knowing full well that we don’t always live up to these standards. Still, it never hurts to try. Check your ego at the door. Earning an advanced degree and securing part- or full-time
Japanese Women Are Rolling into Careers as Sushi Chefs
Times are changing for Japanese women, and the changes are profound. Traditionally, young Japanese boys and girls followed firmly established paths. For instance, as a young boy, Ono went out into his community to find a willing teacher to take him in and allow him to learn an art or trade as an apprentice. He