Sci-fi’s most beloved novel, Dune, presents a test for determining if you’re a human or merely an animal — “The natural human is an animal without logic.” -Lady Jessica, Dune. Dune, the wildly popular science-fiction classic written by Frank Herbert and published in 1965, tells the intriguing story of a vastly complex universe ruled by various noble houses, all vying for money and power around the most precious of…

It’s time to move on. — “The perception that plastic is easily recyclable — and that the burden of recycling lies solely with the consumer — has been shaped by decades of carefully constructed campaigns paid for by many of the most prevalent producers of plastic.” -Christopher Marquis for Forbes Magazine. It was Earth Day 1971…

When it comes to combating greenhouse gas, one need only look to the trash — This article first appeared in the April 21, 2022 edition of the Durango Telegraph. In the fight against climate change, one superhero sidekick is not getting the full recognition they deserve. Despite working diligently every day to combat greenhouse gas emissions, they remain mostly underappreciated worldwide. With Earth Day just…

My Dabble Into Sensory Deprivation Therapy — For quite some time, I’ve been intrigued by the concept of a sensory deprivation experience. My interest began long ago when I watched the sci-fi movie Altered States, starring William Hurt as a psychologist who becomes curious about different states of consciousness and the means of achieving them. …

Sending my not-so-little boy to sleep-away camp for the first time. — It was a beautiful, bright June morning when the big day finally arrived. It was the day my ten-year-old son, for the first time, would be heading to sleep away camp for two whole weeks away from home. I had mixed feelings about the entire thing. On the one hand…

Revoltingly gross or evolutionarily advantageous? — It happens. Maybe you’re at the park with your young child or, worse, at a restaurant chewing on your fried calamari as you notice your little one with a clinger on his finger. Next thing you know, it’s in his mouth. He takes one brief obligatory chew and swallows. …