Over the past decades in the United States, there has been a rise in the number of people claiming no religious affiliation, or “nones.” While this includes atheists and agnostics, these individuals are often distinguished from those who actively identify as such. “Nones” may be agnostic or atheist, but most have a theistic or deistic…
Category: Society
The problem with college sports
The benefits First, let’s consider the pros. There are benefits for the athletes (scholarships, character building, career opportunities, etc.), benefits for the fans (entertainment), benefits for the university (income, prestige, etc.), and benefits for the community (economic stimulation, bringing the community together, etc.). These things are not to be disregarded. As we proceed to consider…
The MSG renaissance
Monosodium glutamate or MSG has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. MSG is a naturally occurring salt used as a food enhancer, adding umami or “savory” flavor. Americans have a strong association of MSG with Chinese food and Chinese restaurant syndrome (CRS), which includes MSG headaches and other symptoms. Now MSG is widely…
What I love about Morrowind
I recently beat Morrowind again. It’s one of those games that I come back to every couple years or so, and in fact Morrowind might be my favorite game of all time. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is an open world RPG developed by Bethesda and released in 2002, when I was 10 years old….
Livestreaming as a form of mass improv
Over the past decade or so, livestreaming on sites like Twitch and YouTube has become a major form of entertainment. There are many different kinds of streamers, but many of them incorporate humor and viewer interaction. Many of the funniest jokes and memes come from the chat. This is a form of improv comedy in…
An analysis of the podcast Cashing In with T.J. Miller
Cashing In with T.J. Miller is a podcast by comedians Cash Levy and T.J. Miller started in 2012. The premise is that it’s Cash Levy’s talk show, but he can’t find any guests to come on except for T.J. Miller. Each episode is structured in segments, starting with the Triple Banger Lightning Round (a series…
Pokémon and the merits of vague aspirations
I recently defeated the Pokémon League in Brilliant Diamond and I was thinking about how the Pokémon franchise characterizes end goals for Pokémon trainers. Most obvious is the Pokémon League championship: this is essentially the “main quest” of the mainline games. It is upon becoming champion that the credits roll. There is also the secondary…
How to approach animals
I am no expert by any means, but when I see others interacting with animals I often see several common and easy-to-make mistakes. I want to share here my idea of how to effectively interact with an animal you do not know, especially animals that are not immediately friendly and social. The most important principles…
But is it art?
“What counts as art” is such a perennial question in philosophy that it has been practically beaten into the ground by now. What else is there to say? The topic has been given new life by generative AI and other technological phenomena, but fundamentally the arguments are the same as they’ve ever been. My own…
Trailer Park Boys: Ricky as absurd hero
Trailer Park Boys is a long-running TV show in a mockumentary style that follows three characters, Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles, who live in a trailer park in Nova Scotia, Canada. The action follows the trio’s misadventures as they create illegal money-making schemes. Each season of the show typically begins with Ricky and Julian being released…
thoughts on mind 