grin and bare it
A blog by Matthew Dicks
Navigating the world
A recent study examined why some people seem to have an innate sense of direction while others do not. The study found that people tend to fall into three groups: Those who make good mental…
Read MoreYou never know what might happen when you make stuff
I was speaking to a young person about the importance of making stuff. She’s an artist who one day hopes to make her living making art, but she’s plagued with worries about investing time in…
Read MoreWe may be doomed.
According to a recent Cash App Taxes survey, a whopping 25% of Gen Z taxpayers said they’d need a therapist to deal with the stress of tax-filing season. Additionally, 54% said filing taxes has either brought…
Read MoreBest names I have been called
Every now and then, my school’s cafeteria serves “Nachos Grande.” When I announce this meal option to my students, I add that “Nachos Grande” might be an excellent nickname for me that they might want…
Read MoreBig, fat religious liars
The National Bureau of Economic Research has made a shocking discovery. Polling data routinely indicates that about 22 percent of Americans report attending religious services on a weekly basis. However, by analyzing geodata from the…
Read MoreOnly $250?
I was teaching a storytelling workshop last month when one of the participants lamented that his parents had “only given $250 in pocket money” per month while he was attending college. And this was in…
Read MoreSometimes golf is perfect
The weather has finally turned. I stand on the precipice of the golf season at last. A time of unknown, unimaginable possibilities. Golf can often be frustrating, disappointing, and even ridiculous. But there are also…
Read MoreFirst Prize?
While performing in Schenectady, New York, a couple of weekends ago, I drove by this restaurant, which, as far as I can tell, could be: “First Prize Mike’s Frankfurts along with First Prize Hots with…
Read MoreCreativity cannot be defined
“Sweet Child O’ Mine,” the iconic song from Guns N’ Roses’ 1987 album Appetite for Destruction, has a fascinating creative story. The opening guitar riff—possibly one of rock and roll’s most famous guitar rights—was not…
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