Author Archives: dave

What is the Mystery Project? As I announced last week here and on CogDaily, it’s a new project that will be a major focus of my efforts for the foreseeable future. But what exactly is it? I’m not going to … Continue reading →

Last week’s Science Online conference was an amazing gathering of some of the brightest minds in science communication. What I didn’t talk about in my SEED report was one of the final sessions of the conference, Online Civility and Its … Continue reading →

Since the farewell post on Cognitive Daily directed people here, it’s only fair to let all the new folks know what they’re in for. First of all, what is this place? Well, I can only tell you what it’s not. … Continue reading →

Is it possible to live on just 40 percent of your income, and save the rest? It is if you use the optimistic “accounting system” proposed in this article. Here’s how it works, says freelance copywriter Mary-Jo Dionne: Every time … Continue reading →

The “game story” is broken, there’s no doubt about that. As Jason Fry argues quite convincingly on Reinventing the Newsroom, the standard newspaper-style report on sporting events simply doesn’t make any sense. A game report is based on the inverted-pyramid … Continue reading →

I wrote the headline for this post on Twitter a few hours ago, after having racked my brain to come up with the four headlines required for each SEED column I write. Actually, I only ever manage to write two … Continue reading →

Yesterday I had to pick up some medication from Jim. Here’s what the instructions say: TAKE 1 10MG TABLET PER That’s it. So my question is, per what? Day? Hour? Week? Zodiac sign? Would it kill them to indicate the … Continue reading →

We all know that older cars tend to have higher emissions than newer cars. That’s why I pay $30+ per year for an inspection — to prove that my old 1994 Plymouth Voyager is still road-worthy. It’s not a great … Continue reading →

This sort of manufactured controversy drives me crazy. Apparently right-wing wackaloons are apoplectic because the Obama administration is encouraging people to send them the delusional emails they receive. (The administration “says” they are only asking for the emails so they … Continue reading →

Why did I start Cognitive Monthly? They say science journalism is in a crisis mode. Many newspapers are cutting their science sections, and even the venerable Scientific American is struggling to find a business model that works in the age … Continue reading →

The global recession has reared its ugly head once again. With news of homes and even private boats abandoned, it was only a matter of time before the great works of artists and architects suffered a similar fate. Just a … Continue reading →