Yesterday was the day Montgomery County Community College (Montco) distributed caps and gowns to its graduating students, with commencement set to be held this Thursday evening. As part of the cap and gown distribution, the College was having a picnic for the students as well. In addition to the food tables, there were several tables … Continue reading Another Enlightening Day at the Community College →

Because of something that happened 20 years ago today. On May 15, 1997, Amazon's stock went public, at an initial price of $1.50 per share (adjusted for future stock splits). IF  (and I know that's a big IF) I had used my extra earnings from teaching a couple of courses the previous summer and bought 6,000 … Continue reading This Is Why I’m Not Living in a Beachfront in Sarasota →

Here's the opening to a post I wrote about six months ago: I’ve mentioned Dan Ariely several times before in my posts (here, here, here, here, here, and here). He’s one of my favorite behavioral economists, and has written a couple of best-selling books on decision making, including Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. … Continue reading Sorry, Dan, but I’ve Got to Disagree with You On This One (Again) →

I have no plans to own a restaurant, now or in the future, but if I did, I know exactly what restaurant I would model mine after - The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ. What first attracted me to the Pop Shop was that they had vegan pancakes on the menu. I love pancakes, but … Continue reading If I Owned a Restaurant, This Is What It Would Be Like →

A joint product of  Sustainia, DNV GL, and the UN Global Compact, the Global Opportunity Explorer, details 300 ways companies can engage in "sustainable innovation," leading to better societies as well as new business opportunities. The Global Opportunity Explorer is categorized by 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms … Continue reading A New Online Tool Shows You How to Tackle the World’s Most Pressing Problems →

The words to "Easy to be Hard" came to me while I was reading the comments to an article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. The article looked at a voter-education effort organized by the ACLU known as the Campaign for Smart Justice, which seeks to reduce incarceration rates and curb racial bias in the justice system. The voter … Continue reading How Can People Be So Heartless? →

I love going to see plays (especially musicals), movies, concerts, and other live performances (jugglers, magicians, comedians, etc.), but for whatever reason, I've never had any desire to go see an opera. My perception of opera is that you sit there and listen to people sing in a language you don't understand, so where's the … Continue reading Now This Might Be Just What It Takes to Lure Me to the Opera →

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” That is a quote from Viktor Frankl's classic book, "Man's Search for Meaning". Frankl was a psychiatrist and a neurologist, as well as a Holocaust survivor. … Continue reading More People Need to Read Viktor Frankl →

We had the opportunity to see another powerful social justice documentary at Villanova last night. Posi+ive is a movie that was filmed in South Africa, and examines the issues of racism, sexism, HIV, and empowerment through the powerful voices of black women. The movie features Mandisa Madikane, a black, lesbian South African woman who contracted HIV … Continue reading HIV and a Virus of Voice →

Those are the words of  Rev. Jeff Putthoff, the founder and executive director of HopeWorks N' Camden, a nonprofit that provides youth with the resources, training, and support they need to realize their dreams and thrive in their community. Hopeworks believes that every youth, no matter their history, has the ability to succeed and thrive. Not … Continue reading “Hope Is Sweaty” →