When I was little, I used to go next door to my friend Christine’s house first thing in the mornings, on weekends, to ask her to play. Her mom was always pulling fresh orange-icing rolls […]

The companionship business is known for inevitable break-ups. To honor the spirit and bonds formed by cupid’s arrows in my world, I think it’s important to explore the idea of what happens when things fall […]

When I was growing up I longed for my father to be like my best friend’s dad, who was warm and affectionate and grilled outdoors (this somehow made him seem more sophisticated—go figure). While i […]

When I got to grad school in 2001, I started downloading music from Napster. My friends at the campus radio station got me interested in obscure 70s rock and in 3 years of downloading, I […]

Do you freak out if your significant other glances at another person?  Do you get upset?  What if it’s more than a glance; what if it’s a lingering stare?  Or what if they “accidentally” bump […]

How do high IQ people cope with normal people?  I’ve become considerably curious about this, because I’ve dealt with the adversities of having high intelligence

Sometimes it pays to forego having children and to be a doting aunt instead. I actually gain more from taking care of my niece and nephew than I would from having

Some cataclysms disrupt society for only a generation or two, while others are so destructive that recovery can take centuries.  When it occurs again, the human race will have to pick itself up… […]

When I’ve disclosed my credentials and IQ, a tired old question has been asked by companion-haters:  “if you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich enough to not be a companion?”  I usually shrug… […]

Let me tell you a story.  Actually, let me spare you the story, especially when it comes to marketing.  Don’t you feel better?  I certainly would.  Just the anticipation of having to sit through

When I tell friends I’m going to see my therapist, they know it means I’m going to the beach.  It’s there that I’ve come to the conclusion:  if humans didn’t have sandy beaches

Homo sapiens is the master exploiter, defined by our irrepressible drive to remake our world, to push past things as they are and explore their hidden possibilities.  Our manipulation of life’s systems is at the […]

The college admissions scandal rightfully generates anger and concern that the wealthy can buy admission to elite colleges.  As a Berkeley grad, I want to see the integrity of the admissions process protected.  That said, […]

Real food should be a right, not a privilege.  To feed ourselves food that isn’t good for us is immoral.  We have an obligation

I don’t take pride in thinking, much less writing, about my sins—but who does?  Maybe it’s good I don’t take pride in thinking about my sins since pride is a cardinal sin.  As a bit

I’ve always felt a kinship with those who struggle to communicate.  I’m very self-conscious about speaking, and prefer observing groups rather than presenting to them.