Societal Needs

These messages describe what matters in our society with respect to our basic needs.

    • Stupidity

      It has always been common for us to refer to another person as being stupid. What is different now is that those comments seem to have become acceptable as public statements intended to denigrate another. What is stupidity? That’s a word we often use, but...

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    • The Inventor of Opinion Surveys

      Rensis was born in 1903 in Wyoming. He started college thinking he would become an engineer like his father. However, a professor influenced him to pursue degrees in economics and sociology. Eventually, he would earn a PhD in Psychology at Columbia. His career focus...

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    • The Better Angels of Our Nature

      It has become one of the most endearing inauguration addresses of any President. At the time, seven states had already left the Union. Possibly eight other states could join them. As is the case with any memorable speech, the closing was especially stirring. I am...

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    • Insurance

      What do the owner of a coffee house in London, the developer of the first calculator, an early developer of the fundamental concept of calculus, and the namesake of Halley’s Comet have in common? Each of the above played pivotal roles in the beginnings of what we now...

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    • Mortgages

      We tend to think of mortgages as being something that originated in the last few centuries. Actually, the first mortgages began in Persia in the fifth century BC. The original purpose of a mortgage was quite different from today. The original mortgages were used as...

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    • Causality

      Bradford Hill, a scientist born in 1897, developed criteria for determining whether causality in medical treatments exists. It’s striking that his work, which was first used in 1965, is a model for us today in areas outside of medical care. Our society has become one...

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    • Leadership and Education

      How important is a college degree as preparation for leadership? That’s a question that’s fodder for vigorous debate. There are valid points one could make supporting any number of positions. Most universities now have a leadership studies program. Are those programs...

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    • Transcendence

      It was 1967, and women were not allowed to officially run in the Boston Marathon. That didn’t stop Kathrine Virginia Switzer. While attending Syracuse University, she was granted permission to train with the men’s cross-country team. Her coach, Arnie Briggs, thought...

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    • Bot Prevention, Crowdsourcing, Language Learning

      Louis von Ahn was born in 1978 in Guatemala. Both of his parents were doctors, and he had privileges that others in his country did not have. His privileged background has helped shape his career. His experience in applying for college in the U.S. left him with a...

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    • The Purple Heart

      In 1782, George Washington commander of the Continental Army created the Badge of Military Merit. The original badge was a medal heart on a purple background. The award was discontinued in use until after World War I. In 1927, the Army Chief of Staff asked Congress to...

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