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After being bitten by a dog, a man learned he had rabies. He immediately began making a list. His doctor informed him he had no need to make out a will; that rabies was curable. “I’m not writing a will,” he replied. “I’m making a list of people I want to bite.”
Read MoreIt’s over. Christmas has come and gone. Shopping, cheesy TV shows, the trip to Grandma’s, candy canes, giving and receiving gifts. But there’s a sense in which Christmas has only begun.
Read MoreIn 1919 a massive wave of molasses swept through Boston, killing 21 people and injuring 150 others. In the “dancing plague” of 1518, dozens of residents of Strasbourg, France danced uncontrollably for days. Many collapsed from exhaustion or died. In 897 a deceased pope was put on trial where his corpse was propped up in court. Bizarre events. But they pale in comparison to three simple words.
Read MoreTwo men were standing on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street in New York City, observing the Christmas rush. One man complained, “I hate Christmas. I’m sick of this traffic and all these crowds.” The other replied. “I find it astounding. A baby was born to two peasants in an obscure village halfway around the world. The parents had no money, yet two thousand years later, that baby creates a traffic jam on 5th Avenue, one of the most sophisticated streets on earth. This irritates you? It ought to fascinate you!”
Read MoreOur first exposure comes while walking through a department store. A familiar Christmas song wafts through the air like auditory perfume. Then we find ourselves humming the tune. Without any effort, Christmas spirit seizes our hearts. But that gentle nudge doesn’t last long.
Read MoreThe movie Fifty First Dates portrays the story of a woman who falls asleep each night, and forgets everything that happened the previous day. Although a romantic comedy, the film depicts an actual medical condition called Korsakoff Syndrome, in which some patients suffer from total short-term memory loss.
Read MoreIn 1956, a Navy F11 Tiger jet was struck by several rounds of ammunition and crashed. Later the pilot learned he had shot himself down. He was traveling so fast; he outran the ammo he was firing. It’s easy to do. Moving through life at breakneck speed, we can shoot ourselves down.
Read MoreImagine you’re stopped at a construction site, and a laborer passes in front of your vehicle. He’s dressed in work clothes, covered in dirt and sweat. His face exhibits a day’s growth of beard, and his hair is messy from toiling for hours. He’s trudging to who-knows-where, hungry and exhausted from a hard day’s work.
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