Archives

A little-known synthetic opioid most Americans have never heard of is now appearing in forensic laboratories across North America and Europe. In many jurisdictions, it is not routinely included in toxicology panels. N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine, has been linked to fatal overdose investigations in parts of the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been detected in community […]

Fighting in professional sports typically draws severe penalties, game suspensions, and fines.  Yet in hockey, it is a part of the game, with referees allowing the players to exchange punches until their exhaustion allows the referees to break them apart and send them to their respective penalty boxes.  Fighting is used to ensure that no one […]

As generative AI tools move from experimental technology to everyday workplace infrastructure, how we talk about their role and responsibility matters more than ever. On Wednesday, January 21, Anthropic quietly released a revised “constitution” for Claude, a document detailing the values and ideal downstream behaviors for its frontier AI model. The document describes Claude as […]

One day, I receive a door hanger inviting me to attend a “Kids Fun Day” at a local church. That Sunday afternoon, I go with my 11-year-old son. Just after I park my car, a gracious, smiling greeter walks us to the event ground. A pretty good gathering in the courtyard. A kids’ inflatable play […]

By this point of the year, many New Year’s resolutions have begun to unravel. Researchers have long noted that most resolutions are abandoned within weeks—a pattern so common that the second Friday of the year has been dubbed “Quitter’s Day.” Why the drop-off? Resolutions often fail because they’re built on pressure rather than sustainability. We set goals we think we should pursue, instead […]

The 2026 Winter Olympics have started. Athletes are competing this month in Italy. These Olympics are the largest ever, featuring the most athletes, sports, and events in history. As 3500 athletes from 93 countries compete, an estimated 56 million Americans will watch the Games on TV and social media. The whole world feels united in the spirit of the Games, despite cultural differences.  The Opening […]

A recent article highlighted that Louisiana’s wages are among the lowest in the nation. As native southerners, this struck a nerve. For too long, the “cost of labor”— the minimum an employer can pay based on local market scales — has been the status quo. Consequently, workers in Southern states have been penalized for their […]

The longest government shutdown in US history created significant disruptions. A second partial government shutdown occurred when lawmakers could not agree on Department of Homeland Security funding.  There is nothing in place to prevent future government shutdowns, given the ongoing chaos fomented by the administration and the legislative dysfunction in Washington. If there is any silver lining, any time the […]

There are many things to worry about when planning a wedding – the logistics, the ceremony, the weather, and everything in between. But for many Americans with disabilities, the biggest concern isn’t the vows or the venue; it’s the fear that getting married will cost them their health care, housing, or basic income. Under current […]

Homelessness continues to confound Republicans and Democrats alike. There are no easy fixes. No single policy will untangle it. What it does require is an open mind and the humility to admit a difficult truth.  It could happen to almost anyone. I don’t claim to have the answers. But I do have several years of lived […]