You only need to watch an interview with Ameca to realize the future is here. The lifelike robot designed and built by Engineered Arts, a UK-based company specializing in robotic and AI solutions, is impressive. Twice I have watched an online video interview with Ameca, and each time I have come away with the feeling that I was watching an interaction between two people rather than a robot and a person. Although a video doesn’t permit touching Ameca, her skin looked real. And it was described as having the same feel as human skin. Engineers built earlier robots to maximize

Have you observed that some children raised under terrible conditions become responsible, accomplished members of society? Have you also observed that other children, like Alex Murdaugh, who grew up enjoying privileged conditions fail to flourish? Maybe even end up in prison? Or become unemployable? Child development specialists Bruce J. Ellis and W. Thomas Boyce have engaged in considerable research on the complex topic of ”biological sensitivity to context.”   In layperson’s terms, their theory explains how some children flourish even with severe adversity, while other children fail despite multiple advantages. Predisposition Makes Us Dandelions or Orchids The orchid versus dandelion theory

Not drinking alcohol, or reducing the amount of alcohol normally consumed, in January has become popular. Becoming a teetotaler, however, is a whole different matter. Entrenched in many cultures, alcohol has been consumed for thousands of years. A good example of enculturation is a recent Irish study that found that alcohol was a key part of Ireland’s national identity. And yet some people are adopting a no-alcohol strategy. Alcohol Is Unsafe in Any Amount The changes these individuals are making might be responsive, at least in part, to public health reports that alcohol—beer, wine, or spirits—is unsafe to consume in

A new supermarket opened near my home. To reach it, I leave my housing complex, walk across the street, and walk barely another half-block. You wouldn’t think this is a big deal! But this isn’t just any supermarket—it’s a Grand Frais supermarket. Shoppers here in France are so loyal to Grand Frais that they drive significant distances to shop at one. Lucky me! I am fortunate enough to have one within a five-minute walk. The best way to describe a Grand Frais is to compare it to Trader Joe’s in the US—only it’s like a Trader Joe’s on steroids. As

Although the intent was not conscious, in truth, Blackbird and its three sister novels turn out to be a personal case history of what is popularly called the Mother Wound. According to Bethany Webster, who coined the term, Mother Wound refers to "the pain of being a woman passed down through generations of women in patriarchal cultures. And it includes the dysfunctional coping mechanisms that are used to process that pain." Moreover, Ms. Webster states, "Difficulty and challenges between mothers and daughters are rampant and widespread but not openly spoken about. It’s generally considered taboo to acknowledge and discuss painful

Take this test to find out how much you know about the popular Scandinavian sport, kaninhoppning. The headquarters for the sport is Sweden, but it has become popular in the United States as well. Which one of these statements is true? Kaninhoppning is a unique way of fishing whereby anglers must stab the fish with a sharpened can. Kaninhoppning is a stylized form of dance where four couples must hop over each other’s legs in a particular dance sequence. Kaninhoppning is a sport for rabbits who, like horses, jump over fences and obstacles. Kaninhoppning is a national spelling contest in

Cassoulet. Just Don’t Start an Argument! My extended French family has a tradition of celebrating three February birthdays on a single occasion. This year’s celebration began early on a Sunday afternoon with a Champagne aperitif and hors d’oeuvres. During this relaxed time, birthday presents were exchanged and opened and thank-yous delivered, mostly in the form of kisses. Then the real fun started when we moved to the table for the main meal. We began with two different and traditional salads—a green leafy salad and a grated beet salad served with the same vinaigrette. Everyone, except me, was able to clean