Virtue becomes performance in polarized societies. A dialogue with a frontier large language model examines how signaling tribal allegiances replaces substantive action—creating moral certainty that fragments coalitions and blinds participants to structural problems threatening the entire system’s survival.

Love requires joy. After decades mired in gloom—from failed entrepreneurial ventures to society’s unraveling—a father learns that rewiring his brain isn’t enough. His daughter’s persistence teaches him that joy requires moment-by-moment consciousness: a gift of gratitude and healing.

Paul Wesley Myers was killed January 2, 1978, chasing a golf ball onto Highway 1. Born tongue-tied, and while only a toddler understood only by siblings, he thrived nonetheless. From small-town life on the outskirts of Army bases to Pattonville’s rough streets, Paul’s humor and grace made him beloved.

“A Point of No Return: Trumpism, Fascism, and Democratic Backsliding in America” explores the persistence and transformation of Trumpism, democratic backsliding in America, and the societal dangers of authoritarianism and hypocrisy, using anecdotes, personal reflection, and references to current events.

“From Bad to Worse: Social Media, Polarization, and the 2024 Election” examines the negative influence of social media on political polarization, personal decision to disengage from platforms, and whether society can improve itself amid entrenched partisanship.