“The whole drama of the world is such tragedy that I am weary of the spectacle.” — John Adams John Adams wasn’t the first — or the last — to grow weary of the world’s…

The countdown to America’s 250th anniversary has begun. Soon we’ll celebrate with fireworks, cookouts, baseball games, and neighborhood gatherings — the traditions that make the Fourth of July uniquely American. Although most people look forward…

Ever hear a song and then it gets stuck in your head for hours? Well, it happened to me this week. And the song that set up camp in my head turned out to be…

Growing up, one of my parents’ lectures seemed to be on permanent repeat: “No fighting.” The rule applied to everything. Don’t fight with your siblings. Don’t fight with the neighbor kids. Don’t fight over who…

Children fear monsters under the bed. Adults, meanwhile, seem to embrace them. Monster trucks. Monster movies. Monster energy drinks. But one monster is very real — and it may have done more for human health…

It’s a quest as old as civilization itself. Humans have been searching for longevity hacks for as long as they’ve been telling stories. From mythical fountains that restored youth to Cleopatra’s donkey milk baths, every…

While The Download takes time to observe Memorial Day, a few thoughts for the long weekend. For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer — a weekend of parades, backyard cookouts, travel,…

When it comes to Mother’s Day, there are certain things most of us already know. It falls every year on the second Sunday in May. It’s a day to recognize your mother — or someone…

There are some things that define a moment — and then quietly fade away. Video rental stores. Pay phones. Telephone books. Floppy disks. And, of course, my personal nemesis: paper maps. Unfold them once, and…

The phrase “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” has been around so long that it almost feels like a law of life. You hear it in economics classes, political speeches, and everyday conversation,…

Spring has finally arrived, and I welcome most of it. The flowers are blooming, the trees are budding, and birds are chirping again. But spring also signals the return of another annual ritual — lawn…

Every story, across every generation, seems to have one. There’s the lovable but misguided Mr. Know-It-All from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, where Bullwinkle J. Moose confidently dispenses advice that almost always goes hilariously…

Watching NASA’s launch this week reignited that sense of awe and possibility. I still remember STS-1, when Columbia lifted off and reusable spacecraft turned science fiction into reality. And then there are the moments that…

Opening Day of Major League Baseball always takes me back — to baseball cards. With a younger brother, those cards — especially the Topps brand — were a whole experience. We’d beg our parents for…

Before betting apps, odds boosts, and one-click wagers, my version of a “bet” looked very different. My brother and I would stand in the driveway, arguing over who could sink the most shots into the…