Category Archives: salience markers

Dramatic language, and other dangers

Posted on 2 June 2025 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

This past weekend, my husband participated in a Berkeley conference sponsored by the LessWrong community, an online group focused on rationality and decision-making.   Today he’s sporting a t-shirt he got there, which features the title of a forthcoming book by … Continue reading →

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The “f” word

Posted on 6 November 2024 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

On October 23, Anderson Cooper asked Vice President Harris whether she considered Trump a fascist, and she said, “Yes, I do.” She later alluded to Trump as someone who “admires dictators and is a fascist.” Today, the New York Times … Continue reading →

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Momentary treasures

Posted on 24 August 2024 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

The first time I tried going on a walk this evening, I discovered it was starting to rain, so I went back inside for a bit. I’m glad I did, because the next time I tried, I found this: Wow! … Continue reading →

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Shocked by Mary Shelley

Posted on 31 October 2023 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

Until this month, I had never read Frankenstein. I always thought that I had, but, nope. Dracula is another matter – I bought my first copy from the Scholastic Book Club in sixth grade, and my life revolved around it … Continue reading →

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Is it “good”? Or is it “sweet”?

Posted on 12 April 2023 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

This year on Easter, after a lovely dinner with my partner and son, and after we each looked to see what the Easter Bunny had put in our Easter baskets, we settled down to consider playing the board game Bunny … Continue reading →

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From clickbait to transcendent meaning

Posted on 22 July 2022 by Laura Akers, Ph.D.

This evening the weather was perfect for reading outside, and that’s what we were doing, enjoying the rustling leaves overhead, the trickle of water from our little fountain, and the antics of four of our cats, when my phone gave … Continue reading →

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