Michael T. Starks

Category: Society

  • Meaningful Contributions

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    How we contribute at work can make a monetary difference. Sometimes, it can be more than that. When we smile and say, “Good morning” to a co-worker, we contribute to that individual and to the health of the workplace culture. Humans are social beings. Connecting with each other is a fundamental part of who we…

  • How Do I Contribute?

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    While I find many ways to contribute, I want to consider the more constricted view of contribution as making money for someone. As a kid, I sometimes sold lemonade at a popup lemonade stand on hot summer days. My mom provided the half-cut lemons, water, sugar, bowl, ladle, and plastic cups. I did the mixing,…

  • Not Belonging

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    I’ve talked about this before. During the last forty years, there’s been a shift from almost everyone watching the same TV shows to almost no one watching the same TV shows. This is not about TV shows. This is about the many bifurcations of our cultural touchpoints. In the 1970s, there were three major TV…

  • Options

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    It’s good to have options. I was going to sing and play a song for this blog post, but I wasn’t ready. Now, I could have skipped writing a blog post today and spent the time practicing this song. I don’t think I’m too far off from being mostly ready. Instead, let’s see if there’s…

  • The Millennium Prize Problems

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    I ran into this article not too long ago, and I was reminded how cool The Millennium Prize Problems are. These are some of the most difficult problems that mathematicians consider significant. Since the seven problems were announced in 2000, only one has been solved. The reclusive mathematician Grigori Perelman solved the Poincaré Conjecture in…

  • Falling Snow

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    There is something very peaceful in watching gently falling snow. While I’ve never seen “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, the image and melody from The Christmas Song evoke the same peaceful feeling. It’s times like this when I appreciate the changing seasons. I appreciate walking outside when it’s “too hot” or “too cold”. Being…

  • Discouraged Doesn’t Cover It

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    I’m not happy about the 2024 Presidential Election results. When Trump won in 2016, it was easy to think of his victory as a fluke. It was easy to think that many people just didn’t like Hillary Clinton. His win in 2024 is more disturbing. It indicates that a large number of people endorse his…

  • Election Day Musings

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    I am grateful that I live in a country where people have the right to vote. I am concerned that I live in a country where huge sums of money are spent to influence the results of our elections. Wealthy individuals and large companies have a bigger say in the political arena than most citizens.…

  • Skin in the Game

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    Yesterday’s post about Pigs and Chickens is related to the idea of having “skin in the game”. This phrase refers to not being a bystander. When people take risks in their work, they often care more about the outcome than those just watching. To be clear, both Pigs and Chickens can have skin in the…

  • Discovering Artists

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    Recently, I stumbled upon the following video about Jon Batiste. I had never heard of him before this. I immediately wanted to know more about this artist! His joy and enthusiasm are infectious. I love how he provides feedback and music in response to this song he’s never heard before. So, I looked up some…