Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
March 10 marked the 15th anniversary of the death of a famous American whose life was devoted to advancing our knowledge about language. He was, unfortunately, a controversial individual prone to drug use and violent outbursts, and wound up spending most of his life behind bars. He also liked bananas. I’m talking, of course, about Nim Chimpsky (1973–2000), the second … >>
Basketball player Dennis Rodman is an unusual character, to say the least. He is 6 feet, 7 inches (201 cm) tall, his body is covered in tattoos, he has rings through his ears, nose, lip and other body parts, and his hair is a color that does not occur in nature. Rodman has been married three times and has had … >>
As I mentioned last week, I learned a lot from the teachers I had at school. At home, in a neighborhood without many other kids, I had some other good teachers in the form of books. One of my favorite authors back then was Isaac Asimov (1920–1992). He’s mainly thought of as a science-fiction writer because of the lighthearted yet … >>
Yesterday was a time to reflect on a pioneering achievement. Sixty-five years ago, on June 11, 1948, the world’s first astronaut traveled to an altitude of 63 kilometers aboard an American V-2 rocket. His name was Albert. He was a rhesus monkey. Albert really was a pioneer. He was the first living organism to have flown to a significant altitude … >>
Fifty-six is too young an age for anyone to die at, let alone a pioneer and visionary. I call him that with some reluctance, because in certain ways, Steve Jobs has made my life more difficult. But his contributions to the advancement of human society cannot be overlooked. As computers go, I live in both worlds. At home, I use … >>
Every revolution needs a poet. The civil-rights movement was won not by people marching in the streets or setting fire to their neighborhoods, but by the eloquence of their leaders, who opened the ears and minds of the establishment. Martin Luther King talked about the problems in his neighborhood, but his dream was a dream for everyone. He made civil … >>
Eight years ago this Sunday, the child in us died, and we were all forced to grow up a little bit. That child was Fred Rogers — psychologist, musician, minister, TV star. For 33 years, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was the show that everyone in America watched when they were little. Rogers understood children like nobody else. He talked directly to … >>
Our hero has crash-landed on an alien planet! Spaceman Spiff crawls from the smoking wreckage of his ship, but he is soon captured by hideous creatures. Their leader — an octopus with the head of an insect — tells him, “You have knowledge we need. Cooperate, and we’ll kill you rather painlessly.” “What is it you want from me?” Spiff … >>
Who’s the person you’d most like to have dinner with, if you had the chance? There are lots of world leaders, famous actresses and authors who’d be on the list, I’m sure. But I’d choose Yakov Smirnoff, because he’d be the most entertaining. I did finally meet the Russian-American comedian last weekend. Well, not really; it was his double. (You … >>
He was only trying to be nice. He wanted to use his language skills. And if he didn’t help them, they would surely die. He was a Native American named Squanto. “They” were the Pilgrims, who’d arrived in Massachusetts in November 1620. Both are examples of the unlikely nature of the American story. The Pilgrims (known in England as the … >>