Looking back on one of the overlooked gems of the “Platinum Age” of Television. — “Good cop and bad cop have left for the day. I’m a different kind of cop.” — Vic Mackey, The Shield And with that, we’re off. Ironically, the above line — spoken in the pilot by our main character — is, in my opinion, one of the worst of the…

Time to embrace individuality, at last. — I worked with a lot of miserable people. Not miserable in the sense that they were a net negative for society or had some fundamental character flaws, or anything. I just mean miserable in the sense that their perpetual state was one of, well, misery. They were, like many others…

Statistics and figures can be useful. So are the stories inside of them. — Cable news is a nightmare. I found myself reminded of this recently when I checked into a hotel that (gasp) lacked the option for me to sign into my various subscription services in the room. …

With costs still at a crisis point in many developed nations, solutions still seem far away. — My favorite apartment ever belonged to a friend of mine in Brooklyn. It had to have been — at most — 550 square feet, but it was decorated in such a clean, modern way and laid out perfectly. …

For now. — AI will change our world. On that, we seem to have a general agreement. We diverge when it comes to the threat AI poses to the structure of our society, work lives, and other items. Some say that the technology is bland, lifeless, and limited in application. Others say that…

It’s possible to elect a third-party candidate. Just not the way we’re currently trying to. — It’s one of the most interesting dynamics in American politics. Polling always shows tremendous support for the idea of a third option beyond Democrat or Republican, just as it shows significant dissatisfaction with the current system altogether. …

Religion, while still powerful, has been usurped. — What do you do when everyone around you is voluntarily destroying their health? It’s a very subjective question. Some people feel inclined to tell smokers to stop when they see them outside. Others are just fine enabling someone’s hardcore drug use. …

Our poorest towns don’t even function the same way as the rest of the nation. — Imagine, in your head, a town on the edge of collapse. High poverty levels, high crime levels, declining population, and declining job opportunities. Hopefully, you’ve never had to live in one. If you have, though, you’ll have a clear image of what “downtown” or the “commercial” area looks like. …

Reinforcing stigmas and assumptions to the masses — We’ve come a long way when it comes to the topic of mental health. Once a topic that you didn’t speak of at all, to anyone, we’ve now seen it become one that some people feel quite comfortable discussing openly with strangers. …