Trumpets, tubas, sousaphones, euphonia, bazookas, alphorns, litui, sackbuts, bugles, trombones, superbones, flugelhorns, vuvuzelas—all remain Apocalyptic contenders, as far as I’m concerned.

Had the sickly mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal been expected to shift for himself more, would he have burned as brilliantly? Perhaps. But then again, perhaps not.

Not being maximally risk-averse is sensible. But when the worst happens, we must find a way to live with the knowledge that we didn’t do all we could. No parent is immune from this.

Snow may only be available at a certain latitude, during a particular climate cycle. But it’s a beautiful reminder of memory, wonder, and new life.

Darkness reminds us of our own limits, the finite nature of our reasoning—and of the light that can penetrate even the blackest of moments.

Lights do not shine in darkness unless darkness predominates. Darkness is how we come to know that light, not darkness, has positive substance, a substance not to be taken for granted.

As women spruce up their homes with assorted items of seasonal decor, men might ask, ‘Why, Glade?’

We shouldn’t admire the risk-takers when they succeed yet have no tolerance when they fail. Celebrate failure this weekend by seeing ‘Florence Foster Jenkins.’

Mating game strategies are a potential solution for some of the many people confused by our culture’s sexual free-for-all.