I believe people have much to teach us and that we truly are equals. I was raised to believe that people, given the chance, can make something of themselves. But I do not value someone being wealthy or having stuff or having power as being successful.

An interesting recent study suggests that the size of a portion that someone orders can be influenced by their need to enhance their status.

As a society, we Westerners exalt individualism and self-reliance, and yet our biology moves us in other directions. Humans evolved as social animals, and we posses a number of behaviors that motivate us towards group conformity.

In the U.S., the outward markings of success are for sale. The value of these status symbols is particularly high for people when they are feeling that they are being discriminated against.

What if the presumed sex difference in infidelity isn't as set-in-stone as we assume it is? What if power does predict unfaithfulness, but no more so for men than women?

It may be that we have failed a whole generation of children by telling them how special and great they are, and coddling them from doing anything too difficult (or dangerous).

Juan has the intelligence, dedication, skills, commitment, and caring needed. What he doesn't have is a green card.

Some problems, a friend recently suggested, are not in fact problems at all. They are pribbles -- problems of a privileged existence.

The on-going exchange [...] was about the newest styles of certain designer handbags, and how the changes rendered last year's bags suitable for nothing more than make-up totes and packing accessories.