The article states. “The Interior Department has cited national security concerns from a classified Defense Department report as justification for halting renewable energy permits.” Yeah. Right. Renewable energy will be America’s downfall. While China races ahead of us in developing all types of energy.

Article Summary:

The Trump administration has agreed to pay French energy company TotalEnergies $1 billion to abandon two offshore wind farm projects off New York and North Carolina, redirecting the investment toward oil and gas development instead.

President Trump has long opposed offshore wind energy, calling turbines unattractive, costly, and harmful to wildlife—claims that industry advocates dispute. This settlement represents a new tactic by the Interior Department to halt offshore wind development, complementing previously issued stop-work orders on five permitted projects that were blocked by court injunctions.

Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will return its two wind leases to the federal government and has committed to avoiding future offshore wind projects in the United States. The company will redirect $928 million toward a Texas liquefied natural gas facility, shale gas production, and oil drilling. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the deal, stating it would free up funds from “expensive, weather dependent offshore wind” for “affordable, reliable and secure oil and natural gas production.”

Both projects—Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay—were still in planning phases and not yet fully permitted. The Interior Department has cited national security concerns from a classified Defense Department report as justification for halting renewable energy permits.

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The post Trump to Pay $1 Billion to Stop Two East Coast Wind Farms first appeared on Sevenelles.

A recent Pew Research Center survey reveals that the United States is the only country among 25 polled where a majority of residents view their fellow citizens as morally or ethically “bad.” Fifty-three percent of American adults hold this negative view, contrasting sharply with other nations like Canada, where 92 percent see their compatriots as good.

Experts attribute this phenomenon to several factors. Political polarization plays a significant role, with 60 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Republicans viewing fellow Americans negatively. This partisan divide has intensified over time—a 2022 Pew poll showed substantial increases in Americans describing opposing party members as immoral, dishonest, and close-minded compared to 2016.

Scholars suggest that nearly every moral issue has become politicized in America, with political leaders and social media amplifying divisions. Christian author Karen Swallow Prior notes that antagonistic political parties demonize each other, lowering perceptions of collective goodness. Additionally, America’s religious diversity has historically prevented agreement on shared moral standards, allowing morality to be weaponized politically.

Sociologist Scott Schieman observes that Americans exhibit a stronger “negativity bias” than Canadians, who tend to direct criticism toward elites rather than fellow citizens. Scholar Victoria Barnett argues that intense political polarization, especially when framed through religious teaching, erodes trust across society.

Historical Gallup polling confirms Americans have consistently rated the nation’s moral values negatively since 2003, suggesting this pessimistic outlook isn’t entirely new but has deepened amid current political contradictions.

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The post U.S. Is the Only Country to Say Most Fellow Citizens are Bad People first appeared on Sevenelles.

Perhaps it is because I still think like a biologist. Or, perhaps it’s being an agnostic/atheist. But I still don’t get why people avoid the discussion of death. I guarantee you none of us is getting out of here alive. Most people avoid discussing death like they do bowel movements or masturbation. But unlike those, your death will be very public and completely unavoidable.

I used to think that one of the selling points for religious faith was that it made death more palatable. But now I think it mostly gives us permission to repress our fears of death. Dana Milbank’s article illustrates that if we can discuss death openly, we can make peace with it and, thereby, improve our lives and our legacy.

Article Summary:

In another great article, Dana Milbank tell us about a group of seven women aged 78-89 in Virginia’s Rappahannock County meet monthly as the “RONettes” to discuss death, end-of-life planning, and aging. What began as participation in a local “Ready or Not” program—helping seniors draft advance directives and organize their affairs—evolved into a close-knit support group that has continued meeting for three years.

During their gatherings over potlucks, these widowed or elderly women candidly discuss topics most avoid: green burials, body donation, do-not-resuscitate orders, and even property values with backyard graves. Rather than being morbid, members describe the experience as life-affirming and fear-reducing.

Research supports their approach: planning for death reduces psychological distress and improves well-being by prompting reflection on life’s meaning and legacy. The women have written their own obituaries, completed “Five Wishes” advance directives, and openly discuss medical decisions, downsizing, and cognitive decline.

Their remarkable honesty extends to personal struggles—one member is moving to assisted living due to cognitive impairment, another worries about unfinished research, and several keep deceased relatives’ ashes in their bedrooms. Most eschew cremation for environmental reasons, preferring green burials or body donation.

The group’s demystification of death has brought unexpected peace. Members report that confronting mortality directly has eliminated nightmares, reduced anxiety, and helped them focus on enjoying their remaining time. By creating a safe space to discuss the undiscussable, these women have transformed their final years into a period of meaningful companionship and purposeful living.

Article Excerpt:

“It may sound macabre, and terribly depressing. But the women, all but two of whom have been widowed, say it has been just the opposite for them: a life-affirming exercise that has given new meaning to their final chapters. It seems that by demystifying death, by refusing to deny that their lives are near the end, they have freed themselves from some of the fear of dying. Instead, they are able to focus on “how we enjoy these last few trips around the sun,” as one of them put it. And it’s no surprise that those final years are more enjoyable if filled with companionship — in this case, a group of peers with 600 years of combined life experience.”

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The post One Path to a Happier Life: Thinking More About Death first appeared on Sevenelles.

“People consistently underestimate how much they would enjoy just thinking.“

Article Summary:

In today’s digital age, people frequently turn to their phones during moments of downtime, checking them up to 50 times daily. However, research suggests that allowing one’s mind to wander instead could offer significant benefits for personal well-being, problem-solving, and relationships.

Contrary to popular belief, daydreaming can be more enjoyable than anticipated. A 2022 study revealed that people consistently underestimate the pleasure of simply thinking, often overestimating boredom. This mental wandering is uniquely human, helping us learn, imagine scenarios, and develop empathy.

Daydreaming is particularly effective for problem-solving. Researchers found that people are more likely to resolve complex issues after periods of mind-wandering, even when not consciously focusing on the problem. Neuroscience research shows that the brain remains active during these seemingly idle moments, with different regions continuing to work.

Additionally, daydreaming can enhance social connections. Studies demonstrate that imagining pleasant interactions with loved ones can increase emotional closeness and help individuals simulate and prepare for future social situations. This mental “time travel” allows people to explore potential scenarios and learn from past experiences.

Experts recommend deliberately creating opportunities for mind-wandering by engaging in simple, automatic activities like walking or puzzles. They also suggest focusing on positive, meaningful thoughts to make daydreaming more constructive.

Ultimately, resisting the urge to constantly check phones and instead allowing the mind to wander can be refreshing, providing a sense of thought ownership and potentially leading to more meaningful experiences.

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The post Put Down Your Phone and Daydream Instead first appeared on Sevenelles.

The article discusses the importance of preparing for potential internet and electrical grid disruptions. According to a Federal Emergency Management Agency survey, 57% of Americans are not prepared for potential disasters.

Security experts and preppers emphasize that internet and power outages are increasingly likely due to aging infrastructure and potential cyberattacks. They recommend several strategies for maintaining connectivity and functionality during such emergencies:

Key recommendations include:

1. Assume technology failures can happen
2. Plan and prepare in advance
3. Have multiple backup communication and power strategies
4. Keep emergency supplies readily accessible
5. Develop a family emergency communication plan

The overarching message is that preparedness is crucial. By anticipating potential technological disruptions and having contingency plans, individuals can better navigate unexpected emergencies and maintain essential communication and power capabilities.

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The post The Internet Will Go Down In A Big Way — Be Ready first appeared on Sevenelles.

The post Why People Are So Confident When They’re Wrong first appeared on Sevenelles.

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the human brain undergoes four significant structural changes throughout a person’s lifetime, dividing the lifespan into five distinct developmental phases based on analysis of 4,000 brain scans from people aged 0 to 90.

The five phases are:

1. Childhood (0-9 years):
2. Adolescence (9-32 years):
3. Adulthood (32-66 years):
4. Early Aging (66-83 years):
5. Late Aging (83+ years):

Researchers emphasize that brain development is a continuous process throughout life, not limited to childhood. Factors like diet, exercise, and social connections can influence brain development and aging.

The study challenges the notion of a “good” or “bad” brain structure and highlights the dynamic nature of human brain development.

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The post Your Brain Changes at Age 9, 32, 66 and 83 first appeared on Sevenelles.

An insightful observation from the Washington Post Editorial Board: The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s recent campus survey reveals a troubling trend: nearly half of undergraduate students believe that “words can be violence,” highlighting a growing challenge in academic discourse. This perspective has been developing for years, creating an environment that discourages difficult conversations and promotes cancelation of controversial viewpoints.

The survey’s findings are particularly poignant in light of recent events, such as the Hamas attacks and the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, which underscored the critical difference between speech and action. Kirk had consistently warned that suppressing dialogue can lead to violence and urged people to avoid seeing opposing views as inherently evil.

University administrators face the significant challenge of promoting open dialogue and protecting diverse perspectives. This requires a commitment to:

1. Normalizing difficult conversations
2. Maintaining viewpoint neutrality when approving campus speakers
3. Providing necessary security for controversial events

The problem extends to students across the political spectrum. Conservative students report feeling particularly uncomfortable expressing their views, while some progressives have demonstrated inconsistent standards in supporting free speech.

The core issue is a growing tendency to equate disagreeable ideas with actual violence, which can paradoxically justify violent responses. Universities must teach students that intellectual disagreement is not inherently threatening and that robust, respectful dialogue is essential to academic and democratic processes.

The goal should be creating an environment where diverse perspectives can be shared without fear, where students learn to engage with different ideas critically and compassionately, and where free expression is protected and valued.

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The post What College Students Clearly Haven’t Learned About Free Speech first appeared on Sevenelles.

In this article, Dana Milbank explores how curiosity can help reduce political polarization, particularly during family gatherings like Thanksgiving. Recent psychological research suggests that people can become more open-minded and less partisan by practicing curiosity.

Studies show that partisans often overestimate the uniformity of views within their political groups. Those who score higher on curiosity are more likely to recognize diversity of thought within their own party and be more receptive to different perspectives.

Researchers discovered a method to induce curiosity by encouraging people to write letters about engaging with someone holding opposing political views. This exercise helped participants realize that their political group is more intellectually diverse than they assumed.

The key to productive political dialogue is asking “how” questions instead of “why” questions. By approaching conversations with genuine curiosity and humility, people are more likely to explore ideas constructively. This approach can help people recognize areas of potential agreement and reduce hostile interactions.

Curiosity is not just a personality trait but a skill that can be developed through practice. Researchers suggest simple techniques like asking questions, finding wonder in surroundings, and breaking routine can enhance curiosity.

While acknowledging that deep political divisions won’t be instantly resolved, the article argues that individual efforts to be more curious can gradually improve political discourse. By approaching differences with openness and a desire to understand, people can reduce dehumanization and foster more meaningful conversations.

The ultimate goal is not to change core beliefs but to create space for mutual understanding and respect across political lines.

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The post Defuse Political Tension in Your Family With One Simple Question first appeared on Sevenelles.

In this column, Maggie Penman shares her experience regarding the challenges of making and maintaining friendships in adulthood, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The author describes attending a RealRoots meetup, a social networking event designed to help people connect and combat loneliness, which has become a significant health concern in the United States.

The piece offers several key insights into building meaningful friendships:

1. Vulnerability is crucial: By sharing genuine, personal experiences, people can create deeper connections. The RealRoots event demonstrated how open, honest conversations can quickly foster empathy and understanding among strangers.

2. Shared activities are important: Engaging in activities you enjoy can naturally lead to friendship opportunities. Whether it’s working out, playing pickleball, or pursuing a hobby, shared interests provide a foundation for connection.

3. Intentionality matters: Friendships require active effort and prioritization. Journalist Billy Baker emphasizes the importance of making friendship a deliberate part of one’s daily routine, similar to other essential life activities.

The article highlights the changing social landscape, where traditional friendship networks have been disrupted by factors like busy work schedules, geographic mobility, and the pandemic. New platforms and approaches are emerging to help people combat loneliness and form meaningful connections.

The author’s personal experiences, including attending the RealRoots event and reaching out to a colleague, illustrate the potential rewards of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and actively pursuing friendships.

Ultimately, the piece encourages readers to be proactive, vulnerable, and open to forming new social connections.

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The post Making Friends as an Adult is Hard. Here’s the Secret first appeared on Sevenelles.