Articles written by Gary Peterson

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Gary R. Peterson, Dean of Behavioral Studies at The Peterson Institute of Arts and Sciences Research Laboratory & Gift Shop.

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Creative Writing > Songs Songs: Dreams: 1 of 72
Life Is Not A Dream It's not how things look that makes them real... But how you see them, what you think and feel... Funny how that works but here's the deal... Life is like a dream... Lying fast asleep upon the bedYou were wide awake inside my headLooking through my eyes you smiled and said... Life is like a dreamYou ... More..
Sciences > Psychology Introduction to color psychology: 1 of 18
Color has a dual-personality: It is light and it is pigment.When we see a certain color object, we are actually seeing only that wavelength of light which is not absorbed by that object. The eye is is most sensitive to yellow-green light, but it also makes "warm" colors like red seem to advance towards the viewer while "cool"... More..
Relationships & Family > Humor & Laughter Why it's good to laugh: 2 of 29
Laughing feels good. Laughter is contagious. It's also addictive. Maybe humor should be treated like a controlled substance. After all, it is the leading cause of laughter. Real laughter. I'm talking about spontaneous, involuntary spasms of genuine mirth. Artificially induced chortling needn't apply.Technically speaking, laug... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Examples of metaphors and how to use them: 3 of 35
This is the dawning of the New Age of Metaphors. Everyday conversation has become a game in which we use figures of speech instead of literal descriptions. We speak of things as if they were something else. For example, to "touch all the bases" is a baseball metaphor that otherwise means "to be comprehensive" about such and s... More..
Arts & Humanities > Classical Literature & Mythology The relevance of Plato's image of the cave in The Republic for modern readers: 1 of 8
I had just sat down to read The Matrix and Philosophy when I realized...there are squirrels on my roof. I can't see them, but I can see their shadows on the lawn as I look out of the window on this sunny morning. I'm reminded of Plato's Cave: the one with the campfire inside and the prisoners beyond that, facing the back wall... More..
Sciences > Astronomy Legends about the Moon: 2 of 13
Lunar Legends Abound.I file this report from the edge of Lake Superior where amidst the firs I consort with wood nymphs smoking my red stone pipe on a log where woodpeckers peck as the sun sets. And when the moon launches over the water, I will lure the fairest fairy maiden into my cabin to seduce her with The Song of Hiawath... More..
Sports & Recreation > Hockey Hockey: 2007 Stanley Cup Predictions: 4 of 24
The Detroit Red Wings are as capable as any hockey team to win professional sports' most coveted trophy: the Stanley Cup. Finishing the regular season with the best record in their division again this year gives them home-ice advantage for the playoffs. If they've been knocked out in the first round a few times in recent year... More..
Arts & Humanities > Classical Literature & Mythology The Divine Comedy: Types of punishment in Dante's Inferno: 3 of 13
The funniest part of "The Divine Comedy" is when Barbariccia signals his demons to march by tooting his butt trumpet. Besides that and one other aside that I'll mention later, this story wasn't meant to be funny.Dante Alighieri's epic poem, written in medieval times in Italy, chronicles his journey through hell, purgatory, an... More..
Autos > Driving & Safety Whatever happened to driving etiquette?: 4 of 17
Driving etiquette is alive and well - in California!My wife and I were vacationing in Sonoma and Napa Valley last week. That entailed renting a car in San Francisco and driving the hour or so north. I was pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of the native drivers in both the city and country side.I've come to accept as normal... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Lifestyles The most stylish cities around the world: 9 of 33
I'll recommend a most stylish city (hint: The City Different) after these reflections on some obvious candidates.Rome: I was walking along a street when a woman came zipping around the corner on a motor scooter. In a silk blouse, short skirt and Ferragamo heels, she was holding her purse between her knees. Her Fendi sunglasse... More..