I wonder if all of our institutions are becoming not just too big to fail but too big to function? Universities can’t just provide an education – they have to provide “an experience.” The library can’t just loan books – it has to offer a carnival of entertainment. The zoo can’t just showcase interesting animals – it has to offer a hotel and a convention center. The radio-talk show has to have a blog, and sponsor events, a music play list, and … who knows, probably do your kids birthday party. Nothing can be a small itself. Everything has to be blown up like a giant hot-air balloon. Well, hot air balloons take a lot of energy. To paraphrase a fantastic saying I just heard from a very wise man — if you actually don’t want to do anything, do everything badly.
No agendas, only honest talk at the intersection of science and society.