Fall is Nature's Elegy September 22 marks the close of the bright season of the summer, commencing the start of fall with earlier sunsets, chilled air, and warm palettes of once-green leaves crinkling into rustic, hickory tones. As Paul Laurence Dunbar lyrically depicts in the following portion of his 1896 poem, “Merry Autumn,” he encourages…

It Can Be Hard Being From West Virginia If you’re a regular reader of the Cardinal’s Nest blog or general follower of our work here at the Cardinal Institute, you’re likely a member of the special club that’s always known that West Virginia is a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough, or one of…

Presidential Debates & Civility As I wait with bated breath to see how this evening’s presidential debate goes down, I can’t help but think about what the presidency is, what it stands for, and how far afield we seem to have gone. Growing up, my household had a firm rule — no bad-mouthing presidential candidates.…

On Monday, Let Them Rest; On Tuesday, Let Them Work Happy Labor Day! I hope that your long weekend and the unofficial end of Summer were filled with all that Labor Day usually has to offer: barbecues, parades, and of course, football. My family and I traveled from Columbus, OH to my hometown of Man,…

Civil Discourse in the K-12 Classroom Last week I had the great privilege of being invited as a guest to a teaching conference in Washington DC. It was an impressive event. The theme of this conference was civil discourse, and for their part, the hosts did a great job of displaying various perspectives on a…

Reactions to J.D. Vance's Nomination for VP Are Pouring In After J.D. Vance was nominated for Vice President of the United States by the Republican Party at their convention in July 2024, reactions started pouring in from across the political spectrum. This is to be expected, J.D. Vance is running for the job of second-most…

Scope of Practice Conference in West Virginia Last week, I had the opportunity to join friends and fellow policy wonks in Morgantown for two jam-packed days of research presentations and discussions about scope of practice regulations in health care. This conference, co-hosted by our friends at the Knee Regulatory Research Center and Pacific Legal Foundation…

What is Pressure? Pressure is a fascinating concept, whether it is in the physical sciences, deep sea dives, leadership, decision making, or any number of other applications.  What exactly is pressure? How should leaders use it?   According to Brittanica, the definition of pressure in the physical sciences is, “the perpendicular force per unit area,…

Please Follow Along in Your Bible…?   Legislation across the nation which includes the Bible in public school curriculums is causing alarm among those who wish to see religion banished from the classroom. States including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Idaho have added provisions to their standards that include things like displaying the 10 Commandments in…

Happy Independence Day!   How Americans Celebrate Independence Day Every year, millions of Americans gather around tables, grills, and backyards to celebrate the founding of our great country. After a day of baseball games and parades, most every town of any decent size will cap off the Fourth of July with a fireworks display, representing…