LET FREEDOM ROAR On January 22, 1973 an important Supreme Court document was written that became the law of the land. The decision rendered in Roe v. Wade gave a woman control over her body and released her from back alley abortions and a fear of persecution that sometimes led to suic

THE CONUNDRUM OF MY EMPTY POCKET Michael Lewis, my favorite stock market guru, has written a review for a new book by Noble Prize winner Daniel Kahneman. The title is “Think, Fast and Slow.”  Kahneman is a psychologist who received his recognition in economics for a theor

SAVORING SUCCESS ONE BON-BON AT A TIME This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Ken Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” To commemorate the occasion, Viking Press will release a commemorative edition. James Wolcott notes the event in his essay,

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI “In each of us there is another whom we do not know.”  (“The Mystery of Expertise” by David Eagleman, “This Week,” 12/2012) Carol Jung’s quote is the way David Eagleman summarizes the theme of his new book “Incognito,” a n

REVELATIONS OF A PARK Susan Heeger, a guest writer for “Good Housekeeping” wrote about her daily walks through the park which she’s been doing for the last 14 years. (“Good Housekeeping,” “A Walk in the Park” 1/2012) She writes about the community of walkers around her

NO ONE IS FREE UNLESS EVERYONE IS FREE – Women have a dream, too Before we get dewy-eyed about the democratic revolutions going on in the Middle East, we need to look closely at who tends to benefit. Certainly, cats won’t benefit, or dogs, or pigs or chickens, and neither, it seem

HOISTED BY THEIR  OWN PETARD At last, some wily citizens in danger of foreclosure on their homes have found a loophole in the mortgage chaos that may teach the bankers an expensive lesson.   Christopher Ketcham explains in his article for “Harper’s” (Jan. 2012) how th

ADULTRY, ABORTION AND BETRAYAL – Just another ordinary day Bernard Berenson was an art critic who died in 1959 but who, before the light faded from his eyes, bemoaned what he considered to be the coming age of mediocrity in America. He’s not alone in his thinking. Philip Roth rece

FACING OUR ANGELS AND DEMONS Steven Pinker’s new book, “The Better Angels of Our Nature” argues that peace and not war is beginning to take hold around the globe. Pinker is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard and his conclusion is the result of years of study. At first,

I recently appeared as a guest on the Portland-based Internet talk show, “Tell Me About It” with Francine Raften. She is a gracious, engaging host who turns conversation into a contact sport! Once you finish laughing.. be sure to check out Francine’s Internet home at