I used to think I was a reasonably informed person, but President Donald Trump has taught me what passes as information can often be fake.  Take the banana, for example. In the ‘60s and ’70s, it would never be mistaken for a work of art. But since Trump has been in office, realit

A few months ago, I changed my Facebook photo. No big deal. The one I’d been using was 10 years old.  I read somewhere that a person’s features change significantly every 10 years, so an update seemed timely. A number of people noticed the switch and posted a thumbs-up, responses

The human race seems to be cursed. So many inventions meant to provide peace and prosperity end up doing the opposite. Cars, trains, trucks, and boats have allowed commerce to flourish, but they also have given us global warming. The internet puts information at our fingertips but pro

My New Years’ resolution for 2020 will be to reduce the number of my Facebook friends. Unlike the woman from Kenya who had 5000, I can’t manage 400. Some friends I doubt are real.  They never comment on the news feed. Once a year I send them my annual birthday greeting to whi

Courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net publicdomainpictures.net This Christmas Eve, I will share my fantasy “Marie Eau-Clair.” The Colored Lens published the piece in 2012.  Given its mystical and magical theme, it seems perfect for the holiday season.  I republish it here in its

Because it’s electronic, a reader would think an eBook is available on demand. Surprisingly, however, readers who obtain their eBooks from libraries can face a lineup. The reason is simple. Libraries pay between $40 to $60 per title for a license to provide those works for a period

The axiom, “Liars sometimes speak the truth,” existed as far back as the ancient Greeks, and is still accurate today. But how are we discern the difference between truth and a lie? With regard to articles of impeachment, Donald Trump’s supporters have dispensed with the need to

We’d intended to walk to a coffee shop near my residence to enjoy bonbons with our beverages. Unfortunately, the morning rain altered our plans. Instead, we chose to settle into two Queen Anne chairs by a picture window in the lobby of the building where I live, our hot drinks fresh

A young woman from Kenya sent me a friendship request on Facebook the other day.  Because I  lived in east Arica for a time, I agreed. Seconds later a new message popped up.  This one was from Facebook. The woman whose friendship I’d accepted had 5,000 already. The website wouldn