A reader sent me a blog written by a librarian who, after having a daughter, admits she fell into a “cultural wasteland” where neither books nor movies existed. Eventually, her librarian instincts kicked in, and in 2015 she read 164 books, some with pleasure, some because she thou

When I was 10, I found a land application for 1 square inch of the moon in my Cheerios cereal box.  The time was the 1940s, long before John F. Kennedy had a gleam in his eyes to send Neil Armstrong into the stratosphere. As I was fascinated with astronomy, I jumped  at the chance t

The philosopher, George Berkeley, famously asked, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”  Recently, writing about the life of Samuel Steward, author of one successful book and many failed others, Jennifer Senior asks a similar

Okay, the holidays are over and many of us are showing a little regret in the form of a jelly roll around our middles.  We know how to get rid of it, providing we are willing to make the effort.  Calories in-calories out. Right?  Eat less and exercise more?  Of course. In the end,

I mentioned in a recent blog that a study in Denmark revealed people active on Facebook were less happy than those who weren’t.  (Blog 12/7/2015)  I confess some of the messages on social media leave me in despair.  Mothers, fathers, children die and beloved pets, too.  Divorce

I’m sure I’m a disappointment to my publishers. I don’t buy my books from them then schlep the tomes to every book fair and public watering hole in an effort to get my investment back.  I think it is a poor business model for a writer.  I prefer Snoopy’s approach in the cart

There’s a storm brewing at the retirement center.  It’s a small one.  4 vegetarians have gathered and there’s talk of revolution.  We’re sick of looking at all those drawn and quartered and fried dead animals that pass for food and want choices that are healthy.  Surprisin

I have known only a few African Americans in my life.  All of them have been bright.  Some of them were funny and a few of them prickly.  They  added to my joy and I’m sorry to say, they have all drifted away.  The glue necessary to hold us together, something beyond respect, w

I’m no genius, but I like to think people who read my blogs are.   Why?  Because if they find me, they discover curious items about the world, together with references that will allow them to pursue further information, if they choose.  Blogs featuring boxing cats and the dogs t

Recently, one of my blog readers sent me the link to comments made by Hannah MacDonald, head of an English publishing house.  She was encouraging her colleagues to be kinder to writers. One wouldn’t want to squelch a budding Emily Dickenson, Jane Austin, or J. K. Rowling.  (Click)