Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Why Do We Need Words To Think?
Every so often I see a questions that brings me up short. For example, we need words to talk, but why do we need words to think? Durham University psychologist Charles Fernyhough has been studying this. Fernyhough thinks approximately 20 to 25 percent of our waking time is spent with language directed at ourselves. Why?
Between Two Cultures
What is it like to be caught between two cultures, not completely identifying with either and not completely being accepted by either? I’ve met people who are the offspring of mixed-race marriages, but two distinct cultures? If you’re wondering, too, one insight into a European-Middle Eastern dichotomy is a published series of comic strips entitled
The Greatest Atrocity You Never Heard Of
The fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 30th and the resultant community reaction triggered a historical flashback for me. There are many events that get forgotten in the shadows of history, many of them intentionally. This is one such event (I just read about it a few years ago),
A Better Political Movement
I’ve noticed two things about this presidential election I’ve never seen before. First, so few people have yard signs or expressions of support for a candidate. Second, there is a very unusual yard sign in my neighborhood. The American flag serves as the background, but the the top line simply says “Civilize It”. The fine
Yes, Airliners Are Vulnerable To Birdstrikes
I’ve been reading about the recently released movie Sully about how Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew landed that Airbus A320 full of passengers on the Hudson River after their engines were disabled by a flock of geese. It’s always nice to see a story with a happy ending. I’m proud that Captain Sullenberger
What is Feminism?
I have an interest in poetry, but usually don’t understand much of what’s considered good contemporary verse. I’ve just found an exception. The September 23, 2016 edition of The Writers’ Almanac published a poem that I think is very thought-provoking about the definition of feminism, and I’m copying it here. Clara: In the Post
Are You Ready For Some Good News?
During this political silly season, it’s easy to think this country is in serious trouble, that we’re not great anymore, that we have serious problems, especially with crime and race relations. Well, I lived through the 1960s and 1970s, which means I saw firsthand the civil rights struggles and the Vietnam protests, and anecdotally I
The Post-American World?
From the “Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover” department — Awhile back I received an email from a conservative friend with a picture of President Obama getting off Air Force One with a book under his arm. You could just read the title: The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria. Apparently my friend was offended
Some Thoughts on Travel
For the third time in about a year, I’ve been able to take a trip overseas (the reason why I haven’t posted anything lately). This occasion was a half marathon at Disneyland Paris and, since I’ve been there multiple times, involved no real sightseeing. But I learn a lot about the world with every adventure,
Testing the Five-Second Rule
You’ve probably heard that if you drop a piece of food on the floor and pick it up within five seconds, it’s okay to eat because germs hadn’t had enough time to get to it. (Personally I’ve always used a three-second rule, with a five-second corollary for chocolate.) Is this true? Scientists are actually beginning