Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Some Quotations About Elections
On the eve of this very important election, I thought it would be interesting to compile some memorable thoughts about tomorrow’s decisions — A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user. — Theodore Roosevelt A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t
Why Are Insects So Scary?
Insects are tiny creatures. So why are many people afraid of them? A recent article on the Science of Us website (http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/10/why-are-so-many-people-scared-of-bugs.html?) explores this phenomenon. There are several reasons for an elevated fear factor. First, insects can be really dangerous. The ones that bite or sting can cause real trouble, especially if an allergy is
The Difference a Teacher Can Make
Today, while working as a substitute teacher at the local high school, I had a chance to sit in on a motivational speaker. It was all oral, so I have to rely on my memory for the details, but this man told a story that really made an impression on me. He is a high
Book Review: The People Who Clean Disneyland
This piece is for my fellow Disney fanatics. I have been reading the book Cleaning the Kingdom: Insider Tales of Keeping Walt’s Dream Spotless by Ken Pellman & Lynn Barron (Synergy Books, 2015). I’m only about two thirds of the way through (it’s 439 pages of narrative plus supporting material), but it’s the best book
Flash Fiction — Never Trust a Donut
Here’s a quick Halloween-inspired story — Never Trust a Donut Friday! This was Stu’s favorite day. Not only because it was the end of the week, but also because he stopped at “The Hole in the Wall”, the best donut shop in town. As the name implies, this was a cozy place, but they
Halloween’s Origins
Happy Halloween! I’m writing this after having spent two hours on the front lines, handing out candy at the bottom of a driveway. This has become such a major holiday — I suspect number two now, behind Christmas — that it makes one wonder how we got here. The best explanation I’ve seen so far
Prove You Are Real
You know you exist. Everyone around you can see you exist. But legally, how do you prove it? Yesterday, while I was out running, I listened to a podcast about a young lady who was trying to establish a legal identity. She had been born at home, delivered by a midwife. No birth certificate was
Dinosaur Vocalizations
If you were living in the Jurassic era, what kinds of sounds would you expect to hear from dinosaurs? That takes some detective work because soft tissue isn’t usually fossilized. But according to the EarthSky website, a team of scientists has found the vocal organ of a bird that’s a relative of ducks and geese
Original Poem — What’s Your Most Prized Possession?
Here is a poem from my book Some Poems About Life, available on this website, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com What’s Your Most Prized Possession? What’s your most prized possession? The one you can’t live without? A very personal item, your best without a doubt? Some would choose their I-Pod, their car or favorite
Have You Ever Wanted to Live in a Metal Home?
Durable, affordable housing has always been a concern. This was especially true after World War II, when returning veterans needed lots of homes. One novel solution was the Lustron Home. These were made by the Lustron Corporation in Columbus, Ohio for 1948 to 1950. Prefabricated entirely of steel with exteriors that were baked-on glass, they