Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
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
Our World is Being Altered by Earthworms
You don’t have to be big or technologically sophisticated to alter the environment. Recently I ran across a science piece about the impact of earthworms in North American forests. I have always thought earthworms were good — they aerate and enrich the soil. But according to a new study published September 3, 2016 in the
Unsung Role Models — Ruth Shellhorn
If anyone is looking for a female role model, I have a suggestion — Ruth Shellhorn. Ruth Patricia Shellhorn was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 21, 1909, to parents who valued education and encouraged their daughter to develop her interests. So Ruth grew up believing she could enter any field she wanted and,
How Important is Art Education?
When schools have budget shortfalls, one of the first programs to be cut is art. Granted, art is not as critical as reading at grade level, but it still is important. How important? A struggling school in a tough neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut credits music, dance and painting for a significant academic improvement. Not that
The Ins and Outs of Donation Bins
You’ve seen them in parking lots — donation bins. It’s a great way to dispose of old clothes. Especially with the holidays coming up, it’s also a good way to donate to charity. Or is it? The BBB Wise Giving Alliance, an organization that rates charities (http://www.give.org/), has some useful information in the cover story