Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
When Clothing and Biology Meet
Would you wear a garment that was alive? You may get a chance. According to the March 2016 issue of Smithsonian magazine (page 18), MIT Media Lab researchers have found a way to incorporate live bacteria into a synthetic fabric. They’ve chosen a bacteria that quickly changes shape in response to moisture. With such a
Thank You, Tokyo — 2016 Tokyo Marathon
My running strategy can best be described as Hope over Experience, and in Tokyo on February 28, Hope lost again. (It’s never won; I guess I have a very shallow learning curve.) Tokyo is one of six major marathons, the others being Chicago, New York, Boston, Berlin and London. In September, 2015, I’d gone with Marathon
The Magic of Disneyland
I thought this would be a good time to share some Disneyland memories. This piece was originally published on LaughingPlace.com on June 10, 2004. The photo is from Google Images. The Magic of Disneyland We all know Disneyland is a magical place. That’s especially true for those of us who live on the opposite side
The Correct Response to a Sneeze
What is your favorite response to a sneeze? Many reflexively say “Gesundheit” without even knowing what this word means. According to An Uncommon History of Common Things (National Geographic, 2009, p 73), this is German for “healthiness” or “good health”. (It can also be used as a drinking salute.) Many other cultures have their own
Woman Pioneer — Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell
This month, February 3rd to be exact, marks the anniversary of the first woman to graduate from medical school. Her name was Elizabeth Blackwell, and she was born in Bristol, England in 1821. Dr. Blackwell wrote in her book Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women (1895) that she was initially repelled by the
Collecting — We Aren’t the Only Ones
A few years back, I had the privilege of writing for my favoite Disney website. LaughingPlace.com (http://www.laughingplace.com/). Recently I happened to think of those old columns, and have decided to share one today. This originally ran on April 28, 2004, and offers some thoughts on collecting in general. By the way, the NFFC is now the
A Poem About Happiness
I haven’t posted any poetry for a while, but this seemed appropriate for a cold, winter day. Bringing Happiness Randall lives a frustrating life, he never seems too pleased. Something is so terribly wrong, He’s certainly not at ease. “My status should be higher,” he says without a grin. “The good life should be within
I Missed Valentine’s Day
I’ve been traveling and haven’t posted anything lately, but Sunday was Valentine’s Day. For anyone wondering how such a holiday originated, The Writer’s Almanac posted an excellent explanation of its origins. Today is Valentine’s Day, a big day for greeting card and candy sales, which goes back more than 1,500 years to the Feast
Zombies in Space?
I was surprised to hear that scientists consider our Milky Way galaxy to be a zombie. Apparently it has stopped forming new stars and so its days are numbered. But don’t worry, it will be hanging on for quite a while. Galaxies apparently “perish” – in other words, they stop turning gas into new stars –
If You Really Want to Recycle…
What can be recycled? There is a company that thinks almost anything can. It’s called TerraCycle, and it offers free recycling programs that are funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers to help people collect and recycle especially difficult waste. Participants choose the programs they would like to join, collect the items to be recycled, download free shipping labels, and send the waste