Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Thoughts on Life-Changing Events
How many time has a life been changed when something totally unexpected happens? I was reminded of this recently when I read about a member of Hungary’s far-right Jobbik political party, and what happened when he was told his grandparents on his mother’s side were Jewish. Plus his grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. The revelation
“Just Like Snowflakes” — A Commentary on Race
I didn’t write this, but I wish I had. I used to write for a website called Helium, where aspiring writers could post pieces and rate each other’s work. Helium has since closed down as a writing site and someone else owns the address, but this was so good an essay that I saved it.
Let’s Talk About Smart Animals
Do you have a pet that does really clever things? I haven’t had pets since I was a child. But I can appreciate people’s pride in their pets because I have seen some pretty smart animals myself. But in my case, the animals were wild, or at least semi-wild. From squirrels who raid bird feeders
Remembering the Sultana Disaster
Sometimes greed is a greater enemy than an opposing army. In late April 1865, the American Civil War was over and no soldiers were more eager to return home than released prisoners of war. Thus Camp Fisk, on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, was a beehive of activity. Camp Fisk had been established for the
How to Foil Nazis
The Nazis have just invaded your country and your life is in danger because you have two Nobel prizes you are safeguarding for friends — one is Jewish and the other is an opponent of National Socialism. What do you do? That was the dilemma faced by Niels Bohr in 1940 when Germany occupied Copenhagen,
Some Favorite National Park Memories
Like many other people, I consider our national park system to be a national treasure. Whenever I travel, I try to visit as many as I can, especially if there is an historical angle. My most ambitious adventure was when I was driving through Utah and visited Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park,
Happy Birthday to the Postage Stamp!
From the May 1st edition of The Writer’s Almanac — “On this date [May 1st] in 1840, the first official adhesive postage stamp was issued in Great Britain. Up until the late 1830s, the recipient of the letter was supposed to pay upon delivery. Rates were inconsistent: postage was calculated based on number of sheets of paper, and the distance
Some Tips on Collecting Autographs
Here are some practical tips on collecting autographs from my days as an editor in the collectibles business. Who wouldn’t like to have a memento from their favorite movie star or sports hero? But the problem with collecting everyday items is verifying authenticity. If someone claims to have a shirt that once belonged to Elvis, how
So You Want To Be a Teacher…
I’m in the middle of a long-term substitute teaching job — six out of seven weeks, and it’s reminding me about all the little irritants that come with teaching. I’m not talking discipline. I’ve had discipline problems in the past, and there are none in the five classes I have in this current job. I’m
Happy Birthday Library of Congress
The Library of Congress was established on April 24, 1800. It was originally founded to provide a legislative library for members of Congress. In just over a decade, the collection had grown to over 3000 books. There was a major setback during the War of 1812 when the invading British burned the Capitol building and the