Some people believe that truly great art, regardless of the medium, finds its origins in some degree of mental illness. The theory (as I understand it) is that expanding the horizons of human existence through creativity has to break through … Continue reading →
We continue the six-part series to showcase some of the finest paintings depicting key events in the WWII air war: J.G. Boon von Ochssee, a Dutchman serving aboard the HMS Speaker, ditches his Grumman Hellcat JW867 into the Indian Ocean. … Continue reading →
Charity: the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need. I realize that many people don’t think of Wikipedia as a reliable source of serious research, but let’s see what The Free Encyclopedia has … Continue reading →
This post will address the topic of word origins, and I’ll offer two examples that are of special interest to me. In the early days of the British Navy, sailors were often “recruited” by “press gangs” who prowled the dark … Continue reading →
In the previous Writer’s Desk logbook entry, I wrote of a website dedicated to late-blooming novelists and the advantages of self-publishing, specifically through the ebook format. I also mentioned the blog of a literary-agent-turned-author who has maintained his penchant for … Continue reading →
The next time you’re watching the news on TV or reading the paper and some politician is yakking about how it’s the other guy’s fault and responding to questions by doing the equivalent of a tap dance around the issue … Continue reading →
A friend sent me the link at the end of this post. It takes you to an absolutely fascinating movie, made with a camera mounted on the front of a cable car 105 years ago (1906). It is without question … Continue reading →
No matter your political persuasion, what follows is a perfect example of the disaster this nation has become. An English teacher explains one area that looms large over California’s educational crisis with the kind of specifics that go unnoticed by … Continue reading →
We’ve all had experiences in which our world seems to shrink around us. You’re a few thousand miles from home on vacation and suddenly encounter face-to face someone you haven’t seen in thirty years. Pure coincidence, right? Or maybe you … Continue reading →
I am apolitical because I believe that those who hold elective office and those they appoint have systematically run this great nation into the ground in every way possible regardless of whether they are Democrat, Republican, independent, liberal, conservative, or … Continue reading →
