Not that the number was that sky-high to begin with – although of late there have been readers from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Israel and Brazil – even one reader from Sierra Leon. I don’t know if all of the countries represented by readers on this little blog are also represented at the Olympics. I can’t because of a lot of things. A lot of work, for starters; and then there’s the super… Read More
Ben Merens (host of WPR’s At Issue) was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when we talked last week. I was on my friend’s landline; the landline a necessity for hooking into the WPR technology if you’re too far away to be sitting across the table from Ben. She lives a few blocks away and was out of town visiting family in New York, but said “Yes. Use the phone. That will be great!” So I… Read More
Last Friday a friend said, “I read your blog.” I was flattered. “But usually only to the place where it says ‘more,’ ” she added. “They’re lots longer,” I offered, maybe hoping she’d be delighted at the news. “I know,” she half gasped, half laughed. While I can’t pretend that I’ll ever stop conflating the words blog and essay, I think this week I’ll give a shorter version a try. Let’s see… Read More
I could be referring to life in the U.S.A. this week what with the celebrated obstruction of voting rights in Florida, a spate of sensationalized cannibalism and, from our president and senior legislators astonishing bipartisan horror about leaks with not even a mention of concern for human life (aka, collateral damage) or the existence of a “kill list” in the first place. This, my friends, is surely madness whether we are privy… Read More
Last night I got to have a long phone conversation with my friend Barbara Gutkin. Barbara and Terry have known me more than half my life. They also happen to be two of the Americans in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change. Barbara and Terry are experimenting with retirement. Barbara retired for a while, then decided to go back to work a few days a week because she missed being active… Read More
Yesterday I drove through rain at the end of 8 hours on the highway. I drove I-80W again — through what this time I learned is the National Silos and Smokestacks Historic Area. I hadn’t noticed this three years ago and found myself tweeting ( a behavior I still can’t quite square with my sense of self), “Who knew?” Beyond the rain was Council Bluffs, Iowa and a family of four —… Read More
No, Geraldo. It’s not the clothing. It’s about looking under the hoodie. mc By now, most Americans are aware of the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old young man who was visiting his father’s home in a gated community of Sanford, Florida. Trayvon lost his life to a single gunshot fired by a man who lived in the same community. At the time the fatal shot fired, it was dark. Trayvon, who… Read More
“It might feel good it might sound a little somethin’ but damn the game if it don’t mean nothin what is game who got game where’s the game in life behind the game “ Public Enemy Since the dawn of the species – a moment we can only approximate since the missing link is still…well…missing — human beings have had stories. Stories help us know how to live, how to endure. Through… Read More
Today is the third above 70 degrees in Wisconsin. Locals clearly love it. So do I. And … really? 70’s in late winter here in a U.S. state that shares a rather large lake (Superior) with the Canadian state of Ontario? Maybe it’s the Texan in me who can’t imagine anyplace else acting in total defiance of the seasons. Maybe it’s my vigilant interest in our reading the trends to avert calamitous… Read More
I drove into Cincinnati from Manhattan. How many times will I be able to say that? Not many. And it was no minor feat. I’m guessing this is not the least bit surprising to any of you. Still, we say these things out loud to one another – partly as a request for validation – a “wow” that fits with the relative enormity of the accomplishment. The vast majority of Americans don’t… Read More
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