good article about storytelling ( in culture, writing, stories )

"Pop culture today is obsessed with the battle between good and evil. Traditional folktales never were. What changed?" via the-good-guy-bad-guy-myth ... read more

adlai stevenson quote ( in culture, quotes, politics )

"The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live, and fear breeds repression. Too often, sinister threats to the Bill of Rights, to freedom of the mind, are concealed under the patriotic cloak of anti-Communism." -- Adlai Stevenson Today, ... read more

a day at the races ( in culture, writing, stories, horseracing )

from 1994 The first Saturday in May. What does this date mean to you? Probably nothing, except that Spring has finally arrived, unless you live in California where it's been Spring already for two months or more - real Spring, not calendar Spring. But ask any ... read more

cats disrespecting pugs ( in culture, writing, pets )

So, I'm lying on the bed with the pug Joey between my legs. No, that's not a figure of speech. I'm referring to an actual dog, in between my calves, okay? Anyway, the cat comes up, thinks about jumping across my legs to the other side, then decides to just step on ... read more

the slow leak ( in culture, writing, stories )

copyright © 2000 by Steve Holmes It was a gorgeous Sunday near the end of September and I needed some exercise. Exercise, just for the sake of exercise was probably best done by running on the treadmill at the athletic club. But on a day like that, just ex ... read more

decision to seize control of fannie mae and freddie mac ( in education, news, politics )

via judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-asks-court-to-review-government-documents-on-decision-to-seize-control-of-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac/ "Washington, DC - January 6, 2011Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates ... read more

the bain legacy ( in education, news, politics )

... the GOP presidential hopeful was a key architect of what has become known as the Bain model. And as president, it can be expected that he would govern the country using the values that governed Bain Capital. see The Bain Legacy for the entire story"The ... read more

possible cure for hair loss ( in education, science, research )

There may be hope yet! See sciencedaily.com "Inhibiting a family of enzymes inside hair follicles that are suspended in a resting state restores hair growth, a new study has found. In experiments with mouse and human hair follicles, researchers found that dr ... read more

bible talk and auras (not such polar opposites, after all) ( in education, research, religion, christianity )

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Dan ... read more

higher percentage of americans believed in king george ( in education, news, politics )

During the Revolutionary War than Congress Today A During the Revolutionary War than Believe in Congress Today ... read more

birthday party pics ( in family, holmes, elizabeth, birthdays )

"Elizabeth's 3rd birthday. April 2008." 3rd birthday ... read more

daycare ( in family, holmes, elizabeth )

Elizabeth spent her first official full day at daycare yesterday. The teacher went on and on about how wonderful and good and helpful she was. I say first official day because Tara took her to a free trial day last week. Daycare is probably a lot like the orphan ... read more

preparation ( in family, adoption, holmes )

Tuesday morning. Everyone's still asleep except for me, the pug Joey and the cat Sunny. In preparation for our trip, I'm trying to reacquaint myself with the digital cameras, video and still. I would've put Joey's and Sunny's pictures here, but the camera is conne ... read more

i love my daughter ( in family, holmes, elizabeth )

There's something on the kitchen counter. I'm thinking it's a shriveled, rotting potato. Not that we usually have that sort of thing on the counter, but that's what I'm thinking. I point at it and ask my wife, What is that? Elizabeth's rock, wife deadpans. S ... read more

uncles' obituaries ( in family, holmes )

I have lost a couple of uncles this year.Below are their obituaries: Uncle Ernie ... read more

hotdog from reggio's ( in life, travel, chicago )

Just had a hotdog from Reggio's at O'Hare. I'm told that's a real Chicago style dog. It was good! ... read more

easiest container-friendly food plants ( in life, health, food, garden )

"We've found 35 fruits and vegetables that you can grow in containers. These range from bananas and citrus fruits to tomatoes, cucumbers, and just about anything else that you would normally plant in a larger garden." Read the rest of the article at Con ... read more

coronavirus: no "vaccine" is needed ( in life, health, covid, vaccines )

"French Professor Didier Raoult, who is one of the world's top 5 scientists on communicable diseases, suggested the use of hydroxychloroquine (Chloroquine or Plaquenil), a well-known, simple, and inexpensive drug, also used to fight Malaria, and that has sho ... read more

chicago ( in life, travel, chicago )

Tara and I left Nashville for Chicago on a Thursday morning. At the last minute I decided to let my cat Myca out. I figured he would return shortly after doing his "business" in the neighbor's bushes, as usual, and I could then lock him in the house for ... read more

study: exercising with mask induces a "hypercapnic hypoxia environment" ( in life, health, fitness )

What Happened:A recent study published in the JournalMedical Hypothesis titled "Exercise with facemask; Are we handling a devil's sword? -- A physiological hypothesis"claims the following: Exercising with facemasks may reduce available... via collective ... read more