My dream home is one where I can come home at the end of the day and feel protected, loved, and safe. I have that right now. What more could I possibly desire? I guess most people, me included, would have some material ideas about how their home was constructed, what sort of design their …
For a while I had to figure out what to do with this blog. It began as a platform for writing about environmental and political issues, but I’ve moved all my environmental writing to Ecologue. I think it’s important to have a dynamic section on my Moon Willow Press site, and the press has a …
The world of poetry is less familiar to readers than, for example, the world of novels. For this reason, I would like to make a brief introductory remark for a book of poetry I just had published, hoping to save the reader some confusion in adjusting to its writing.
If you listen to the Tea-Party Republicans, it would seem there’s nothing wrong with the U.S. economy. They’ve already succeeded in cutting spending, balancing state and national budgets and creating a surplus. Soon they will pass a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. An uncompromising display of principle will seal their case for credibility as …
One of my good friends is a staunch environmentalist and cites the book The Giving Tree as one early inspiration on why she loves our good earth. When I listened to a story she told about it, I realized I had never read it as a young child. Then I wondered: what the heck inspired …
I’m a casual hockey fan. I grew up in Chicago and loved the Blackhawks. Skating was part of our culture because it was cold enough in the winter to flood and freeze over areas in parks for ice rinks. Everyone I knew ice-skated or played hockey; skates dripped while thawing in doorways on those cold …
In the early 2000s, I began Jack Magazine to honor beat writers from the past and to raise awareness of modern day writers who resurrect that spirit. Before that, I ran a beat generation site, which is also still around. Today I also own an independent micro-press, Moon Willow Press, which publishes fiction and non-fiction …
I was reading a popular internet forum, and spotted this thread asking for people’s biggest fears about the future. I decided that everyone had interesting answers, so I’m going to break them down. The thread is here. I think most people replying had fears about the U.S. — whether they lived there or not.
A little perspective never hurt anyone, and the “I remember when” game provides just that. How to play? Close your eyes and concentrate on memories of when you were young. Look at daily life, and see how things have changed since then. I’m not even that old, and have seen the world go through quite …
I have watched from afar (not too afar, just from across the border in Canada) the proceedings of budget talks leading to a possible government shutdown in the USA. I’ve come to the following conclusions:
