Enjoy this 360° video from the NYT that takes you to the Michoacan forest in Mexico: Basking in Butterflies Check out this wonderful 360° video of the Michoacan forests, destination of the migrating Monarchs. (sorry I wasn't able to embed.) Every year, thousands of monarch butterflies migrate from eastern Canada to Michoacan, Mexico. Step inside a …
Movie Legends Ascend to the Firmament
Farewell my Princess I wish this awesome girl hero had come along when I was even younger- but even in college years she was inspiring. When did we ever see such a kick ass heroine in space? Leia opened the door for Ellen Ripley of Aliens, Captain Janeway, even Buffy. [BREAKING NEWS: DEBBIE REYNOLDS DIES, 1 DAY …
Barbara Kingsolver on Our Post Election World
UPDATE: I've excerpted the end of her article; click the links to read the entire peice. I'm relying on the words of beloved author Barbara Kingsolver's words about what's happened to our country and where we go from here. From the Guardian 11/23/16 If we’re artists, writers, critics, publishers, directors or producers of film or television, we …
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12 Steps to Living with the Election Results
Dear readers: I have started several posts since last week's election results and haven't decided which impassioned essays will live or die. In the mean time, I come bearing gifts, this one from Nicholas Kristof of the (notoriously liberal) NY Times. Link to complete original article Traumatized by the election results, many Americans are asking: What …
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Seriously?
This American Life commissioned some musical theater songs inspired by this unbearable election ordeal, and here's one of three (listen to the other two HERE.) This is the refrain, in the voice of President Obama. Angry? Am I angry? You ask me if I'm angry? And I'm at a loss for words. After all we've done, every battle …
Harvest, Gratitude & Balance
We've crossed the Equinox into the autumn season, and Friday last my Circle gathered to celebrate Harvest, Gratitude and Balance. As the day and night became equals we honored the bounty in our lives, the miracle of our journey through time, and the harvest on our tables in the following feast. Fall Equinox or Mabon is one of …
To Stand Under
How do we learn to live with people who aren't like us? Mahzarin Benaji researches unconscious bias at Harvard. She discussed her fascinating and important research this week on the podcast On Being. Dr. Benaji uses the word "implicit" instead of “unconscious,” because of "the implication that the unconscious is this incredibly motivated, smart process that is constantly trying to do things …
My Heart Flow with the Waters
I live on a lovely little bay off the Potomac River, downstream from Washington, DC. It's alive with turtles and catfish and migrating water birds. Bald eagles nest in the woods nearby, along with osprey, woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks and many other birds. But my bay, and the larger Chesapeake, is choked with foul rotting algae much …
How to “Not-go” to that Dark Place
“You have to not-turn to anger, not-turn to resentment.” That advice comes from a man who spent 26 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, to kids who find themselves entangled in the juvenile justice system. He's helping them know themselves through writing, and to learn to manage their chaotic lives and hopefully survive the system. Stay I was …
The Gift of Immigrants
You're young, alone, and surrounded by strangers who speak a language you don't understand. You're weary, having travelled thousands of miles into the unknown, because everything you knew and loved has been destroyed. Meet Bessie This is the tale of the woman Baltimore came to know as its premiere kosher caterer, Bessie Bluefeld. About 100 years …
