A brief history of racism
Last week, the Associated Press and other news outlets reported that racial attitudes have gotten worse, not better, since the United States elected its first African American president four years ago in 2008. Those who admitted to having anti-African American feelings rose from 48% in 2008 to 51% in 2012. If the researchers included implicit ...
It was 15 years ago today
The following reminiscence is brought to you by my upcoming anniversary. I’ve just finished writing a draft of a memoir, including some drama from 1997, and remembering that it was (for me, in the end) a very good year: The artists’ residency is nearing the end. With horses and panoramic views outside my writing studio ...
Infectious grooves
One of the many soundtracks running through my head after I turn off the radio is an imaginary list of songs from films I’ve seen. There are a number of popular songs that have been used so perfectly, in my opinion, that I can never again hear the song without also thinking of the scene ...
Bossypants vs the book I can’t name
So I just read two books in the last month, both by 40-ish women authors, both nonfiction, both at least somewhat about what it is like to be a working mother of small children. One was “Bossypants” by Tina Fey. The other I don’t want to name because I have been a fan of the ...
Sci-fi summer
This is one of those summers when I’m excited about going to the movies. While there are blockbusters every summer, and every Christmas, the lineup this year seems like the perfect (to me) mix of all my favorite themes – science fiction, superheroes, Steven Spielberg, with a dose of Harry Potter and J.J. Abrams. Yes, ...
RIP Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett
Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett both died within 5 miles of each other yesterday – Thursday, June 25, 2009 – in West Los Angeles. The only other time that I can remember two such celebrities dying within such a short period of time was in late August, 1997, when both Mother Teresa (in India) and ...
Making a fortune on adultery
It takes a lot of money to advertise on CNN. I’ve been watching Anderson Cooper off and on, interspersing his show with Matthews, Olberman, and Maddow on MSNBC. The ads that run between segments on CNN are usually paid for by energy companies, claiming that they are investing in alternative energy sources while slipping in ...
