Lessons for Writers: James Cameron’s Film, Aliens (1986)
Consider the Ripley Elevator Scene from Aliens. Rewatching the movie recently and this scene stuck with me. It’s the kind of scene missing from bad action movies. Think about it. […]
New Writing on Climate Change
The Tampa Bay Times, the top newspaper in Florida and one of the best in the nation, has published my guest column promoting the vital work of the Southeast Florida […]
“Wilderness,” Carl Sandburg
Another presentation for National Poetry Month–the poem “Wilderness” by Carl Sandburg. Here is the first stanza: THERE is a wolf in me … fangs pointed for tearing gashes … a […]
National Poetry Month
It’s spring, the birds are chirping, the trees are blossoming, and I’m reading a biography of Carl Sandburg. Poetry is on my mind. Let’s celebrate National Poetry Month! Most of […]
Top 5 Iron Maiden Albums
Now and then it’s a necessity to close out current events, empty one’s head, and focus on great music. It can be so healing. With Iron Maiden, you’ll rock hard […]
Gary Nabhan
My mother has long enjoyed and admired the nonfiction of naturalist Gary Paul Nabhan. I’ve just begun The Desert Smells Like Rain and I’m loving the earthy writing, the crisp […]
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation: A Film Score
1,001 tweets today on my Twitter account. I was reluctant to tweet initially, but now I see how vital the medium is to the news industry and to the writing […]
Lincoln on Wind Power
I’ve never done near enough reading in the complete works of Abraham Lincoln. I recently read the screenplay to Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln (2012), and that was a rich feast. […]
Bill Paxton
This photo of a young Bill Paxton seeing JFK just makes me miss him more. The Washington Post reports on that remarkable occasion. Sometimes you can sense the zest in […]
Elizabeth Warren, “She Persisted”
Elizabeth Warren reminds me a lot of my mother. An expert in her field. Unfailing reserves of energy. An ease with public speaking. Poise. Persistence. The America I love and […]
