while waiting for inspiration…
(I wrote this piece while I struggled with the recent book review. The previous words were eventually scrapped and I started fresh. This was the writing exercise that helped me … Continue reading
Thoughts on…Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy serves to obscure that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, rips muscle, … Continue reading
Idioms That Are Not as Innocent as They Seem
Outtakes If you want to see the actress in the nude, you will have to look at the outtakes. Okay, sure, parts of a film that for whatever reason did … Continue reading
Idioms for the 4th of July
Fittingly, here are two examples where immigrants are front and center. Doesn’t grow on trees “You have to work hard in America, my friend” John said to the naïve immigrant, … Continue reading
Idioms for People Who Wish To Feel Ridiculed
As I have said in previous postings, my bride is not indigenous to the United States of America. I often say certain phrases without thinking, commonly known as idioms, only … Continue reading
Redeployment: A Review
I am fascinated with military culture. Since I have no living frame of reference and will never serve in the military myself I rely on other artists’ impressions. One such … Continue reading
Fun Home: A Review
This is the musical that just won several Tony awards including Best Actor, Best Score and Best Musical. The New Yorker promoted it several weeks ago with a glowing review … Continue reading
The Germany I did not know
Before reading Robert Beachy’s new book Gay Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern Identity, I was unaware how trailblazing Germany was in pioneering for gay rights, at least half a century … Continue reading
Brooklyn and Belle with my Bride
We have been looking for reasons to return to Brooklyn Diner since eating there briefly. It was on the way to see Valerie June at Carnegie Hall. (If you haven’t … Continue reading
New Orleans Day 5: The Final Day
This week has gone by too fast. Thanks to my bride, the time was efficiently planned leaving ample time to relax. Since we haven’t seen the New Orleans Historical Society … Continue reading
New Orleans: Day 4
We haven’t tried a real Creole brunch so this morning we’re on the hunt. I am partial to Café Pontalba, located right off Jackson Square, with seating outside along the … Continue reading
New Orleans: Day 3
This is the day my bride has been waiting for. And not just because today is her birthday. Today we go out to Vacherie, LA to see two plantations and … Continue reading
New Orleans: Day 2, Part II
After an already edifying day, we took lunch at Dooky Chase’s. It was at Dooky’s, my bride read, that Civil Rights leaders in the 60’s gathered and ate. President Obama … Continue reading
New Orleans: Day 2, Part I
There is music everywhere! Starting at 9am you can hear musical sounds throughout the Quarter. A trumpet here, an electric zither guitar there, or banjo even as enterprising musicians start … Continue reading
New Orleans: The First Day
New Orleans’ French Quarter in the summer is like NYC in the summer circa 1987. Lots of panhandlers accosting you in friendly or not so friendly ways, the smell of … Continue reading
A Great Day
A great day. Lots of things were resolved, work was absorbing, my new cargo shorts arrived to replace shorts I’ve been wearing since 1997, I cleaned my car, did some … Continue reading
See Mad Max: Fury Road.
For a brisk two hours you are strapped to the war rig like a hood ornament hurtling through the wasteland, diving chainsaw-wielding pole jumpers and explosions, hanging upside down, your … Continue reading
The Back Room 