Servant Leader, Historian, Writer
I will confess. During recent presidential elections, I’ve felt a little fuzzy about how the electoral college works. I must have learned about it in school, but over the years, the details have dripped out of my brain, one by …
7 Things to Know About How the Electoral College Works Read more »
Sometimes I’m disappointed with movie remakes, but that’s not the case with Fahrenheit 451. The theme of the first film, and the novel it was based on, is actually strengthened in the 2018 version. Both versions have just enough similarities …
Fahrenheit 451: Comparing the 2018 Film to the 1966 Original Read more »
When is a debate not a debate? As part of the Jefferson Educational Society’s Global Summit, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Howard Dean, retired Democratic politician, and Elise Jordan, Republican political analyst participated in a debate on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at …
A Different Kind of Debate: Dean and Jordan Read more »
It’s been almost 10 years since I made my solo Route 66 trip. Recently, my husband and I were in California, and I took him to Santa Monica Pier, which marks the end of Route 66. He took my picture …
Still Homeless in Santa Monica Read more »
Recently, I saw The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. The film centers on a damning Vietnam War study and Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham’s most-difficult decision in 1971. At the beginning of the film, I was confused by …
The Post: Film About Katharine Graham, Unsure to Unstoppable Read more »
The 2018 Oscar nominations for I, Tonya sent me to my ancient clipping file to excavate a March 1994 essay I wrote about the controversial figure skater. The piece appeared in a reader-participation series featured in our local newspaper, called …
I, Tonya Renews Inspiration Read more »
Once upon a time, there was a country called, “Independence.” The citizens of Independence prided themselves on their patriotism, having an appreciation for the long-ago revolution that had liberated them from oppression. The citizens of Independence enjoyed many freedoms, including …
A National-Anthem Fable Read more »
When I tell people I belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), sometimes they ask what the DAR is or what it does. Generally, I tell them that DAR members can trace their lineage back to a Revolutionary …
7 Things to Know about the DAR Read more »
Last weekend, we watched the latest Netflix DVD.com arrival, Gleason. This documentary, about retired New Orleans Saints defensive back, Steve Gleason, is a love letter to his son, and so much more. It’s a story of courage, hope, and grit. Diagnosed …
7 Things to Know About Steve Gleason, Living With ALS Read more »
Last week, I attended a performance of Rent’s 20th Anniversary Tour. The musical follows a year in the lives of several artists, some of whom are afflicted with HIV/AIDS. In 1996, the future was grim for those who had the …
Rent’s 20th Anniversary: 7 Things to Know About HIV/AIDS Now Read more »