Somewhere, in a dusty shop
A printer makes copies of the libretto
Of our National Opera
In You-ess-ay-istan.

The evening air is still, quiet, and thrilling.
A solitary crow makes an excited cry,
And then shuts up.
I enter a room, and sit down on a deep chair.

The announcer intones, and advises us
Not to paro… Read full post »

Eureka, California:  proposed renovation of industrial area

I just returned from voting in the California Primary. I had learned a few things about who was running, and was able to pick out my choices for both houses of Congress from the bewildering number of candidates (we have a… Read full post »

A jaw harp

It had been rainy for the past several months, and I had all the symptoms of cabin fever. I should say I suffered from depression, and to fight it, I bought a new bottle of vitamins, which I took daily with my Omega 3 pills,… Read full post »

                Always carry a little bottle of air of the moon
                to keep you from drowning./… Read full post »

In Arcata, California, in the town square, known as the Plaza, a statue overlooks the lawns and paths of a small park. This is the statue of William McKinley, and few people seem to appreciate, or even know why this statue was erected. For one thing,… Read full post »

*“Show me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” -- Brillat-Savarin

 I had heard his famous saying* before, but it was by accident that I encountered The Physiology of Taste, by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, an eighteenth century gastronome. Reading… Read full post »

A few weeks ago, when reshelving books that had accumulated on my bedside table, I discovered that I had been reading a lot of books about religion. First, I asked myself, is there something the matter with me? Then, after musing about this for a while, I decided that… Read full post »

I have often said that if you ate nothing but raw food, you would have a diet that is healthier than 99 percent of Americans. However, this percentage has nothing to do with how much stock you have on your portfolio.  Perhaps even a homeless person could adhere to such… Read full post »

Starting from my childhood, I have been given to unusual fantasies. In third grade, I discovered a book of short stories by A. E. Van Vogt, and was introduced to time travel, space vampires, gravity reactors, and other notions that made Van Vogt a scapegoat of science fiction writers du… Read full post »

It's amazing that any proposal to make cuts in military spending starts a discussion of the effect this will have on military personnel. At the outset, it's extremely misleading for them to imply that army personnel or veterans today are well cared for, and have something to lose… Read full post »

I wasn't the type of person who would smoke. My father came from a family that were stalwart members of the Methodist Church, and my grandfather, a radiologist, had many stern warnings to make about the hazards of smoking. My parents smoked: my father smoked a pipe in the evenings, and… Read full post »

My religious beliefs aren't very different from anyone elses, but when looking for solutions to mental health issues, I have found  Buddhist philosophy the best approach. That said, I have gone through a lot of phases with Christianity. At times,  I have gone to Church every Sunday. Just as… Read full post »

I had a tiresome task that day -- since I am responsible for maintenance tasks at a local strip mall, I frequently remove grafitti, do minor painting jobs, etc. Behind this strip mall is a "natural area" within the City of Eureka… Read full post »

 Hugues de Montalembert

Sometimes, when I am finding it difficult to sleep, I get out of bed, and go to my computer. Not a very good thing to do -- but it makes me drowsy again. Often I do some of my best web surfing at… Read full post »

I don't havea lot to say about education in Montana, except that it was quite good, as long as I was there -- I was taken out of the public school system in eighth grade, and sent to a  private school. Some of the teachers there were considered to… Read full post »

I was in San Francisco, with my wife Molly, and she was off somewhere with her mother, shopping. I lit one, and decided to go for a walk. I was thoroughly enjoying myself until I realized that I was lost. I walked up and down the avenue, looking… Read full post »