The Dust Bowl was the worst drought in U.S. history, covering more than 75 percent of the country and affecting 27 states severely. The drought lasted nearly a decade, from 1930-1939. It's impacts lasted decades longer. Topsoil from the drought lands were swept as far east as the Atlantic Ocean more than 2,000 mile away. Approximately, 2.5 … [Read more...]
About Linda Anselmi
Words To Live By: “Nature Brings Solace In All Troubles”
Within her diary, first published as THE SECRET ANNEX and later published as THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL, Anne Frank expresses her belief in the healing power of nature -- "amidst the simple beauty of nature...will always be comfort for every sorrow... nature brings solace in all troubles": “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or … [Read more...]
Book Review: THE SHAPE OF IDEAS by Grant Snider
First, a confession: I’ve long been a fan and a follower of Grant Snider’s “Incidental Comics.” Seeing one of his comic strips pop-up in my Twitter feed is like a gift of sunshine to brighten my day. My eyes delight in his whimsical artistry; my mind gleefully applauds his creative perspective; and my heart gratefully savors his insightful … [Read more...]
How Deep Is Your Love?
In honor of Valentine's Day, National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (February), and World Spay Day (the last Thursday in February) -- A letter from DOMESTIC ANIMAL COMPANIONS (PETS) UNITED FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Dear Humans: This may seem like a strange question to ask, but we really need to know... How Deep Is Your Love? We understand that … [Read more...]
Pondering The Possibilities: Repeal of Whopper Neutrality
Have you heard of "Net Neutrality"? What about "Whopper Neutrality"? Back in December of 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn regulations mandating net neutrality. Net Neutrality was one of those things that too many of us took for granted or never gave much thought about its function in our daily lives. So of … [Read more...]
Words: ” No Wealth In The World Can Help Humanity Forward …”
How do we help humanity forward? When we value the wrong things, then we focus on the wrong things. And, of course, we create the wrong things. Not the things that we most need... As Albert Einstein explained in THE WORLD AS I SEE IT: “I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands … [Read more...]
Music: Augustin Hadelich’s “Fantasy of the Cats”
We listen to music for a variety of reasons -- to relax, to distract, to celebrate, to evoke a memory, to capture a moment, to alter our mood, to reflect our emotions, to enhance our brain functions... But, have you ever wondered what musicians imagine when they listen to music? Or what story they are trying to tell when they play a particular … [Read more...]
Pondering The Possibilities: Male Cat Birthing Coach
The idea of a male cat birthing coach seems to go against everything we think we know or have been taught to think about the nature of human vs animal behavior. Humanity -- 1) compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition: the quality or state of being humane; 2) the quality or state of being human Synonyms: bigheartedness, … [Read more...]
Words: Zane Grey “What Any Man Can Do…”
Author Zane Grey has a few simple, timeless suggestions for when, in the midst of our helpless frustration, we wonder what any one man or woman can do to change things or make a difference in what is happening around us... "... to bear up under loss - to fight the bitterness of defeat and the weakness of grief — to be victor over anger — … [Read more...]
Words: “Where Human Beings Grow Human Souls …”
Where do we find our courage, our strength, our resiliency, our compassion... Ursula K. Le Guin explained in her Mills College Commencement address, 1983 (excerpt): "Because you are human beings you are going to meet failure. You are going to meet disappointment, injustice, betrayal, and irreparable loss. You will find you’re weak where you … [Read more...]
Series Review: THE GOOD PLACE
Every now and then a tv show surprises me in an unexpectedly good way. A recent Netflix binge brought me, happily, to THE GOOD PLACE! While our lives often seem like a twisted series of moral dilemmas (and then we die), most people would rather talk about death than mention the E (ethics) and M (morals) words in polite company. And, while we … [Read more...]
With Only 8.6 Percent Of The Sun …
A total solar eclipse happens about every 18 months, but rarely in the U.S. And, yet, we didn’t join the masses traveling to the Great American Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017. We stayed home. A place, according to eclipsewise.com, that would have an eclipse obscuration of .914 — meaning 91.4% of the sun would be covered by the moon … [Read more...]
DEMENTIA DIALOGUES (TEDx) — Remaking Conversation
The value of communications and conversations are not just in their exchange of wants, needs, and information, but the connections and relationships they build with each interaction. One of the most compelling things about TEDTalks -- they help us to make connections. Not just the external connections we make to the presenters, their ideas, and … [Read more...]
Words: “The Bastard Muses … Propaganda, Sentimentality, and Pornography”
In the age of social media when we are overwhelmed by too much information and too many ultra compelling stories from questionable sources with untold or dubious purposes, it's helpful to remember Cleanth Brooks' warning about the "Bastard Muses " and be wary of "Propaganda, Sentimentality, and Pornography." Excerpt from Literature in the Age of … [Read more...]
For The Joy Of Animals: Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day
Happy Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day! The Mayor of Sidney, Canada has proclaimed Sunday August 6th, 2017 as Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day in recognition and celebration of the incredible events that took place this summer in an eagles’ nest high above Roberts Bay — a baby red-tailed hawk was raised by bald eagles. Why, you wonder, is this deserving of … [Read more...]
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