-
Today in History: The First American Novel “Power of Sympathy” Published
•
The Power of Sympathy: or, The Triumph of Nature (1789) is an 18th-century American sentimental novel written in epistolary form by William Hill Brown, widely considered to be the first American novel. The book was published by Isaiah Thomas in Boston on January 21, 1789. In the story, the characters’ struggles illustrate the dangers of seduction and…
-
NY Times Retracts Editorial Saying Rockets Can’t Fly
•
”Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.” – Albert Einstein The New York Times is a respected paper. Some might even call it a beacon of journalism, but that doesn’t mean it’s unquestioningly right 100% of the time.…
-
My Suicide Experience
•
Suicide. An act which one once legal in England, but only if you were deemed sane (1823). This Latin word originated in the mid-1600’s. Just the word itself leaves me with a knot in my stomach and an ache in my soul. It breaks down ‘sui’ meaning self and ‘cide’ meaning ‘a killing’ (pesticide,…
-
Happy Birthday Diane Keaton! (handwriting analysis)
•
Happy 71st birthday to Diane Keaton, an actress that’s been around as long as I can remember. Her role of Kay-Adams Corleone in The Godfather in 1972 launched her long standing career. She’s starred in almost fifty films and more than a dozen television series. Her most recent big screen project was the voice…
-
Utah’s Journey to Statehood
•
Utah had been around for about fifty years prior to President Cleveland granting the statehood on this day (January 4th) 1896. Mormon settlers had begun to enter the Salt Lake Valley while the land was still owned by Mexico in 1847. Fortunately for them, the Americans won the Mexican war the following year while…
-
Today in History: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
•
One hundred ninety-nine years ago today, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was published – anonymously. There have been debates regarding the amount of influence Percy Shelley, her husband, had in writing that fictional masterpiece. In those days, women weren’t taken seriously as authors and many, including Mrs. Shelly, wrote under their partner’s names or used a pseudonym.…
-
America’s Skewed Views
•
There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb After watching my Facebook page load up yesterday with the ‘never forget 9/11’ walk down memory lane, I can’t help but think how skewed America’s views are. For example, everyone…
-
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo – by Amy Schumer (the book not the blog)
•
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo wasn’t what I expected from Amy Schumer. It was SO MUCH MORE! Five–star rating in my opinion and I highly recommend it to every man, woman and (over 18-year-old) child. As you know, I’m an audio book junkie and listen to at least one a week. The Girl…
-
Patriotism at it’s finest – My thoughts on Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the National Anthem
•
For the record, I don’t give a flying *%#^! about football. I don’t watch it, I don’t care. That being said, there has been yet another controversial saga attached to the NFL that I’ll throw my two cents in on. Over the years, my daughter rarely got in trouble at school. I can count…
-
Dan Rather reporting on Handwriting
•
Feeling lazy this week. DAN RATHER wrote this. He said it better than I could have anyway… I share this article because I find it interesting, informative, and because in the end I beg to differ. I understand all the points the author makes. She makes them well and her forthcoming book on handwriting…
