Watching Christopher Nolan’s magnificent Oppenheimer twice and then reading articles about the “father of the atomic bomb” led me to contemplate the mind and the brain. Although the words differ in meaning, we tend to use them interchangeably. That’s okay for my musings. I admit to being in utter awe of Oppenheimer’s mind, about which […]
DATE YOURSELF
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Given my title, you may think this post will be about conversations in which you date yourself by revealing, intentionally or not, your age or generation. No. It’s about inviting yourself on a solo date and then doing what’s necessary to ensure a fine time. […]
FUN FACTS FRIDAYS: RIDDLES
Solving brain teasers can help to boost brain power, keep our memories strong, and entertain us. This post offers a baker’s dozen riddles for today’s mental exercise. A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and […]
INTERGENERATIONAL INFLUENCE
Several years ago a brother suggested I write about controversial topics so I did, in a post on discounts for seniors. These days I am preoccupied with the word “woke”. African Americans first used “woke” to mean being informed and conscious of racial inequality and social injustice. The slang word gained popularity since the Black […]
SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS
We know of Mother’s and Father’s Days but how about National Siblings Day, observed annually on April 10th since 1995? Just as we do not choose our parents, we have no say about siblings. My mom and dad had seven children. At the time we weren’t unusual in this large number; when we moved to […]
FUN FACTS FRIDAYS: CHOCOLATE
About an indulgence: July 7th is World Chocolate Day. Chocolate comes from the seed of the cacao tree; the cacao bean was cultivated thousands of years ago in Mexico, Central and South America. Hot chocolate was the first treat, with leaders of the Aztec civilization reputedly drinking dozens of cups a day. Mesoamericans also used […]
TV THURSDAYS: DAHAAD
Because several readers appreciated the recommendation of Informer last Thursday, I now invite you to turn your attention to a riveting Indian drama, Dahaad, an eight episode series also on Prime. Cowritten by two women, their show studies patriarchy and caste politics through the lead character of Anjali Bhaati, a police inspector proving herself in a […]
TV THURSDAYS: INFORMER
Informer, a little known gem on Prime, is one of the most satisfying dramas we’ve watched in a while. The show opens with an anonymous public shooting in a coffee shop in London, England. Cut to a courtroom with Witness K unable to reveal much about the incident or the accused, given issues of security […]
WORLD MEDITATION DAY
In 1972 I took up transcendental meditation (TM) to combat severe insomnia. And it worked! Repeating my mantra silently (no, Tim, I won’t divulge it to you or anyone else) for twenty minutes once or twice daily enabled me to go from three hours of sleep a night to a healthy seven. This cure — […]
WORLD BOOK DAY 2023
Is there a genre called lite literature? I apply the name to novels that offer escapism while exploring somewhat serious issues. They are well-written, usually historical, always engaging. Novels by Fiona Davis fit the name, examples being The Lions of Fifth Avenue (2020) and The Magnolia Palace (2022), both set in New York City, both […]