A friend’s husband died suddenly this past weekend, a heart attack claimed him without any prior warning. He was around my own age; they had been married only a short time, a year or so; she had just taken a new position so they were considering a move to NYC. I am at that certain [...]
Hurricane season officially begins June 1. However, unlike previous years, when the media saturation of sensationalist stories was held until that date, this year they are playing on our fear of a repeat performance and have been cranking up the hype machine since late April or early May. I am torn about this. I hate [...]
The other night I was sitting on my porch chatting on the phone with a friend when I happened to glance up at the flowering branches of the royal poinciana tree nearest my house. To my consternation I saw tiny black shapes flying all around the ends of the branches, following disturbingly bee-like patterns. I [...]
Internet filtering services are funny, funny things. For years I have harbored a certain amount of jealousy toward my friend Heather, as in my workplace access to her site is blocked for being in “category: adult,” while Hidden City was completely unrestricted. It just doesn’t seem fair — I am much more obscene than she [...]
I’m certain it isn’t a surprise that I’m a member of the ACLU. If you aren’t, but would like to send a message to your phone provider that you prefer to keep your privacy, here’s a link to a quick form that sends an e-mail on your behalf to the carrier of your choice. When [...]
It’s the time of year when high school seniors are graduating, or — failing that — attending their prom. In honor of this momentous occasion in the adolescent life cycle, all me to present the story of my own senior prom, and a lovely lass named Sheila. [NB: This is an encore presentation, so you [...]
Allow me to direct you to an intriguing post at Matt Heller’s Hella Frisch, the search for sharp. It’s an interesting look at how the intonation of orchestras continues to creep up, in the eternal quest for a “brighter” sound, and the parallel with the food industry’s use of sweeteners in almost everything. Share/Bookmark
I think I’ve said all I have to say on this topic for the moment, but there is some great discussion going on in the comments of ENG 101 & 102. If you’ve avoided throwing your two cents into the debate, go right ahead and jump in feet first. Share/Bookmark
NB: Based on the responses (and a couple of personal e-mail messages), perhaps less cleverness and more directness was warranted in my previous post. Please allow me to elaborate. I think making English the “national language” is ridiculous, serving no purpose other than to disenfranchise people who do not speak it. Imagine if you could [...]
You know, I don’t see any problem with the idea of English as the American “National Language,” as long as it has the same level of authority and gravitas as the Florida State Pie* and State Play. Somehow, though, I suspect it is intended to be a divisive and racist issue. When I first moved [...]
When it comes to relaxation, my needs are simple: freedom from responsibilities, interesting things to look at, a clean, well lighted place in which to write, a fast data connection, high quality flor de caña, wide-ranging and witty conversation with fascinating people, and plenty of hot water and a tub big enough to soak in. [...]
One aspect of The New Miamian I enjoy is the Miami Talks feature. I’m enough of a people person to enjoy reading about the lives of complete strangers. (Hey, blogging is in large part based on reading about the lives of complete strangers!) Well, the other day I noticed the following note at the end [...]
One of my main uses for Blogger is as an impromptu bookmarking tool. If I come across something I think I might want to write about later, or just a URL I want for future reference, I use the Blog This button on my Google Toolbar and make a record of it. In the prior [...]
So Adidas has this interesting program where you can… well, okay, I don’t really get it. It looks like they make all-white sneakers you can paint with waterproof markers, and it looks as though they have an on-line tool for designing your own. But they main thing is, they are having a contest on their [...]
The other morning I noticed a flash of red near my porch, and on turning saw two woodpeckers flying up into my date palm. One only stayed a moment before soaring off to hammer on the utility pole, but the other went about his business for several minutes, digging his way into the crevices between [...]
As I write there is a small thunderstorm outside my window. Miami has needed the rain for a while; even my aloe has turned brown. Moreso, I have needed it. This week I’ve been enduring a bit of unwelcome introspection. Most of last week was spent focused on the past, and this week’s return to [...]
On my way to work this morning I heard the sirens of a police car heading east on 79th Street. I stopped to let them pass, and was surprised to see that the first card was a blue and white Federal Protective Service car bearing the seal of the Department of Homeland Security. It was [...]
I have always felt that the slings and arrows of the world are a little easier to bear if you can at least get a good story out of it. It’s a little long for a mantra, but it’s worked for me. Robin Laws — novelist, game designer, and all around good guy — seems [...]
If you’ve been stocking up on those Wolfgang Puck self-heating lattes, you should know that they are being recalled. Sometimes they catch fire, explode, and/or dump the heating chemicals into the coffee itself. I don’t have any confirmation as to how it affects the flavor. Share/Bookmark
Hurricane season will begin in less than one month, and since Mother Nature doesn’t pay a hell of a lot of attention to the calendar, it might be worth starting some discussions early. When I get word that a storm is heading Miami-way, one of my prep items is to gather personal essentials into an [...]
I have been on vacation this week, after a fashion. For me, vacation usually entails merely working from home, rather than a series of frosty tropical beverages sipped at poolside, but this time I have limited my contact with the office to about two hours a day. It’s been nice. “So where then,” you might [...]
Back in the ’70s I used to go to an iconic Italian joint on University Drive called Mario the Baker. When I was in high school band, packs of us would descend on the place after football games or band concerts and devour pizza after pizza, pitchers of Coke, and dozens of the greatest garlic [...]
Neil was certainly gracious, but a bit nonplussed that I would have gone all the way to Minnesota to help him find his missing fountain pen. To make matters worse, by the time I arrived it had already turned up. Instead of just having his assistant throw me out into the yard, he invited me [...]