One of the most potent aspects of art is that it can help us understand and come to terms with the darker aspects of the world and ourselves. The mysterious power that the storyteller brings to bear is their ability to simultaneously call forth, examine, and assuage the fears that haunt us, the traumas that… Read more »
From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »
Rovaniemi is in northern Finland, nudging up against the Arctic Circle, and is the regional capital of Lapland. The city was almost completely destroyed by the retreating German army in 1944, but rebuilding commenced immediately after the war. In addition to being the official home of Santa Claus (who you can visit at Santa Claus… Read more »
Perhaps because of my well-known penchants for sloth and hedonism, people close to me have been trying to convince me I would enjoy a visit to a local Nordic spa. They are absolutely bewildered when I try to explain to them that this is way, way down on the list of things I am eager… Read more »
From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »
From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile. From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and… Read more »
Technology, that manna from nerd heaven that turns slinky skateboarders into sedentary specimens and geeky weirdos into well-heeled billionaires, in our times has assumed the mantle of a Good Thing. When deployed properly, the wisdom goes, there’s a general consensus that technology can wend us out of many a challenge. This parallels the delicious synchronicity… Read more »
As Alexander Pope once pointed out, to err is human. Mistakes, just like forms of love, are of infinite variety, coming in all shapes and sizes. Error, clanger, boner, blunder, mishap, foible, fuck up, and faux pas; viewed from a certain perspective, my own life has been an impressive litany of them. There are those… Read more »
A memorable childhood moment from the 1980’s was Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion wheelchair tour across Canada. In glowing terms my kindergarten teacher explained to us that anytime Hansen felt the urge he could wheel himself up to the drive-thru window of a local McDonalds. Whipping out a special card designed for the purpose, while… Read more »
Korean cuisine is renowned for its bold flavors, appetizing colors, and diverse array of ingredients. I personally love the variety of side dishes I get with each Korean meal, from kimchi to bean sprouts. Here are a few of my favorites on the menu, things that you should try on your next journey to a… Read more »