Aug 10Member-onlyI Just Started Watching “The Handmaid’s Tale” Six Years After It First AiredI was surprised by how good it was — and how scary! — I read Margaret Atwood’s novel 38 years ago (yikes!) when it first came out. (If I recall correctly, I got it via my brief membership in the Quality Paperback Book Club, which had great selections that I often wouldn’t have heard of otherwise.) The Hulu show was on my “to…Television2 min readTelevision2 min read
Jan 5Member-onlyQ: Is the glass half full or half empty? A: It’s bothI just had an experience I was nervous about, and it turned out fine. This happens a lot. It was like a textbook example of anticipatory anxiety that ends up being overblown and, in retrospect, seemed totally unnecessary. …Philosophy3 min readPhilosophy3 min read
Published inThe Power of Poetry·Dec 10, 2022Member-onlyA Poem About an Electric Toothbrush in the Style of a Shakespearean SonnetI’ve become obsessed with the OpenAI ChatGPT. Have you tried it yet? It’s very easy to use — you just ask a question or provide a prompt — and it gives you access to an Artificial Intelligence program that is so smart it’s scary. It’s especially good at responding to…Artificial Intelligence2 min readArtificial Intelligence2 min read
Dec 1, 2020Member-onlyAfternoon Sky50 days until inauguration — My internet/cable TV/landline phone service was down for 21 hours starting early yesterday afternoon. That was hard. I’m such an addict!Photography1 min readPhotography1 min read
Nov 22, 2020Member-onlyBall of GasThe sun is just a ball of gas. It doesn’t care about viruses, elections, lies, hate, and fear, doesn’t know I am thankful I am still here to watch it put on a new show every evening precisely when it should, as if beauty and order were no big deal.Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read
Aug 26, 2020Member-onlyThe Couple Who Almost Shot Themselves, and the Lady in the Tight Red DressThe first half of the first night of the 2020 Republican Convention — My plan was to watch the Republican Convention every night and then do snarky (but reasonably accurate) recaps. But last night, I only got as far as watching the first hour and a half, and then I couldn’t bear any more. I was going to take a break and get…Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Aug 7, 2020After Tropical Storm Isaias: Fence down in “Key Food Memorial Park,” tree still on top of car, and traffic lights crushed in the GardensJournal — Thursday, August 6, 2020 — day (whatever) after NYC reopening — I’ve lost track — one day is the same as the next — I think it’s day 60-something — I haven’t been out in a few days. Finally got out this evening and saw that the damage from Tuesday’s storm still hasn’t been all cleaned up. A tree crashed right on top of a car on Austin Street, and it was still there this evening. Across the street were…Storms3 min readStorms3 min read
Jul 1, 2020A Short WalkJournal — Tuesday, June 30, 2020 — Day 23 of NYC reopening — I’m taking shorter walks now that it’s gotten hotter and more humid. I didn’t go outside at all yesterday (except to pace on the terrace), so I was overdue today. The sunset was spectacular again: The painted stone in this pretty garden says “Be Kind”:Journal2 min readJournal2 min read
Jun 30, 2020After the ThunderstormJournal, Monday, June 29, 2020 — NYC reopening day 22 — The sky was dramatic after the late afternoon thunderstorm:Sky1 min readSky1 min read