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The world’s real apex predator

Here’s an interesting observation via Numlock News: For thousands of years, human beings have systematically conquered evert region of the globe, eliminating or taming all of the creatures that once threatened our ancestors. Lions, tigers, and bears are now relegated to areas of the planet that we deem safe and acceptable, Though an occasional animal…

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That’s a lot of TV

In 2018, the average American spent 15 minutes per day reading for pleasure. As an author, I’m appalled. I think. If you read 15 minutes per day, that means you read 5,475 minutes per year. If you’re spending this time reading books, and it takes you about 10 hours to read your average book, that…

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Speak Up Storytelling: Eric Feeney

On episode #60 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Elysha Dicks and I talk storytelling with special guest Eric Feeney. In our follow-up segment, we hear from a listener who has found a surprising benefit to Homework for Life and another with storytelling advice for me. We also inquire about the possible existence of listeners…

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The Baltimore Sun’s response to Trump is astounding

In case you missed it, The Baltimore Sun responded to Trump’s tweets from yesterday that attacked African American Congressman Elijah Cummings for conducting Constitutionally-required oversight of the executive branch and described Baltimore as “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.” A “very dangerous & filthy place.” A place where no human being would ever want…

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Am I a jerk because I think this way?

This sign is affixed to the side of a local school. It’s got a lot of problems. There is the obvious and tragic punctuation problem, of course. “OWNERS” is missing a possessive apostrophe. Presumably someone (or hopefully many people) working at the school have noticed the mistake and decided to accept the error rather than…

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Book love

A couple bits of book love that have me feeling great this week: One of the first reviews of my upcoming novel, Twenty-one Truths About Love, has arrived via Kirkus Reviews, an important book review magazine, and happily, it’s a good one! __________________________ Dan Mayrock is in a bind: He has not yet told his…

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Small actions. Big impact.

One of my favorite things about life is that small actions can often yield enormous results. A new study, for example, in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that four seconds of high-intensity exertion repeated periodically throughout the day might counteract some of the unhealthy metabolic consequences of sitting for hours.…

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I picked up a hitchhiker. Not everyone is happy.

I picked up a hitchhiker on the way to Boston yesterday. While pulling out of the Charlton Plaza rest area on the Mass Pike, I saw a woman standing in the grass just before the rest area’s onramp to the highway with her thumb extended. She looked like she was in her early thirties. Smiling.…

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The pre-rain date

Here is my new, brilliant idea: The pre-rain date. Allow me to explain. The Turkey Bowl has become an annual tradition at my school. Students and faculty play a flag football game on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It’s great fun. But last year, rain forced us to postpone the Turkey Bowl and eventually move it…

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Worst concert ever

On Sunday Elysha and I went to the Blondie/Elvis Costello concert at Mohegan Sun. I’m not an Elvis Costello fan, but Elysha loves him, and the tickets were a gift from me. And I like Blondie. Of all the venues where we could see a concert, Mohegan Sun is one of our least favorites. The…

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