Blog archives
Writing stories in our blog
Bob Dylan, 'Chronicles: Volume One'
January 9, 2012
In Chronicles: Volume 1, Bob Dylan gives us enjoyable autobiography, from early 1960s New York to recording Oh Mercy in New Orleans.
Mark Twain surfing in Hawaii: Quote from 'Roughing It'
November 16, 2011
From Roughing It, a Mark Twain quote about how he tried surfing in Hawaii in 1866.
J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement speech
October 15, 2010
J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement address on June 5, 2008, recently referenced by Oprah, was memorable for Rowling’s words on failure and empathy
Happy Bloomsday! James Joyce / 'Ulysses' podcast
June 16, 2010
Frank Delaney hosts Re:Joyce, a new weekly podcast exploring the world of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Firefox spell-check: In-browser help for Wisconsin's poor spellers
November 11, 2009
Improve the credibility of your comments by using Firefox’s built-in spell-checking whenever you write online.
Blogging how-to: 'The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging'
July 13, 2009
Perhaps not the best blogging book if you’re looking to make money blogging, but still an entertaining and inspiring read.
How to make money blogging: 'ProBlogger' book review
June 22, 2009
Not a dense book full of moneymaking secrets, but a halfway-decent overview of what blogging involves.
James Joyce: 'Ulysses' and 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'
June 12, 2009
Joyce’s Ulysses is very readable, according to the author of a new book. Having a guide to Ulysses can help.
The power of now: Eckhart Tolle and a Bike Ride on 35W
March 17, 2009
Be here now. In the moment. Possibly on a bicycle.
Rainn Wilson's SoulPancake.com: Fashioning art, spirituality
March 15, 2009
In an interview with Oprah, the comedic actor from ‘The Office’ outlines his new Web project for spiritual social networking through the arts.
Deep thought: Happy birthday, Jack Handey!
February 25, 2009
Jack Handey is a real person, not a pen name or a character. He is 60 today.
It's 'home in,' not 'hone in'
January 2, 2009
The eggcorn ‘hone in on’ is spotted in the wild and shot down. The correct expression is ‘home in on.’
Auld Lang Syne lyrics: Burns poem, Dougie MacLean song
December 31, 2008
Auld Lang Syne is an old song. Its Scottish lyrics are taken from a 1788 Robert Burns poem, and customarily sung on New Year’s Eve.
Barack Obama: Jerk or Jedi?
December 29, 2008
Does the media really have to fan every flame and cover every sandwich?
Attention, Richard Roeper: The new media flows two ways
December 12, 2008
Richard Roeper sends these tweets to 1,142 followers, but he follows not a single one of them in return. Where Ebert is vigorously interactive, Roeper is one-way.
Matt Taibbi, a breath of fresh air
October 21, 2007
This ‘Rolling Stone’ writer covering the campaign is brutally funny and frank.
Magazines and coffee beans
June 15, 2007
Sure, they’re obsolete — but magazine are still fun to read and offer depth.
Joseph Campbell on mythology, religion, and art
March 26, 2007
Mythological stories of the hero journey fill the history of religion. Joseph Campbell taught the power of myths.
Movie review: 'Blogumentary'
February 11, 2007
Watch the full movie online — a look at the blogging phenomenon and a number of the most well-known bloggers.
Regina Spektor
January 30, 2007
Thanks to ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ for introducing us to the introspective, playful musician.
'Misquoting Jesus': The Bible and Bart Ehrman
January 25, 2007
Ehrman does an outstanding job of summarizing the history of Biblical texts in simple language.
Keith Olbermann's special comments
October 22, 2006
His occasional seven to ten-minute editorial essays on MSNBC take the Bush administration to task through sharp writing and dry wit.
