Category Archives: HISTORY
Have a Happy Day!
My mom recently told me that prior to the early 1970s, no one ever said “Have a nice day” to one another. I’m not sure I believe this, because I find it hard to believe that people did not use … Continue reading
Popular
No matter how often I try to deny it, all of life is high school to one varying degree or another. And like high school, the world is a pretty ruthless place, so popularity can be a good safety net. … Continue reading
Filed under HISTORY
Will the Mermaids Sing to Me?
58 days and counting… (to Coachella) From a cultural standpoint, getting drunk with a few thousand people in the name of music and booze is nothing new. People have been engaging in these types of social rituals for tens of … Continue reading
Filed under COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA, HISTORY
Sleepwalkers
When I was a teenager I used to drive into Manhattan by myself and walk around at night. My mother once told me this was known as a ‘cheap date’… Once the city emptied out, another city would … Continue reading
Sea Monkeys?
Elaine Morgan is a tenacious proponent of the aquatic ape hypothesis: the idea that humans evolved from primate ancestors who dwelt in watery habitats. Hear her spirited defense of the idea — and her theory on why mainstream science … Continue reading
Filed under HISTORY
Think… Historical
I’m always stunned when I hear people say they don’t like history. To be honest, I’m not even sure what this means. How can you not like something that is so vast and far reaching? Nowadays, history also includes sociology … Continue reading
Filed under HISTORY
Notes from My Mom
If you’re like me, then you have a mother who arrives for Sunday dinner with at least three cut out newspaper articles (neatly affixed with paperclips), free pamphlets from recent art exhibitions (in a myriad of languages in the event … Continue reading
Filed under HISTORY
Big Brains
While some people have a favorite movie star that they obsess about, I mentally stalk intellectuals. For years, my go to guy was Harold Bloom the mac daddy of critical thinking. And yes, Bloom is still a brilliant bloated star … Continue reading
Filed under HISTORY
