When I was a kid, some friends put salt on their watermelon. I tried it, liked it, and still eat watermelon that way. When I discovered how delicious salted watermelon was, I tried apples with salt. And oranges. And peaches. And grapes. And tomatoes. If it was a fruit, I salted it. Health officials warned […]

Despite our attempts to stay abreast of misinformation about current energy topics related to the climate crisis, we are continually caught off-guard by new doozies. One of those experiences was at the Common Ground Fair this year. While staffing a climate solutions booth at the fair, one of us engaged in conversation with a friendly […]

When I was in the Army, we had a marching song that went, “G-I beans and G-I gravy. Gee, I wish I’d joined the Navy.” October 13 is the Navy’s 247th  birthday. My brother was a career Navy guy, so to honor him and to honor the Navy, I decided to watch the 1963 film, […]

Here is a perfect chowder with late summer corn when the evenings get a little cooler. Shrimp and Roasted Corn Chowder Servings: 4 Ingredients: 4 ears corn, kernels cut from the cobs, with the cobs reserved 1/2 pound shrimp peeled and de-veined with the shells reserved 4 cups chicken broth or chicken stock or shrimp […]

I’ll start off this review with a compliment: the people tasked with advertising the new horror movie “Smile” did a really good job. For months, I had been successfully unnerved by the various posters, commercials, and trailers for this movie that conditioned me to avert my eyes to the slightest hint of a creepy smile. […]

Jokes about Christopher Columbus tend to be pretty lame. Here’s a small selection for your displeasure: Why did Columbus cross the ocean? To get to the other tide. Why don’t they celebrate Columbus Day in India? Because Columbus didn’t stop to ask for directions. How did Christopher Columbus pay for his trip to the new […]

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich Servings: 2 Is there a better time to enjoy perfectly ripe tomatoes smothered in melted cheese along with some fresh homemade basil pesto in a sandwich that is grilled to perfection? Ingredients: 4 slices whole wheat bread or sourdough 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons basil pesto 1 ball fresh mozzarella, […]

“Don’t Worry Darling” is a film whose poor reputation precedes it. It’s going to be remembered not for anything that happens in the film, but for being the source of news stories about animosity between various players in its production. But I can look beyond all the gossip and behind-the-scenes drama and focus on what’s […]