In Madagascar, we bought our fruits and vegetables in the native market known as the Zoma. One seasonal item that appeared while we were there was a small green fruit with a bumpy skin that seemed quite popular with the Malagasy people. According to my recollection—which differs somewhat from the Shaws’—Mary Shaw wanted to learn the name of this strange fruit and how it was used. She asked their maid and was told, “It’s good to eat.” Every Malagasy she questioned gave her the

Wednesday, May 27, 2026: We took Maggie back to the animal shelter where we had adopted her in 2010 and had her put to sleep. She was nearly twenty years old and totally blind. We hated to do it, but she was on her last legs, and the blindness confused her. She would yowl mournfully when she couldn't find out where she was. A strange thing happened when we got to the shelter. Maggie had been meowing in her carrier all the way there, but the moment we arrived, she went silent

I attended my second No Kings rally on March 28 in front of the Loudon County courthouse. This rally was even bigger than the first one I attended in October, and Betty joined me this time. We brought fold-up chairs because we knew we couldn't be on our feet for two hours. It was cloudy, windy, and cool, but thankfully, it didn’t rain. While there, we made friends with the middle-aged lady from Colorado who sat next to us. She held up a small, hand-lettered sign that read, "

For the past 19 years, I’ve started most mornings by checking APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) to behold the wonders unfolding across the universe, and EPOD (Earth Science Picture of the Day) to witness the dynamic forces reshaping our planet. This daily ritual grounded me in the awe of creation. Sadly, EPOD published its final image and narrative on my birthday—September 30, 2025—marking the end of a remarkable chapter in science communication. EPOD, a service of the Univ

My first job after graduation from USF was with Smiths Industries in Largo, Florida. Smiths made aircraft instruments for both civil and military aviation. One of their main contracts was with the Marine Corps to supply the heads-up display used in the AV 8a Harrier vertical takeoff and landing jet. My job title was Engineering Administrator. I took care of all the routine things that the engineering manager didn't want to deal with. At the time, Smiths was rapidly e

This is for all you older folks out there whose hearing aids no longer cut it—especially in noisy social settings where understanding what someone is saying requires an exhausting level of effort. Here’s a typical conversation in a restaurant: Server: “Would you like lemon with your water?" Me: “Yes, I’m ready to order." Wife: “He didn’t hear you. Yes, he’ll have lemon." Me: “What’s this about lemons?" Son: “Dad, turn your hearing aid up!” Eventually, I’d had enough of t

Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth, has fascinated philosophers and artists for centuries. She represents Mother Earth, fertility, and the raw forces of nature. This reflection traces her mythological origins to her evolving relevance in today’s environmental crisis. Mythological Origins of Gaia In ancient Greek cosmology, the universe began with Chaos — a vast emptiness. Out of that void came Gaia, Earth’s solid foundation and primal mother. She gave birth to the sky, the

The summer before I joined the Coast Guard, I worked at a gas station in Salisbury, MA. My boss was Dan Wolford. Dan had a blue, '53 Oldsmobile 88 convertible which his wife, Margo, kept most of the time. Margo was a stout, brash, blond woman who took great pains to ignore me. She would drop by the station from time to time, usually to argue with Dan about something, then drive off in a huff. My first of several encounters with Stony's wife came one morning when she pulled up

The summer before I started college, I picked up a second job on weekends at Ann’s Diner in Salisbury, MA. I’d seen Ann’s ad in the local paper for a Friday and Saturday night grill man and applied in person. When she asked about my experience, I told her some things about cooking in the Coast Guard that were somewhat true, and I was hired on the spot. I figured; how hard could it be to fry a hamburger or grill a cheese sandwich? Friday and Saturday nights were when the drunk