The Little Star Ranch
City slickers like myself tend to romanticize the “country,” so when I have a staycation, as I’m doing now at The Little Star Ranch in Somerville, I am somewhat surprised…
Spooky times in The Thin Place
The area of the paranormal has fascinated and enthralled people through the ages. From the days of the 50s, with the TV show Topper, to the 60s with The Twilight…
AUSTIN OPERA’s Season Opener is a Sizzler
Austin Opera has just staged one of the most famous operas in the canon: Pagliacci. This was a superlative production, which received a rapturous welcome by the mostly well-dressed audience…
A Quilt So Vast You Will See It From Heaven
World Premiere Opera in Houston: INTELLIGENCE Matching La Scala in Italy (which began in 1788), Houston Grand Opera now ties the record of premiering 75 new operas. The latest entry…
Austin Symphony and the Glories of Rome
Rome still rules. Those looking for the foundation of American law need seek no further than the Twelve Tables, the basis of Roman law promulgated in 449 BCE. At the…
HALLOWEEN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 is
about Scotland’s Darkest Secret This is not just a book about witches, but about Scottish witches! And Halloween is mentioned many times. Author Allyson Shaw, who has written much about…
Mayor Watson of Austin
During a recent appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson outlined his agenda for the future, and his take on politics. He pushed back against the recent…
Hers and Hers Alone
Inspired by The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Across an ocean beach of blue, Her PTSD whistle bangs the tune against a lighthouse dull Her past reflects It’s synged It’s…
HISTORY OF IDEAS
In the history of ideas, no one stands taller than the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704). To quote from a recent book by Marco Sgarbi, Locke was persuaded that it is…
The Book of Life – a Rwandan Horror Story Turns into Hope
Humanity has been a cruel species, and some might argue we still have a long way to go until we ascend into a realm of peace and harmony. We have…