Tonight I reread some Edgar Allen Poe, one of my favorite writers since I was a child. I remember being heartbroken while riding home from vacation with my parents. The blood drained from my face as I screamed. I left a volume of Poe behind in a drawer, to be read never more. Now, I …
Author Archives: elb_cast
2020 is Dead, Long Live 2021
History will remember the obvious horrors of 2020 including, hopefully, Trump’s reign of lunatic terror, pathological narcissm, and denial. It’s up to people like me and you to remember the effects of this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. Bad News First I personally know people who suffered or died from a virus that …
What Happened to Being Kind?
During a communications conference I attended years ago, two comedians leading a session about improv introduced the concept of “Yes, and….” They explained it was always easier to take someone else’s idea and build on it in a positive way. Choosing “No, but…” is a negative path, they said, and can quickly suck the joy …
Fitting New Word for 2020
I learned a new word, one that perfectly describes Dr. Scott Atlas and many others in the Trump administration. Ultracrepidarianism is the habit of giving opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge. Fancy way of saying, “He’s full of shit!” Now, enjoy George Carlin!
Consider the Ouroboros
Scanning the audience who attend Trump's rallies, less-educated white voters seem to comprise his base. Could this lead to a political ouroboros of voters? An electorate that doesn't appear to understand their unrequited affinity for the president leads them on a doomed downward spiral as his economic policies swallow them whole to benefit the rich? …
Orson Welles Commentaries on Isaac Wood
Orson Welles Commentaries – Isaac Woodard Jr.: Orson Wells aired a powerful series of commentary broadcasts on ABC Radio from September 1945 through October 1946. Five of those episodes, which were dedicated to homebound veteran Isaac Woodard Jr., kicked off on July 28, 1946, with the reading of an affidavit that detailed the blinding of …
My Plea to 2021 Democrats
Anyone would benefit from this advice I hope members of the Democratic Party will keep a few things in mind after they retake control of whatever remains of our great American Republic. Don’t take on a holier-than-thou attitude. Never talk down to people. It makes you the lesser person. Don’t talk over people. It’s rude …
My Writing Process
My Writing Process: Every writer has his/her own process. Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to write about the only writing process that I really know: mine. This article by Stephen B. Hebert is focused on using Ulysses on macOS and iOS for writing, but any writer should appreciate the ideas about his writing …
Trying to Write Again
Years ago, Merlin Mann1 said you can’t think your way out of writer’s block. You must write your way out of thinker’s block. I’ve been trying to do the former when, obviously, I should be attempting the latter. So much as happened since New Year’s Eve 2020. The novel coronavirus pandemic aka COVID-19. People wearing …
Photos of Roadside Americana
Download 11,710 Free-to-Use Photos of Roadside Americana: The Library of Congress has published over 11,000 high-resolution shots of U.S. roadside attractions, and released the images (to which it had purchased the rights) into the public domain. The photos were taken by architectural critic and photographer John Margolies, who spent forty years documenting his travels along …