Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
The Real Impact of Artificial Intelligence
Back in Colonial America, agriculture was the primary occupation for about 90% of the population (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_agriculture_in_the_United_States). But today, due to increased efficiency and other opportunities, less than two percent of the population is directly involved in farming. (https://www.google.com/search?q=percentage+of+people+in+agriculture+in+usa&sca_esv). And yet, despite the historic ‘loss’ of all those jobs, today’s unemployment rate has been consistently below five percent. I thought
Have a Happy Summer!
It’s summertime! Are you happy? According to the World Happiness Report, you probably are if you live in Finland. On the Report’s 0-10 Happiness scale, Finland’s three-year average in 2024 was 7.736. In fact, all the Scandinavian countries score well — Denmark is second at 7.521. The USA? We don’t score as well; we’re 24th
The Cruelest Law
Some laws are obsolete. If you drive through rural parts of Pennsylvania at night, a law requires you stop every mile to send up a rocket signal. (https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/top-craziest-laws-still-on-the-books) Some laws are unnecessary. It’s actually illegal to drive blindfolded in Alabama. (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/news/g4039/crazy-state-laws/?) Some laws are just plain dumb. In Arkansas, it’s illegal to mispronounce the state’s name,
‘Tis the Season of… Divorce?
We all know how a lot of things change with the seasons, including human behavior. But what you might not realize is this includes one behavior you might not have considered — divorce. According to a recent NPR report (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5415880/divorce-months-seasons-why?), divorces tend to spike twice a year: in the early spring and again in the
What is English’s Longest Word?
I’m always interested in quirks in the English language. So when I found an article “What’s the Longest Word in English?” on the Pocket website (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-s-the-longest-word-in-english?), I was intrigued. I know the Welsh language is famous (infamous?) for long words; see “The Longest Words in the Welsh Language” (https://talkpal.ai/the-longest-words-in-the-welsh-language/). And of course there is antidisestablishmentarianism
The Sky in the Southern Hemisphere
On my recent trip to Chile, our group got a chance to visit an astronomical observatory in the Atacama Desert. The sky is completely different in the Southern Hemisphere. The Big Dipper is upside down just above the horizon and (of course) Polaris can’t been seen. Other unusual features of the sky in that part
Introducing Canine Champions
“He followed me home, Mom, can I keep him?” But why did he follow me? Why do we each seem to know what the other is thinking? How did he get this ability? And are there any others like him? Anyone wishing for an adult PAW Patrol will love this! Canine Champions is now available in paperback on
Announcing “No Limits”
An Ohio farm boy climbs Kilimanjaro at age 69, finishes a 199-mile relay with Air Force Academy classmates at age 70, receives the coveted Abbott Medal for finishing all six “World Marathon Majors” at age 73, earns the Seven Continents Medal for finishing marathons on all seven continents at age 74. “I’m just grateful to
A Poem For Spring
Since it’s almost spring, I’m republishing my poem My Rite of Spring, from my book Some Poems About Life, available through this website and Amazon.com. My Rite of Spring I consider myself a peaceable soul.I value all manner of livable things.Insects and mice, spiders and voles.Just about anything Mom Nature brings. But I do have my standards.I will
Introducing Canine Champions
“He followed me home, Mom, can I keep him?” But why did he follow me? Why do we each seem to know what the other is thinking? How did he get this ability? And are there any others like him? Anyone wishing for an adult PAW Patrol will love this! Canine Champions is now available in paperback on