JFK
It was a somber Thanksgiving weekend for the nation 46 years ago today, as Americans mourned the loss of JFK. I was only a few months old, but my father has told me many times about that weekend. He was devastated, as were so many other Americans of all creeds. Here is a compilation of television news reports of that day, from local Dallas stations. It's pretty amazing to me how often the newsmen make foreboding comments about something happening. Too bad JFK didn't opt to use the 'bubble' that day.

Chicken Soup With Rice
"Chicken Soup With Rice," by Maurice Sendak, is a children's favorite. Though "Where the Wild Things Are" is getting more attention lately, it bodes well not to forget Sendak's other classics. My friend was feeling sick today, and I thought of this poem/ song for her.We were also ta

What Kind of Thinker Are You?
Multiple Intelligences Theory, developed originally by psychologist Howard Gardner of Harvard University, is one of the coolest theories about intelligence. Traditional intelligence tests (such as the Stanford-Binet) assess only spatial and verbal intelligence. These areas are typically the areas (vocabulary, listening skills, memory, math, spatial skills) that are emphasized in school. Gardner's theory expanded human intelligence to include other areas such as artistic, kinesthetic, and musical. Of course these areas are more difficult to test, but exist as strengths and weaknesses in all of us. For example, many of the students I work with hav

The Separation of Church and State
The separation of church and state, and religious freedom, are sacred American principles. The founders of the United States constitution saw these principles as sacred because these ideas were the antithesis of all the experience and history they knew in Europe.When the state uses religious beliefs to govern, tyranny ensues. Think of Queen "Bloody" Mary in England in the late 1500's. When she became the Catholic queen, hundreds of Protestants were burned at the stake and persecuted. The opposite occurred when her sister, Elizabeth I, became queen. Throughout history, very few positive examples of a church dominated state can be found, in which certain minorities or groups

Trinket Drawer
A couple of weeks ago in Vermont I went antiquing, and bought an old printer's drawer. My friend also bought one. These old drawers are magnificent, and can be easily transformed into a trinket art display. Last week I was going to start on cleaning and staining my drawer, but I wasn't feeling well. Here is a