I love parks, including national parks. National park I’ve visited include Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Everglades, Olympic, Denali, Carlsbad Caverns, Crater Lake, and North Cascades. My daughter Mona, who’s a botanist, loves visiting the Joshua Tree National Park. Read more →
On Labor Day, the day when we recognize the value of American workers, it’s positive that things for workers are better right now. Covid-19 contributed to the Great Resignation of 2021, during which record numbers of people quit their jobs. A recent survey shows that one-third of workers are still looking for a new job. Read more →
In 1973, Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote. It was the end of a movement, beginning in 1848 at the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Read more →
Best wishes on Father’s Day. I hope you and your loved ones will have a great day with your plans for brunch or dinner, an outing, and/or gift giving. My dad, Minor H. Slingsby, passed away in 1990 at age 80. A farmer, he died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which is linked to pesticide exposure. Read more →
Although the idea of Father’s Day was conceived in 1909 by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, to honor her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm, it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Read more →
When life gets tough, I tell my family and friends not to let it steal your joy. That philosophy got me through the Trump years fairly well. However, the massacres this month are weighing heavy on my heart. I hope taking my own advice will help me bounce back soon. Read more →
The purpose of Memorial Day to honor those who have died in service to their country. In addition to somber remembrances, ceremonies, and parades, 59 percent of Americans plan to barbecue over Memorial Day weekend, while 15 percent will take a trip. Memorial Day sales also are popular. Read more →
There’s no doubt about it. Everyone – governments, organizations, and the public – needs to do more to slow down climate change. I remember well the first Earth Day in 1970. A river in Cleveland bursting into flames when oil-soaked debris in the water ignited. Read more →
March is Women’s History Month. It’s difficult to figure out what to write. Women have made great strides in recent decades. However, so much remains to be done. And, what needs to be undertaken now and going forward so that women are include in the history of the United States and the world? Read more →
Although there are some brilliant moments in the 2021 Oscar nominated movies, recurring reliance on violence and coming of age stories about males dominate the offerings. And last year’s movies have a new dark element, the psychological thriller, a slow moving movie that suddenly has a twist at the end. Read more →