Blogs Outside Alaska

Our students have compiled research in three topic areas. Below are the links to their research tables that can be downloaded for searching and viewing.   For a state-by-state review of Mandatory Reporter laws, click here.   For a state-by-state review of Background Check laws, click...

Our students spent the summer working on the inaugural project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children ave been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized.   Here are...

I just finished reading Chris Arnade's Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America.There's so much that's impressive about this book. The four-year, zigzagging cross-country journey that undergirds it. The beautiful, moving photographs. The originality and insights, including the abandonment of the sclerotic and increasingly propagandistic left/right framework in favor of "front row/back row."But for me, […]

Recently Amazon Publishing posted a video we did about writing during the pandemic (embedded below). It was a lot of fun and people seem to be enjoying it, which makes me happy.During the intro, I had discussed and displayed a few weapons some of my characters have used, but that part got cut from the finished product. So […]

That sums up the apocalypse that is the United States. Betsy DeVos, Sec of Education, summed up this administration’s approach to the pandemic this morning by insisting schools re-open but when asked if there is a plan, she said schools were on their own to figure out how to do that. And how to support […]

Today's selection -- from The Great Influenza by John M. Barry. Once President Woodrow Wilson decided that America should enter World War I, he did so with fire and fury, brushing aside individual liberties and crystalizing Americans around the single focal point of war: "His fire informed virtually everything that happened in the country, including fashion: […]

Today's selection -- from Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter by Tom Clavin. The history of the circus in America, with the very first attended by George Washington himself: "'Following the White Tops' was the phrase describing people who were with the circus. The first equestrian display dubbed a 'circus' in […]

Have you ever suffered from Bloggers' block? This post gives details of 8 ways that helped me overcome bloggers' block.

How do you respond to those annoying comments? James, at Perfect Manifesto, investigates.

Originally posted on Uninspired Writers: Writing required commitment, but it’s not always easy to find time in ourbusy lives. Yet, if it’s something we want to pursue, it’s something we have to do. Recently, alongside fitting writing in whenever I can, I’ve set aside designated writing time. Two hours on a Sunday, when I shut…

today’s fortune (it could just be a piece of glitter gone rogue) i do love the quote below though, and i’m going with that.  — “you sparkle with larceny.” Wilson Mizner, American playwright (1876-1933)

With summer here, many people find that they want to spend as much time outside as possible.  Usually because I’m writing this in May, so I have no idea if we’re still under lockdown or not.  Last thing I heard … Continue reading →

Raccoons are crazy pets…thanks to  The Pet Collective  

We live in the most perfect area to have a staycation. The gulf with its white sand beaches are only five minutes away. We have the best restaurants with fresh seafood and seats with the best views. The charter fishing experience is top notch. Evidently, this is not a best kept secret anymore. The only […]

Empathy and sympathy are not just two different approaches to confronting the emotional challenges of others; they are diametrically opposite responses in many important ways. Sympathy places another's problems at a distance from us, places us in a position of superiority, and "drives separation", says the film's narrator, Dr. Brené Brown. Empathy, on the other […]

Throughout the years of working on Positively Present, I've discovered that one of the most essential aspects of living a positive and present life is this: keeping an open mind. This sounds much easier than it is, so I created a digital workbook to explore what I believe are the necessary steps needed to truly […]

This is not schadenfreude, this is not cocking a snook. This is simply reportage from a war zone. I have … More

Anyone know anything about Google? I've used Blogger for years with a non-gmail account. I decided to create a Gmail account for a special use.Now that Gmail account has taken over as Admin on all my Blogger Dashboards and other Google apps.Help! I can't get Blogger to recognize my previous email that I've used for […]

Stock footage might not sound too sexy or fun, but this is an easy one to start and doesn’t require any start up funding. In fact, you can start with your smartphone camera. Ready? You Ready Are You Ready GIF from Youready GIFs   What is stock footage and how does it work? Stock footage […]

Boone, North Carolina, named after Daniel Boone, the famous early American explorer, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern part of the state. Today’s circa 1957 featured image was taken during a parade in the town. Note all of the double-parked cars next to the Todd & Higgins Esso Service Center, and...

The first aftermarket tops for convertibles went on the market in the teens’ when the “California top” became a popular addition on roadsters and touring cars. A clear plexiglass top appeared on a Plymouth show car in 1939. After producing thousands of clear plastic domes and canopies for aircraft during WWII, a few of the...

"Jacqueline Cochran was looking for WASP.  They told me I would have to be interviewed and they would contact me when they came to the Wichita area.  But I didn’t wait for that.  I went down to Houston for my interview, to speed things up.  And I think that’s one of the smartest things I […]

"My first flight was with a barnstormer at the age of five.  I loved it!  I also tried to 'fly' out of the barn loft with an umbrella.  This was less than successful..."  WASP Jean Terrell McCreery, 44-10 The indomitable Marguerite Jean Terrell Moreo McCreery has "...slipped the surly bonds of Earth. And danced the skies on […]

Progressive Rock Through the AgesBy: Stewart BrennanProgressive Rock is one of several experimental genres that evolved out of Rock n Roll in mid 1960’s. It was a purely creative genre that carried at its initial core, reflections of morality, philosophies, political views and the social economic conditions of the times.The genre had a wide range […]

So, you want to shower your lady love with diamonds. Well, there is nothing more she could love. But, are you afraid of getting ripped off? Or, do you not want to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on something worldly.   Although diamonds are elegant, flawless, and sophisticated, there is no denying that they are […]

Travel Makeup Bag Comparison habe ROWNYEON HaloVa Relavel Rownyeon Pro MelodySusie Ac.y.c Mossio B & C Chomeiu Material Nylon OxfordFabric Nylon Oxford Fabric PU...

Signs of Spring For more Wordless Wednesday, Click here.

Last week I wrote about the toxicity of silicone and revealed that while research is still limited, studies show that silicone does leach potentially harmful chemicals into food, particularly at temperatures above 300°.  Following the precautionary principle, I recommend avoiding cooking and baking with silicone.   What Do I Buy to Replace my Silicone Bakeware? […]

Silicones are made from silicon, a naturally-occurring element that is abundant in sand.  However, in order to make silicon available for industrial processes, it’s heated to very high temperatures and reacted with fossil-fuel derived hydrocarbons.1 This may explain why some people who are sensitive to petrochemicals may react to silicones.   In order to make […]

The African winds are blowing Sahara desert dust across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of the United States. Some see this as a terrible nuisance. Some see it as a health risk (which it definitely can be). Others–like me–see this as a garden gift from the heavens. Or universe. Why? Because the dust blowing […]

A new study has discovered that bumblebees actually bite plants to induce flowering so they can get to the business of pollinating. “In a sense, the bees are signaling, Hey, we need food. Please speed up your flowering, and we’ll pollinate you.” It’s an incredible discovery. Bees can actually force plants to flower up to […]

Apply this easy-to-make herbal heel balm to rough dry heels, or other areas that need softening and smoothing – such as hands, knees, and elbows. There’s an abundance of yarrow and plantain growing around my house right now, so it’s the perfect time to make a batch of this balm! Why Yarrow & Plantain? I […]