the designer who set women free --1/16/26 January 16, 2026
Today's selection-- from Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson. Claire McCardell (1905 -1958) was the American fashion icon who gained fame by designing “her garments to fit a woman's natural body,” and was credited with creation of truly America sportswear intended for comfort: “It was after six o'clock on […]
the fall of nikita khrushchev -- 1/15/26 January 15, 2026
Today's encore selection -- from The Shortest History of the Soviet Union by Sheila Fitzpatrick. After his poor leadership in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Nikita Khrushchev’s fall from power was rapid: In 1957, [Khrushchev] pushed through a plan to dissolve the central industrial ministries and create regional economic councils (sovnarkhozy) in their place -- a move […]

Recent Research Spreadsheets
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...
feigleycommunications
Legislative Drafting Students
Our students spend the summer working on the research project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children have been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized. Here are...
feigleycommunications

Story Stakes: When to Reveal Them—and Why Timing Is Everything – by K.M. Weiland… January 17, 2026
on Helping Writers become Authors: Here’s what’s most important for writers to understand about story stakes. Story stakes are what characters stand to lose if they fail—not what they gain if they succeed. Stakes are the emotional cost of the story’s outcome and the primary reason readers care what happens next. Character motivations drive your […]
Chris The Story Reading Ape

How a ‘Dysfunctional’ English Farm Became a Biodiversity Hotspot January 17, 2026
What was once "depleted, polluted, dysfunctional" farmland has become a crucible of possibility-a 3,500-acre English estate where turtle doves and nightingales now thrive in numbers that defy the nation's broader ecological collapse. Isabella Tree and her husband didn't impose order on Knepp; they surrendered to wildness, tearing down fences and trusting free-roaming cattle to fill […]
Gretel Ehrlich

Sunny Ann Starling, July 2, 1943 - January 6, 2023 January 10, 2023
All-American patriot, artist, designer, entrepreneur, flower arranger, chef, and joyful servant, Sunny Lou Starling, was carried on the wings of angels to the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 6, 2023. She once said her mission was to “Gather and feed all you can, as often as you can, because you never know if […]
Unknown
WASP Final Flight February 28, 2022
WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish, 44-W-4"Failure isn't failure unless you let it be. It's simply a change in direction. Just count your many blessings move on. With God's help, anything is possible!"Deanie Bishop Parrish passed away peacefully in her home in Waco, Texas, on February 24, 2022, just one day shy of her 100th birthday. She met every challenge […]
Unknown

Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 519 October 30, 2024
Editors Note: After posting over five thousand features and twenty five thousand images over the last thirteen years, the time has come to end posting weekly features here on The Old Motor. At this point, the site’s future hasn’t been decided, although it will remain online for the foreseeable future. There may be future updates...
David Greenlees
Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 518 October 23, 2024
In this weekly series, we ask our readers to tell us the year, make, and model of all of these vehicles along with the location where the image was taken and anything else you find of interest in the photos. You can look back on all the earlier parts of this series here. The photos are via Americar....
David Greenlees

Shellubrication: 1950s June 28, 2025
From a discarded negative collection that belonged to a San Diego area barber. 120 format. View full size.
Cazzorla
Mill Town Aughts May 22, 2025
My great-grandfather was a Textile League ball player in the little mill village of Tucapau, South Carolina, in probably the late aughts. He didn't care what the mill job was as long as he could play on their team. The story in the family is that one of his upcountry cousins was also a Textile […]
hj808

Hungarian Wax Peppers October 18, 2024
Here’s an old Italian recipe for canning peppers, one of my husband’s favorites. Searching the internet, you’ll come across many variations — all probably good — but here’s a basic recipe to start you on your course. The kids and I canned these using the boiling method, though pressure canners might make the process easier. Not sure how, […]
gardenfrisk
Easy Microgreens June 13, 2023
Microgreens seem to be all the rage these days and for good reason: they are packed with nutrients and easy to grow! The USDA and University of Maryland found that leaves from microgreens had more nutrients than the mature leaves of the same plants. And great flavor. Plus, you don’t need a lot of space […]
gardenfrisk

20+ New Year’s Eve Recipes and Ideas December 29, 2025
Your New Year’s Eve menu will be completely set to ring in the new year with party appetizers, bubbly, festive drinks + show stopping mains! We’ve rounded up our favorite crowd-pleasing party apps, stunning mains and festive sips. So whether it’s a small gathering of close friends, a big soiree, or an intimate dinner for […]
Chungah
Ravioli with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce December 20, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. Pillow-y ravioli with the dreamiest, most velvety sun dried tomato cream sauce! A 30-minute weeknight dinner yet fancy enough for company! why i love this recipe what is a sun dried tomato cream sauce? A sun dried tomato cream sauce is an […]
Chungah

Pentagon wants major improvements to runways at Greenland base January 17, 2026
Amid demands to control the island, the U.S. military is trying to overhaul infrastructure at its decades-old Pituffik Space Base. The post Pentagon wants major improvements to runways at Greenland base appeared first on Task & Purpose.
Nicholas Slayton
Would a proposed law on mold in military housing actually help? January 16, 2026
A new bipartisan bill would make private companies that manage military housing pay for costs associated with mold, but an attorney worries families would only collect damages through lawsuits. The post Would a proposed law on mold in military housing actually help? appeared first on Task & Purpose.
Jeff Schogol

T-Dub'ing at Hot Well Dunes January 17, 2026
In spite of the schweinehunde (two rigs basically crowded a rig from NY, who left today), today was a pretty good day.The mentality of the asswipes who crowd out others by parking right next to them baffles me in its inconsiderate stupidity. Oh well, IIWII and given a chance most people disappoint.Regardless, Martha and I […]
redlegsrides
Still at Hot Well Dunes January 16, 2026
Yesterday, Wednesday January 14Pretty much a do nothing day, the highlight of which was a long soak in the hot tub nearest our campsite.It was a little breezy as well, encouraging one to simply hang out in the gazebo.Today, Thursday January 15Another sunny day with temperatures in the low 60s but at least not as […]
redlegsrides

Come Find Me At Substack! June 25, 2025
Hi all, I should have posted this a while ago—I’m now on Substack. I love the platform and respect and appreciate the company’s adherence to principles of free speech.You can find The Heart of the Matter—my ruminations on politics, geopolitics, and media, plus the odd book and movie review—here. My author newsletter—only about my new book […]
Barry Eisler
American Exception March 7, 2025
Wow.As Blade said in the eponymous movie, “The world you live in is just a sugar-coated topping. There is another world beneath it—the real world.”American Exception is about the real world.It is deeply researched, coherently presented, cogently argued. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll wonder how you ever could have believed that things are […]
Barry Eisler

Kashevaroff Mountain April 6, 2019
Long before we were a sailing family, Alisa and I were a young couple in love with adventuring in Alaska. The opportunity to introduce Eric and Elias to the delights of outdoor living in the Great Land was one of the big bright sides of our return to Alaska. Earlier this winter, the boys and […]
Letting go March 20, 2019
So...this beautiful island is our home. See the barky? The boys just had their spring break. A week off from school and nothing to keep us from buggering off in Galactic. The weather was generally poor - nothing like the pics above for the most part - so we just snuck off to the west […]

PDS on PBS II Cross post from "Frozen Grin" April 5, 2024
Here is a link to a story about my struggle to draw with Parkinson's Disease. the story is from "The Daily Cartoonist" a Web journal concerning the world of professional cartooning. It was occasioned by the release of the documentary "Matters of Mind, My Parkinson's" which follows three families and their efforts to cope […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl
Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's, PBS Looks at PD and PD-S March 4, 2024
Here is a short trailer for the PBS documentary "Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's. It follows the attempts of three people and their families to cope with the progressive, disabling and incurable neurological condition. The film won the Audience Choice Award for documentaries at the recent San Francisco Film Festival, possibly due to a scenery-chewing […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl

Identifying Devil’s Club Plant August 10, 2023
Devil’s Club is a common wild plant in Alaska that’s large & covered in hidden sharp thorns, growing everywhere from remote forests to even well-groomed Anchorage city trails. Just because you’re “in town” doesn’t mean you won’t run into devil’s club. It’s smart to stay on the trails, particularly if you’re not confident spotting it. […]
Ashley
Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffins (Fun Halloween Toddler Snacktivity!) October 21, 2022
Here’s a delicious fall-time spin on classic blueberry muffins. If you’re a solo adult who likes good food, this recipe is for you. Or if you’ve got extra kitchen “helpers” around (read: kids who need entertainment), turn baking these Halloween muffins into a fun toddler snacktivity. Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffin Recipe Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy brand […]
Ashley

"Home" vs. "Away" May 20, 2022
I’m home now. I’m looking at the flea market couch I brought up from California; I had cushions made three times over the years till I got it just right. Now it’s just right. It’s been in my life 42 years. Tim has been in my life 34 years, but he had to be out of […]
CloudyinAK
Goodbye, Toronto May 10, 2022
I’m saying my goodbyes to Toronto. I’ve seen my last Hot Docs Festival film, and I’m just back from my last author program. I’ve probably had my last roti, checked out my last book at my local branch library, gone to my last art workshop. Horror of horrors, I’ve even watched my last play. The thing […]
CloudyinAK

Humpies invade January 16, 2026
The all-conquering pink salmon While Alaska fisheries biologists have been fretting about whether pink salmon straying from the state’s ocean-farming ranches could damage the genetics of wild, 49th-state pinks, the feral progeny […]
craigmedred
Trained by machines January 12, 2026
How tools influence our brains The debate roiling the mainstream media over the weekend focused on last week’s deadly shooting in the state of Minnesota involving an agent of the Immigration and […]
craigmedred

Malnourished launches today January 21, 2020
It’s here. The big day. My memoir, the one I spent 15 years struggling over, launches today from Raised Voice Press. I’m feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. This is not at all similar to when Dolls Behaving Badly launched from Hachette Book Group. That was a novel, and while some of it was based on… […]
cinthiaritchie
Book review: Secondhand Summer by Dan Walker December 1, 2019
I had had Alaska writer Dan Walker’s YA novel SECONDHAND SUMMER on my list for a long time, and two weeks ago finally had the chance to dive in. I wasn’t disappointed. Walker’s book, geared for middle school readers (but still immensely enjoyable for adults), follows 14-year-old Sam’s move to Anchorage from the small fishing… […]
cinthiaritchie

Thunder Shower June 17, 2025
Mostly cloudy with some sunshine, especially later in the day. A band of rain with thunder moved through around midday. Temperatures to 60F, but cooler after the rain came through. I worked on collections this morning. One of the ones from my trip up Herring Cove seems to be Jungermannia schusteriana. This is a species […]
matt goff
Price Street Vegetation June 16, 2025
Sunny early, then cloudy with a little rain through midday, with clouds breaking up in the afternoon. Temperatures into the 60s. Moderate sea breeze. Yesterday’s high of 65F was the first day this year that was over 60F. It’s the fourth latest date for a temperature over 60F (at the airport, with records going back […]
matt goff

Sandra’s Overnight Artisan 10" Cast Iron Soft Bread-No Knead March 2, 2024
INGREDIENTS3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)--2 teaspoons canola oil (For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)-2 TB butter melted in ramekin, with brush (set aside)--10” Seasoned Cast Iron SkilletMETHODAdd flour to bowl. Add yeast […]
sandra
Sandra's Fresh Apple Pecan Cake (9x13") September 18, 2023
My husband loves this cakeso much he had two pieces 'after' eating lunch...Ingredients2 Eggs1 ½ cup Canola Oil2 cups Granulated Sugar3 cups A-P Flour2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg½ teaspoon Kosher Salt1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda4 cups Chopped Apples (peeled and cored): measure after chopping1 cup chopped Pecans: measure after chopping1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract⅔ […]
sandra