Music September 9, 2016

Humans beings once crowded men, women and children, including newborns, into gas chambers by the hundreds and killed them. Again and again and again. That is a fact. It happened. Those humans who did that were not from another species or a breed apart. Human history is full of people who have done, and are […]

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...

on Author Marketing Expert site: Goodreads giveaways are paid now, but to be honest, the improvements they’ve made in regards to all the benefits are totally worth adding them to your book marketing and promotion. You get to choose between a Kindle giveaway or a print giveaway. There are benefits to both. Continue reading HERE

    it is highly likey that someone lost control of their remote control.  i can only imagine the story.      — “why do you press harder on a remote-control when you know the battery’s dead?” -steven wright

Many in Mexico fear that the virus is coming from US

I have really bad allergies this time of year.  It’s usually a raspy cough and trouble breathing, which makes people think cold or pneumonia.  At least that’s how it used to go before 2020.  Now, I have strangers looking at … Continue reading →

Delighted to add another book to the shelves with the new release of A Year in the Life of Andrea Coe: A Psychological Thriller (In the life of …. Book 2) by Lucinda E. Clarke. About the book Andrea was … Continue reading →

I’ve always been a homebody, but after having no choice but to stay at home, I’ve learned that I miss being able to come and go as I please – go being the operative word. I’ve learned to order groceries online and pick them up. What are all those people doing in Walmart? The parking […]

With spectacular visual images, this film reminds us of the necessity of connecting with the sacred in everyday life. It honors the sacred through sensory feelings of connection, with both the vast expanses such as mountain tops and waterfalls, and with the single dandelion sending its seeds into the future. This connection is further enhanced […]

Another list featuring things to do during stay-at-home time? I don't blame you if you're rolling your eyes. But, after doing some research, I've found that a lot of these curated lists rely heavily on two things: having someone else in your home with you and having the money to purchase all kinds of stuff […]

Fortunately, two quite separate issues. Farmer G decided a couple of days ago that the portents were good for a … More

Do you meditate? Despite my best intentions, I never make the time to do so.My daughter does, and I often joke that I try, but I fall asleep every time.I have as much stress, or maybe more, than most people so I decided to make an effort and try guided meditation. YouTube has some good […]

Watch, Stream, Listen and Share. All proceeds of the 'Let It Be' single will be donated to the MusiCares.org Relief FundDONATE NOW at MUSIC CARESSingle available to purchase or stream on all digital music servicesFeaturing: Avril Lavigne, Nuno Bettencourt, Orianthi, Phil X, Gary Cherone, dUg PinnickWords and Music by John Lennon and Paul McCartneyProduced by Steve […]

"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 […]

Today’s lead image taken with a flash about sixty years ago is a view of a porte-cochère in front of a hotel lobby at an unknown location, although there are enough clues in the image to home in on the area where the photo was shot. Share with us what you find of interest in...

Today’s featured image contains either a Douglas DC-2 or a DC-3 taking off or coming in for a landing at the Hoover Field located in Arlington, VA. While the airfield was in operation (1925 to ’41,) it was considered to be one of the most dangerous flying fields in the country. Military Rd., visible in...

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, but this is at no additional cost to you. Quite often, we even negotiated a special discount only available to Friends of SassyZenGirl, so win-win for everybody 😎.  We use all these […]

I read this book in the late 1980s, and really enjoyed it, despite finding his wife slightly infuriating. The story started in the 1960s, and went through to the 1970s. On his first date at a diner with his (red … Continue reading →

Otterly Scorched by Tara Sivec Standalone related to two series (see below). Tara Sivec is hands-down my favorite romantic comedy author. Her ridiculous sense of humor taught me to be prepared for Otterly Scorched. Armed with a panty liner, I made sure not to have any food or drink so I wouldn’t choke from laughter […]

New York circa 1905. "Metropolitan Life Insurance building, Madison Avenue and East 23rd Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1905. "City Hall -- Philadelphia, Pa." The largest municipal building in the United States, City Hall is topped by a 26-ton statue of William Penn. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.

A bright and sunny New Year's Day 1960 found me walking along Grand Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. I snapped this photo because three days later the streetcars would cease running, owing to the closing of a nearby viaduct for replacement. The Fox Theater in the background, opened in 1929, fared a little better, lasting […]

Some kids heading out to fish; taken during the early 1940s on Commerce Lake, Oakland County, Michigan. Scan of hand tinted photo. View full size.

In reply to Met Life: 1905: The activity on the left side of this photo is most fascinating. One church (on the far left) is being constructed, to become the new home of the church immediately next to it (which dated back to 1854). The reason the older church needed to relocate was that Met […]

In reply to Met Life: 1905: Every so often Shorpy pictures makes me stop and ponder. Here is yet another picture of a huge, ornate building created from scratch by people whose primary means of transportation seems to be horse and buggy. How did they do that?!? Well, I'm an engineer type, so, rationally: Piece […]

Money, or the lack of it, can ruin your life. Sometimes, our financial future is within our control. Eating out less, skipping the fancy coffee on your way to work every day, and comparing service plans, like car insurance, can ensure you aren’t spending more money than you should. The trouble is, a cup of […]

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.

Question from Kendall I have received a pair of eyeglass frames from Warby Parker (try at home option). I have multiple chemical sensitivities and can detect some kind of sanitizer/antibacterial residue on them–I imagine as a covid precaution. Do you have any recommendations for removing the sanitizer residue–I can smell and taste it.   Lisa’s […]

Question from Jesse Curious if you could post thoughts on non toxic Coronavirus related home cleaning. Specifically, I’ve read conflicting reports about in home UVC air sanitizers and wands (particularly if they are safe to use around people, pets, kids). Lisa’s Answer   The concerns around the technology is that they can cause harm to […]

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 […]

My pineapples are finally popping! Woohoo–what a great day to be a gardener! Not only have they sprouted, but look at these beauties. Beautifully formed to plump perfection beckoning my palate with their promise of juicy fruit. Remember when they were just tops in the ground? I posted this photo (shown below) back in July […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 24, 2020 is: xeriscape • \ZEER-uh-skayp\  • noun : a landscaping method developed especially for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques (such as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation) Examples: After the severe drought led to local water restrictions, some residents began to […]

Uh oh, the mean old version of Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead from the ‘90s with Christina Applegate just passed away from a heart attack and our summer is going to be ruined! Our only hope, as ridiculous as it may seem, is to stuff the original Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead in […]

We explore some of Wikipedia’s oddities in our 6,079,214-week series, Wiki Wormhole.Read more...

Audrey Temple is both more and less clever than it seemed. Yes, she managed to vault from answering the phones at Geist all the way to one of the most senior management positions in the course of a single day; that power play required confidence, resourcefulness, brains, and the willingness to be a little flexible…Read […]

Our weekly thought-starter asks you (and us) a simple question each week: What pop culture did you consume this weekend, and what did you think of it? If you have suggestions for AVQ&A questions, big or small, you can email them to us here.Read more...

Super simple, quick and easy with a very short ingredient list! SO GOOD, so comforting, and a sure hit with the entire family! Remember that homemade gnocchi I posted last month? Well, I promised you a “baked gnocchi recipe coming soon, smothered in marinara sauce, ground beef and all the cheese.” Well, here it is […]

This is truly the only way to prepare asparagus! Roasted perfectly until crisp-tender and served with a refreshing tarragon vinaigrette, soft-boiled eggs and freshly shaved Parmesan. Our Spring doesn’t feel exactly like spring time just yet here in Chicago. It’s cold – like 35 degrees, still wearing Uggs, a parka, and a beanie/gloves type cold. […]

I’ve given in to the call of spring and decided to share some green thumb secrets with you. I tried to resist spring’s siren call, but I couldn’t ignore neither the fragrant jasmine outside my kitchen window nor the soft evening breeze that brought with it the smell of roses. So I had a meeting […]

We’ve arrived. It’s May! Hopefully, those April showers bring us May flowers. I am looking forward to everything blooming. It can be difficult to see the BEAUTY in the world right now, and yet, it is there. Here are a few beautiful things that have stood out to me recently: Mother’s Day certainly was different, […]

"In a very short amount of time, our world changed very rapidly ... It makes us realize that we really don't have that much control."

Not setting expectations too high with a 72 hour goal.