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Posted by on Mar 30, 2025 in Blog | 0 comments

The Other Side of Perspective

 

 

THE OTHER SIDE

I think it’s important to look back on all of our lives and think of the wonderful people who changed us, and taught us, and gave us extraordinary perspectives, almost entirely for the better. This is purely a guess, but I suspect many of us will admit the most surprising benefits and broader horizons were often, not from those shallow spaces we grew up with or would have expected, but from people and places far away that we did not expect.

In 1994, I walked into the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC  thinking I had no shot at a job opening for a writer-editor position working for a country I really didn’t know that much about.

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Posted by on Mar 27, 2025 in Blog | 0 comments

Thoughts on Smoking

 

I just saw a report that says cigarette smoking among the American population has reached an all-time low. Only about 11 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes–defined as using a tobacco product within the past week. The high point on smoking’s popularity was the year 1965, when nearly half of all adults smoked. This interim period reveals a remarkable reversal of habit, social norms, and how different everyday activities used to be, when smoking was such a significant part of daily life.

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Posted by on Mar 20, 2025 in Blog | 0 comments

Truckin’ on Shakedown Street (Grateful Dead Festival)

 

 

THE GRATEFUL DEAD FESTIVAL (AKA “SHAKEDOWN STREET”)

I’ve never been much into the Grateful Dead. That’s a confession more than a statement, because I’ve certainly missed some great times. I deeply appreciate -even admire- the unique sub-culture and cool people they’ve attracted to their events for more than half a century. Indeed, there’s something really special about “Deadheads.” I won’t even bother to try explaining it. If you’ve ever been around a Grateful Dead event of any kind or been with that crowd–you’ll get it. If not, there’s no point, really. Trust me, the Dead is something not to merely listen to or enjoy, but to experience.

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Posted by on Feb 22, 2025 in Blog | 2 comments

The Story Behind “Lily Was Here”

 

 

While driving yesterday, a familiar song played on my XM-Radio station.

I remember first hearing this recording way back in 1989, while living and working in Eastern Europe. It was a catchy instrumental, and its smooth jazz vibe always stuck with me. I even bought the CD when I came back to the states.

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