Monthly Archives: September 2023

The poem website “www.voetica.com”, where I have recorded some poetry, was hacked by Russians. David, who started ithe site, had contacted me and asked if every thing was okay with the recordings I did.. Usually it was at least 15 … Continue reading →

The Cosmic Dining Dilemma From time to time, I like to check the visitors to this humble blog of mine, just to see what’s trending. I must confess, it’s a rather amusing exercise given that the trending numbers are often … Continue reading →

I’m stepping out of my comfort zone. I don’t often suggest that I actually know something. Okay, maybe I do, but I generally don’t believe it in my inner being. Here it goes, the UK musician/artist Ren is on to … Continue reading →

My 30th great grandfather was not a barbarian, he was Conan I ‘le Tort’ de Rennes, duc de Bretagne. ‘Le Tort’, meaning ‘the crooked’. I’m assuming he had some sort of physical deformity. Like most nobles with castles, he had … Continue reading →

The Curious Case of the Speed Bumps Allow me to regale you with a tale of “special knowledge” that revolves around the design and implementation of the now-famous barriers that grace the streets of Berkeley. I know the person who … Continue reading →

There’s a kind of knowing that sits apart from the rest—what some call special knowledge. The kind that makes you seem prescient in a meeting, or keeps you from running aground when the fog thickens. It’s knowing where the riptides … Continue reading →

I stumbled upon two new musicians this last week. I’m a little shocked that I hadn’t heard about them, because they have been around awhile. I encourage you to find a good YouTube video of their work!

Nature Boys emerged in the early 1900s, embracing long hair and sun-kissed skin as symbols of their deep connection to nature. Jack Kerouac mentioned them in “On The Road,” recalling encounters with these “Nature Boy saints” during his 1947 travels … Continue reading →

A good friend recently gave three boxes of art books. I couldn’t refuse them. There were images that I haven’t seen. There were sketches that demanded to be re-drawn and colorized. More tribute art!

A Multifaceted 19th-Century Explorer, Linguist, and Renaissance Man Sir Richard Burton was a remarkable figure of the 19th century, known for his incredible talents, achievements, and daring exploits. His life story is one of adventure, intellectual curiosity, and cultural exploration … Continue reading →