Monthly Archives: December 2010

To use or not to use

Posted on December 30, 2010 by sheilawill

I’m not talking about drugs. “Doesn’t Twitter, Facebook, and blogging sound like bad sex?” my friend in Maine asked on the phone the other day. “Do you want to blog? No, I don’t want to blog with you!” would be … Continue reading →

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Controlling — and opening — minds in Arizona

Posted on December 29, 2010 by sheilawill

Ethnic studies end in Arizona on Jan. 1. The conservative state legislature is really calling for an end to teaching about social justice. What the hell. It’s OK to teach about a genocide relating to one ethnic group, such as … Continue reading →

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“Generosity”

Posted on December 26, 2010 by sheilawill

What a title. What an author. Eight of Richard Powers’ nine novels now reside on our coffee table, each waiting to be chosen by Dan or me for reading next. Dan has already read half the titles; Powers is that … Continue reading →

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Getting stuff done

Posted on December 23, 2010 by sheilawill

I’m not getting anything done because I feel crappy, but part of my brain seems to be working. Going to the doctor soon to see if I have a sinus infection. But Quack! Quack! Congress got something done in what … Continue reading →

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A family of Schragers

Posted on December 22, 2010 by sheilawill

Their posed photograph at cousin Alan’s bar mitzvah sits on my desk. Only seven of the twenty-seven Schrager family members are still alive. It was more than 50 years ago when Sid, my smiling father, had his arm around two … Continue reading →

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An author’s racket: Clive Cussler

Posted on December 20, 2010 by sheilawill

Do you know any bestselling authors whose names appear on their book covers but they didn’t write their books? We were at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Friday evening, looking for a way to pass the time. Clive Cussler … Continue reading →

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Believing what you see: the information desk

Posted on December 18, 2010 by sheilawill

We had three hours to kill in Phoenix. Connor’s plane would arrive late from Eugene and we weren’t sure what time he was landing. There was only one sensible thing to do: head over to the Mesa Gateway Airport to … Continue reading →

Posted in The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

My friend Kathleen

Posted on December 13, 2010 by sheilawill

Kathleen retired at around 40 from a high-level executive position with a major hi-tech company. She told me that she was a real hard-ass, didn’t have much compassion for employees who wanted to stay home with a sick family member. … Continue reading →

Posted in The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Comon’ baby light my fire

Posted on December 11, 2010 by sheilawill

Jim Morrison, the legendary Doors lead singer, was pardoned by the state of Florida for supposed “indecent acts” that occurred 40 years ago at one of his “raucous” concerts. Why does outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist care about  forgiving Morrison … Continue reading →

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“Fair Game”

Posted on December 10, 2010 by sheilawill

Why aren’t Dick Cheney and George Bush in jail? And why wasn’t “Fair Game” widely released prior to the election? It was the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. Naomi Watts was terrific as Valerie Plame, the outed … Continue reading →

Posted in Visual Entertainment | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments