PinnedHolding on to the familiarScenes from a life my mom can no longer rememberApr 18, 20211Apr 18, 20211
PinnedSoak in nature, melt away stressDip into forest bathing, an antidote to pandemic anxiety and boredomApr 2, 2021Apr 2, 2021
Gazing From Afar at Wasted DaysPatricia Hampl’s latest book, The Art of the Wasted Day, carries readers aloft on a tranquil travelogue, packed with side trips, vignettes…Oct 26, 2018Oct 26, 2018
Men in power; women will riseOnce again, the Senate is choosing to ignore a credible woman and reward an angry man.Oct 5, 2018Oct 5, 2018
Always Another CountryWhat does it mean to be from a place? Always Another Country, Sisonke Msimang’s memoir of exile and home tells the story of a “little girl…Sep 26, 2018Sep 26, 2018
The saddest nine words in the worldThe cover was black, with a barely visible dark gray masthead. All that stood out were nine simple words.Sep 4, 2018Sep 4, 2018
Angel Island's Wooden House of Paper SonsThe first time our government tried to build a wall barring people from another country, the target wasn't Mexico - it was China .Jul 26, 2018Jul 26, 2018
4 days after, 168 days beforeIt's been four days after Sante Fe, Texas, the latest school shooting. Ninety-seven days after Parkland. We've had so many mass shootings…May 22, 2018May 22, 2018
Hiroshima’s window to historyThis week, a Los Alamos museum blocked a traveling exhibit from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The…Apr 6, 2018Apr 6, 2018
Russian dolls, doping and dirty secretsOscar winning documentary reveals how far Russia goes to win.Mar 30, 2018Mar 30, 2018
Japanese Style: An A to Z Guide to Attention to DetailsArrows on painted on sidewalks or floors of tourist attractions or crowded train stations steer walkers in the right direction, and prevent…Jan 13, 2018Jan 13, 2018
Why I blocked a freewayToday, I plead guilty to being a public nuisance and unlawful assembly. I and hundreds of others chose to go on a freeway in Saint Paul on…Oct 2, 2017Oct 2, 2017
When Home Won’t Let You StayI saw their faces at the library last week. Minnesotans born in Myanmar, Iraq, Somalia, and Laos. The boy in a football T-shirt who played…Sep 5, 2017Sep 5, 2017
My car-free yearSome people trade in their car for the latest model. Last year, I donated my 1993 Toyota, trading it for a new car-free way of life.Aug 21, 2017Aug 21, 2017
Protests should be protected, not punishedLast night, the Minnesota House voted to increase penalties for protesters on freeways, airports and transit areas. The Legislature is…Apr 4, 2017Apr 4, 2017