National Clear Off Your Desk Day

Editorial January 11th is apparently National Clear Off Your Desk Day. Who knew? When I think about desk-clearing, I immediately think of the creative process, and how idiosyncratic it is for each individual. I know people who cannot stand a clear, empty desk. It's as...

Happy Birthday Emily Dickinson

Editorial People often ask me if I have a favorite poet, and I usually say that I have favorite poems rather than one favorite poet. But if I had to choose, then I'd say that besides Shakespeare, who is in a class by himself, it would be Emily Dickinson. As a sixth...

Thanksgiving 2015

Editorial I have always loved Thanksgiving. I love gathering with family and friends, decorating my autumnal table, and serving the turkey and all the trimmings. And I've always thought of Thanksgiving as a special opportunity to thank G-d for America, for the miracle...

Technology and the Youngest Generation

Editorial Conversations with my grandchildren about technology are occasionally a bit lowering, but more often than not are delightful and illuminating. For example, when I tell my teenage grandkids that when their grandfather (Zaidy) and I went to college, there was...

Another Kind of OCD

Editorial Those of us who took Abnormal Psych back in the day learned about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. As such, the wry observation that someone is OCD gets bandied about a bit too casually these days. But I submit that there is a new kind of OCD afoot, one that...