What’s this, a breach of the universe’s space-time continuum? Announced by an eerily familiar screeching noise followed by a repeating dial tone. Tattered, yellowed sheets of paper, one after another, float down into the holding tray of — wait for…
Once upon a time, good communication mattered. Proper use of language was core schooling. A skill we aspired to command. Socially and professionally, strong vocabulary impressed. Eloquence was a virtue. Oratory, a thing of beauty. Until, that is, Donald Trump…
MAKE BELIEVE NEWS SACRAMENTO — Proponents of a controversial new driver safety law enacted today proclaim it will restore civility to California’s roadways by shaming motorists who behave poorly. The radical approach, referred to as road darting, empowers licensed drivers…
[REPRISED] Add the mysterious case of the missing “t” to the growing and gloomy list of phenomena destined to further degrade American culture. We’re already surrendering the written word. Acronyms, abbreviations, letters and emojis now indiscriminately replace actual words. On…
The past four years have taught us so much. That language matters. That words matter. That context matters. And most of all, that listening and learning matters. Here is an alphabetical mnemonic cheat sheet. Alternative facts. Kellyanne Conway tried to…
There’s a time and place for babblers, I suppose. Who else among us willingly asserts themselves in classroom discussions, groupthink business meetings, memorial services when no one else wants to? And who else can always be counted on to fill…
The sensational New York Times headline “Believe Me: Not All Liars Are Created Equal” caught my eye immediately. Naturally, I assumed the article would rightly dissect and castigate Donald Trump, our nation’s Liar-in-Chief. It did not. Instead the report objectively…
Short fiction by Stuart Greenbaum The black 4×4 pickup was rumbling along at 60-plus when it careened over the protective metal guardrail, gathering a solid two or three seconds of airtime. Mid-flight, the super duty Ford F-350 clipped a low…
A Short Story by Stuart Greenbaum As conceited as this sounds, I am Extraordinary. Literally, as in the word, the adjective. Still, I am the first to admit my hyperbolic brethren get overused and misused these days. With all lazy,…
Unlike Australia’s backwards flushing toilets, what goes around comes around. The country is moving forward with an unprecedented effort to stop Big Tech from dumping on local news media. The New York Times (4-21-20) reports the government down-under is mandating…
