Voice In My Head Today (#VIMH)
The Voice In My Head today materialized in Robert Waldinger’s wonderful TedTalk on Happiness…
Yegor Zhukov: My New Hero
I would have preferred Masha Gesson had not mentioned the current US President in her article about Yegor Zhukov in the New Yorker, but the words of Russian college student Yegor Zhukov are music of the eternal kind. This man is my new hero. …
Society Rewards Psychopaths
Psychopaths make up about 1 percent of the general population (sociopaths make up3-4%), yet at least 1 in 5 CEO’s are clinically psychopaths. Sadder still, the same proportion (~20%) of prison inmates are diagnosed as psychopaths…
How much is enough when it comes to animal medical care?
When my son and I got home, he found Kale laying in his comfy chair behind the house. I picked him up gently and held him on his back like a baby, like we always do. A circle of hair on his lower belly had been licked clean and among the wet curlicues was an open rip in the skin. The wound was clearly deep. I could see the rippling tissue moving like a clam underneath…
Children's Picture Book, *I Chalk*, Supports In-School Gardening Program
Purchase my children’s picture book “I Chalk” with a container of sidewalk chalk for a unique birthday, Xmas or "just-because" gift. The Amazon price is $12, but I can ship signed copies for $10 a piece (including shipping) if you contact me at melissarooneywriting@gmail.com. Any proceeds this year will be used to fund the in-school garden club I conduct on a weekly basis at Title-1 EK Powe Elementary School in Durham, NC. …
*Proposal to SAVE THE CATSBURG STORE in Durham, NC*
I first saw the Catsburg Country Store on February 24, 2019, when I was on my way to Eno Valley Elementary School, shortly after we adopted a beautiful and intelligent black cat named Kale from the Durham APS. I pulled over, took a picture of the place, and made it my cover photo on Facebook with the following accompanying text: “At Hamlin and Old Oxford Roads. Someone must open a cat-prioritized local pet store and cat cafe here.”
Voice in My Head Today (re Facebook)
The voice in my head as I sit down with my computer to (finally) catch up on my emails… Feel free to play it every time you reconnect to Facebook or Instagram ;-) .
Trump's Rallies and Then Some: Open Your Eyes, Complacent White *Christ*ians.
I don't care what party you belong to, if you can't see the similarities between Trump's most recent rally and Hitler's rallies leading up to WWII, then you are purposefully not looking. Anti Semitic!? The guy doesn't even know the meaning of the words. And if you call yourself a CHRISTian and you have no problem with the way these nonwhite American Citizens and likely fellow Christians are being treated because they disagree with the establishment, then you, my friend, are a hypocrite and a heathen…
Keeping it Cool in Durham
… Given the positive feedback I received regarding my previous article on family-friendly outdoor activities for Durhamites and the record temperatures we’ve already encountered this summer, I submit part two of this series: Indoor Kid-Friendly Activities for Budget-Strapped Durhamites .…
Root the Hate out of the System
Despite a multi-million-dollar budget surplus this year, NC Senate Republicans have eliminated funding for three of the six staffers who work for the state’s top judge. If this happens, she would be the only appellate judge in the state with just one law clerk, according to Floyd McKissick (D, Durham). Meanwhile, the budget funds six new federal prosecutors around the state…
Taxes provide Practical High School Math and Sociology Assignment
An incredibly practical high-school math (and social studies) assignment would be to do the current year’s taxes based on an income of $150,000 for a family of four with a child in college. Talk about a STEM spin on Hasbro’s game of LIFE! Perhaps the resulting discussion will result in a simpler and more equitable tax system in which the rich cannot avoid paying their intended %age, though it may not happen in my lifetime ;-) …
Fun Places for Kids
… After my last column, several people requested information about places and programs for young kids in the Triangle. I could write a book on this, but given the great spring weather I’ll concentrate on outdoors..…
My Video Game Addiction (Part 2)
… I ask these questions because I have begun to rationalize my PvZ (Plants versus Zombies) game playing even farther. I call it my “Sunflower Theory”…
Durham Arts Council's Portraits of Durham Exhibit: A (Free) Multimedia Feast
It’s been too long since I last perused the free exhibits at the DAC, and I looked forward to seeing Marthanna’s work and the work of other local artists in the natural light of the windows that stretched from floor to ceiling past the second floor of the 113-year-old building. Today was the day, and I was not disappointed. Drawings, paintings, and multimedia artwork displayed well-known as well as little-known Durham people and landmarks in thought-provoking strokes, stitches, and colors…
Durham Teacher Authors Children's Book Featuring a Family of Color
I just read EK Powe Elementary School counselor Therese Daye’s newly released children’s picture book, “Daddy’s Little Girl”, and it melted my heart and teared up my eyes. "Daddy's Little Girl" tells the story of an African American elementary student whose father often stands her up, how she gets up the nerve to tell him how she feels, and how the results reaffirm his love and improve their relationship.
My Video Game Addiction (Part 1)
Do you or anyone in your family play Plants versus Zombies on Xbox? If not, keep reading. If so, I have a couple questions for ya: Do you prefer to play as Plants or as Zombies? And which character is your favorite? Why am I asking you these questions? Because I am a PvZ addict…
Cleaning and Meditation
If you feel like you have a million things to do but don’t know what to do with yourself…
Real Good and For Free
… Over the last ten years, I have attended many wonderful and free children’s programs, including story-times, craft and drawing programs, and music and theatre performances, many occurring through Durham County Library.…
