Category Archives: Writing & Social Commentary
Patriotism 101: The Naturalization of Markus Zirn
“We will read the name of each country represented here today. As your country is [...]
Feb
My Pubic Mohawk
“Do you know you have varicocele?” the doctor said, matter-of-factly. I said, “Huh? What is [...]
Jan
The Investiture of Troop 23
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner Fifteen [...]
Jan
C.S. Lewis and a Life-Changing Event
I was attending a speech writers’ conference in New York. At the end of day one, [...]
1 Comments
Jan
Terrific TV Commercials
“You are good at a lot of things, but parallel parking isn’t one of them.” [...]
Jan
History of PowerSpeaking, Inc.
Every time we brought on a new employee or trainer, we told the same old [...]
Jan
Saying Goodbye to Dena
Like many people, my childhood attempts to learn music had been painful affairs. For example, [...]
Jan
Photography: the Shortest Distance Between Two Hearts
Talk about connecting two hearts. My friend Harlan Crowder got this amazing shot in Cuba [...]
1 Comments
Jan
Fitness is a journey
This is disgusting! Unfortunately, this is how I looked in September. The writing on my [...]
3 Comments
Jan
Photography: The Shortest Distance Between Two Hearts
Cal vs Washington, October 11, 2014 Berkeley, Sproul Plaza, 2:00PM. First, in came the cheerleaders, [...]
4 Comments
Jan
Oddities of Human Behavior and Language
Behavior • Passivity. Why do people stand on the moving walkway in airports, or on [...]
4 Comments
Jan
Finding Your Roots
My grandfather was a soldier, So my father could be a businessman, So I could [...]
Jan
Human Caused Global Warming: The Real Doom and Gloom
I‘m amazed in recent years how the climate crisis is discussed in the media, and [...]
2 Comments
Jan
An Evening of Iron Workers Photography
Thursday Evening, November 20, 2014 Thirty people battled cold rainy weather to come to the [...]
Jan
Reflections of an Irreverent Entrepreneur
With my retirement I’ve been reflecting on what made PowerSpeaking successful over the past three [...]
4 Comments
Nov
Oh, oh. The Mayor’s Daughter Has Syphilis
On the spot diagnosis of syphilis requires a “darkfield microscope.” As a new public health [...]
Nov
Hooray for People Magazine!
I disdain People Magazine. I disdain celebrity gossip. You will never see a copy of [...]
2 Comments
Oct
How To Shoot a Wedding For Free (Almost)
You are invited to the wedding of a relative or friend. Why not contribute to [...]
Oct
Absurd TV Ads: Viagra and PowerSpeaking
Have you noticed recently how TV ads for medical products follow a strange pattern? They [...]
Oct
A Transition and A New Beginning
As you have already seen from Mary’s note, last week she wrote me a check, [...]
Oct
PowerSpeaking Founder Retires!
After 30 years in the business, I am out of PowerSpeaking, Inc. To make it [...]
Oct
Tales of Therapy, Part Deux
An Encounter Group Miracle The pretty blond in her late 20s had been quiet during [...]
2 Comments
Oct
Photography: The Shortest Distance Between Two Hearts
A Street Musician Recently I attended a workshop on portrait photography in Santa Fe, NM. [...]
4 Comments
Oct
Dave Brubeck Played Until the End
I’ve lost three friends in the past several months. Lately, I’ve been very reflective about [...]
5 Comments
Sep