Clearly, certain talents run in certain families. The Wallendas were masters of the high wire. The Huxleys excelled in science, medicine and literature. Pierre and Marie Curie together won a Nobel Prize; Marie won another on her own, and most amazingly, her daughter also won one. The ...

One of my favorite poets is Emily Dickinson. I don’t remember being exposed to her work in school, which is a pity, since so much of it is perfect for young minds. What, specifically, do I like about it? Well, it illustrates profound insights in the simplest and clearest terms. A lot of her ...

I’ve often read about people having epiphanies — great blasts of insight and inspiration that lead to amazing works. But I’m not a believer. Or more exactly, I’d never want to depend on them for results — even for a little while. That said, that’s exactly how The Blue Buns ...

Last week’s column was on old school country music. Specifically, it highlighted the Dukes and Duchesses of Depression, those singers who get down when you’re down. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in a blue funk and “hope” is a four-letter word, the last tune I want to hear ...

If there’s any irony in my life, it’s that while I’m not what anyone could consider a serious drinker (or even a frivolous one), I love bars. Of course there are bars ... and there are bars. I like small, quiet, simple ones — what in my callow youth I called “old man bars” (“old ...

When I say I remember Jan. 28, 1956 better than yesterday, I’m not kidding. In fact, I remember it better than every other day for the past week, month or even year. Then again, why wouldn’t I? Yesterday, and the rest, were all as uneventful as each other. Jan. 28, 1956 was a day I ...