Tom Robbins has long been one of my favorite authors; every one of his seven novels is a gem, infused with his uniquely loopy sensibility and style. This novel (Amazon UK | US), published in May, 2000, was eerily timely in its discussion of West vs. East and Muslim vs. Christian, in the context of… Continue reading Reflections on Machismo: “Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates”
Author: Deirdre Straughan
Pope-O-Vision
As popes go, John Paul II is certainly one of the best there’s ever been: he is truly upright and deeply religious, and he has tried to use his position to be a force for good in the world. I respect that, even though I’m not Catholic and don’t agree with everything he says. But… Continue reading Pope-O-Vision
Newsletters: Customers Love ‘Em – If You Do Them Right
Begun in 1998, the newsletters I wrote/edited for Adaptec and (later) Roxio covered technical, how-to, product news, and other information of interest to CD-R users. I initially did all the writing myself, then hired other writers as the topics became too varied and the schedule too punishing for one person to handle (and I had… Continue reading Newsletters: Customers Love ‘Em – If You Do Them Right
Reflections on Brand and Homogeneity
My daughter’s school year ended in mid-June (with three intense weeks of tests, quizzes, and papers), and we left Milan almost immediately for a trip up the middle of the United States. We started in Texas, where I have relatives, and pleasant memories from my days at the University of Texas (Austin). I love that… Continue reading Reflections on Brand and Homogeneity
Campo Imperatore – Home of the Spaghetti Western
Looks kinda like Montana, doesn’t it? As a matter of fact, many “Spaghetti Westerns” were filmed here. The scenery comes complete with cattle, horses, and sheep, brought here to graze during the warm months. The latest movie to be filmed in Campo Imperatore is White Hell (Inferno Bianco), a low-budget horror Western, available on YouTube.… Continue reading Campo Imperatore – Home of the Spaghetti Western