A Beginners Guide to Appreciating Mid Mod Architecture “The Alexanders”

From the moment I saw them as a kid while visiting my great aunt, I loved the mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs. I loved them long before I knew the term “Mid Mod” or Modernism.

As an adult, it can feel intimidating to explore architecture because it seems like everyone knows more than you. This is especially true about something hip like Modernism.

Luckily, the folks on the Palm Springs Modern Committee, in collaboration with Palm Springs Life magazine, designed an app to help. It is called Palm Springs Modern: Mid-Century Architecture Tours. …

A Hawaiian Legend about Lono Moku, the Woman in the Moon.

Once upon a time, in Hawaii, there lived an overworked wife named Hina. Her children, which had filled her with such hope, had left. Her son traveled in his canoe from island to island robbing people. Her daughter, whom she had thought would give her comfort and help in her old age, had run off into the forest to live with the wild people.

Her husband did nothing but lay about, gamble and yell at her for her laziness. Hina felt unloved and unappreciated.

Despite this, Hina was a hard worker. Every day, she would strip the inner bark from…

Revealing Oysters’ Aphrodisiac Reputation

Oysters have been popular from early history through the present. Food oysters are different species than the types that make pearls. One of oysters’ most famous characteristics is that they are aphrodisiacs. How did oysters earn that reputation and how much truth is there to it?

“I love oysters. It is like kissing the sea on the lips.”

-Leon-Paul Fargue, French Poet

“Aphrodisiac” comes from Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and Sex

The Greeks believed that the semen was white because it was made of foam. Semen was similar to the salty foam of the ocean. Aphrodite translates as “foam borne.” She has a risque creation story.

Cronos, Zeus’ father…

A Brief Introduction to Rockabilly Music

Rockabilly is all about the music and it has its own unique culture. This article will explore Rockabilly music, from its beginnings at Sun Records to today. Subsequent articles will explore other aspects of the Rockabilly culture including pinups, burlesque, vintage clothing, and classic cars.

I first learned about Rockabilly when I started looking for swing dance opportunities. At Viva las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, I discovered 1950s pinup Bettie Page. I fell in love with her and her sexy spirit and wrote my novel Bettie Page: Aphrodite Rising.

Origin of Rockabilly Music

Sun Records is considered the birthplace of the Rockabilly sound. It was…

President Biden’s Inaugural Address on January 20, 2021, set a new tone for American’s future and gave us a reason to hope.

As an English teacher, I was listening to President Biden’s speech for references and allusions to other works of literature and was not disappointed. This article dives into the history of a few of his phrases to help the listener appreciate his speech at a deeper level. I recommend that teachers share the speech with their students as a great example of speech writing and the use of allusions and references to American Literature.

A Dream Deferred

“A cry of racial…

Rob stood at the bar trying not to feel insecure. This wasn’t his scene. He was good looking enough–brown hair, stubble beard, fit body–but he didn’t have that ephemeral “it” that made women want him. He’d had girlfriends but, the chemistry had never been strong enough to make things last. He was at this trendy bar with his buddy Mitch, who had shamed him into coming.

“Come on Dude, you can’t honestly want to sit home another night? You’re turning into an old man in your thirties.”

“All right, but we know how this will end. The girls will swarm…

More Than Just a Kissing Plant

In the U.S., we don’t think much about magical mistletoe. We hear about it in songs and want to stand under it with an attractive partner. But, this parasitic plant has a rich mythological history in Europe, as well as a fascinating natural history in science.

Mistletoe Hunting

Mistletoe is challenging to find in Southern California. From my research, I knew it liked oak trees. So we drove to Garner Valley, which lies on Highway 74, connecting Palm Desert to Idyllwild. We got past the pines and discovered oaks on some backroads. …

Is there a science nerd or tree hugger on your Xmas list?

Whether they are a scientist, teacher, or just have a love of learning, here are 10 titles that are perfect for the science lover on your list.

Wildhood: The Astounding Connections Between Human and Animal Adolescents by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, and Kathryn Bowers

It is easy to think of your teen as uniquely frustrating, but it turns out that all adolescents, both animals and humans, go through similar phases on their journey from childhood to adulthood. As a middle school teacher, and parent of two kids just out of their wildhood, I found this book intriguing. Behaviors that troubled me, like risk-taking and an over dependence on peer opinion, suddenly became a normal biological part of…