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On Thanksgiving, our local paper carried an AP story about Bobby Goldstein, the creator of a reality TV show called “Cheaters,” in which camera crews accompany people who want to find and confront their unfaithful partners. One hundred old episodes are being re-edited, excising language and sexual images that might upset the FCC, which — …

I love all the little courtesies that lubricate daily life: please and thank you, after you and excuse me — all of them. In fact, my currently emerging curmudgeonly side manifests mostly in the form of regular laments at the decline of ordinary manners. I love to give thanks for help, to express gratitude and …

The art world is all abuzz about the Museum of Modern Art’s plans to charge $20 for admission when it reopens this weekend after a multi-zillion dollar renovation. In response to defenders of art for the people, Glenn Lowry, MOMA’s director, said this: “If you think that museums should be free, campaign for a government …

Colin Powell has stepped down as Secretary of State, and it appears Condoleeza Rice is going to be his replacement. It also looks like the end of an era of essentialist thinking about race. In a post-election essay that’s been circulating via the Internet, Charles Frederick characterized race as “a concept of no meaning while …

I suspect most people have by now gotten several communiques from folks who are concerned about fraud in the recent presidential election. I found many of these questions and citations troubling enough to sign a petition by MoveOn.org calling for a Congressional investigation. We can’t know whether the charges are true without a full and …

My husband and I moved to Washington, DC in 1979 to head a national organization of community artists. At that time, the federal government was allocating about $200 million a year to public service jobs for artists: painting murals, designing community gardens, running neighborhood circuses, offering music classes, and so on. One of Don’s and …

I am not a Pollyanna. I feel the need to say this because I have gotten so many messages since my last blog post, both from people thanking me for suggesting a basis for hope that is grounded in reality, and from people who feel certain that now, any remnant of hope is merely insulation …

This morning, a message posted to a list I’m on cited a teaching of Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav: all of life is just a narrow bridge; we must remember the most important thing is not to fear. There’s a beautiful tune that goes with those words, and I’ve been letting it circulate behind my thoughts …

I have a habit of mentally preparing for the worst, especially when I hope for the best. I think my particular habit must stem from my father’s sudden death when I was a child: that experience installed a piece of software I’ve used ever since to insulate myself from unbearable shock. But it isn’t unique …