It all started with 28 homes. A walkable food-forest made it a village oasis
The design started not with the homes, but with the water. In a desert, that makes sense. Dozens of earthen basins and rain gardens are scattered across the site so…
Seek the Unknown in the Familiar: Lessons From Historical Fiction
More than one hundred fifty years ago, Henry James wrote an essay about the art of fiction that remains today an important guidepost for all fiction—including the historical novel. And…
Cultivate Suspense: Lessons From Thrillers
What makes for a great thriller? In a word, suspense. Thriller writers know that readers expect high stakes, compelling characters, and a twisting plot to keep the pages turning. Top…
Embrace the “And Then”: Lessons From Fairy Tales
Years ago one of my students captured the idea of this slippery beauty. We were talking in class about “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” In the tale the princesses take boats…
Conjure the Strange: Lessons From Horror
Okay, you might be saying, “That’s all well and good, but how do you avoid the pitfall of exploitation, being gruesome simply for its own sake?” The genre is often…
We Were Here (film)
We Were Here is a 2011 American documentary film about the HIV/AIDS crisis in San Francisco. The film, produced and directed by David Weissman with editor and co-director Bill Weber,…
A Season with Isabella Rossellini
Directed by Marian Lacombe • 2023 • France A SEASON WITH ISABELLA ROSSELLINI catches up with the celebrated actor, model, animal-behavior expert, and all-around creative force as she is turning…
Is Your Wi-Fi Router Safe From the FCC Ban? Nearly Every Major Brand Is Impacted
You can still use your existing router, but there is one big caveat hidden in the FCC’s Public Notice: “All routers authorized for use in the United States may continue…
The Atlas Obscura Podcast: Alone on the Alaskan Frontier
What drives a person to live in isolation? Meet Sue Aikens, who thrives in the icy expanse of the Arctic. She shares stories of survival, self-discovery, and the wild encounters…