Music has always been a big part of my life. One of my musical thrills occurred not long before Christmas in 2009 when I narrated a children’s book, A Christmas Bell for Anya by Chris Stewart, while the Illinois Wesleyan University Civic Orchestra … [Read more...] about A Christmastime memory
The Bill Clinton book
In "The President Is Missing," the new novel co-authored by former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson, Clinton uses parts of this fast-paced fiction to say what he really thinks through the voice of a fictionalized President Duncan. To … [Read more...] about The Bill Clinton book
Learning from fact-checkers
Katy Steinmetz writes one of the better articles I've seen about the challenges we all face in deciding what to believe on the Internet. Her article, "The Real Fake News Crisis," is in the current (Aug. 20, 2018) issue of Time magazine. If you're … [Read more...] about Learning from fact-checkers
One hundred years ago
It was 100 years ago today that my father was born. He died nearly five years ago. We’re grateful for his birth and for his long life. I invite you to read a newspaper column I wrote about him shortly after his death … [Read more...] about One hundred years ago
A memorable White House Correspondents Dinner
It was the equivalent of President and Mrs. Trump attending this weekend’s White House Correspondents Dinner (which they’re not) and adult film star Stormy Daniels being among the invited guests (which she may be). It was 20 years ago this weekend … [Read more...] about A memorable White House Correspondents Dinner
Fifty years ago tonight
It was 50 years ago tonight a tornado struck DeWitt County, Ill., killing four people and causing extensive damage. It was also 50 years ago tonight I “cut my eye teeth” as a journalist. As a college student (I was still a couple weeks away from … [Read more...] about Fifty years ago tonight