What's on your mind?

We, the public, deserve to see the president's federal income tax returns, including attached forms and schedules. Since the early 1970s, most U.S. presidents have chosen to release their returns publicly. Clearly then, it can be done and it has been done. There is no position of public service in this country that comes with more power or as much responsibility to as many people as does the position of President of the United States. For this reason alone, the public's rig

I want to recognize all the artists, painters, illustrators, photographers, sculptors, singers, songwriters, poets, and dancers of the world. All of those who are creating in some sort of artistic and/or cultural way. You bring flavor and expression to our world. Sometimes as an escape from it; sometimes as a reflection of it; hopefully always in a way more three-dimensional than simple prose. Life is more than the food we eat or the air we breathe. Life is more than the w

Right now as you read this there are people in airplanes in the skies all over the world, feeling a mixture of emotions: tired and cramped and ready to get off the plane, but also giddy and excited and really looking forward to getting where they're going. That's the thing about travel. There's often a sense of anticipation, either of returning home after being away or landing somewhere different than the usual. And there are people right at this very moment, who are feeling

We who are Americans should do a better job at understanding the causes of the exodus from Central America. The exodus has been the focus of a lot of media attention. But on what has the media focused? Answer: on the imagery propounded by the president (which I won't dignify by repeating in detail) of a 'caravan' approaching the southern border, and really nothing more. What has the media failed to focus on? Answer: why these fellow human beings have left the only home the

"Gracias a la palabra que agradece. Gracias a gracias por cuanto esta palabra derrite nieve o hierro." -- Oda a las gracias, Pablo Neruda "Thanks to the word that says thanks! Thanks to thanks, word that melts iron and snow!" -- Ode to thanks, Pablo Neruda

"O you shunn'd persons, I at least do not shun you, I come forthwith in your midst, I will be your poet, I will be more to you than to any of the rest." -- Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Children of Adam, Native Moments

Taylor Twellman and Jesse Palmer have the exact same voice. If either one got sick with laryngitis or otherwise lost their voice, I would bet that ESPN would have the sick one still appear on air, but lip-sync to the other's dubbed-in voice. I would love if they appeared together to provide analysis on any sort of sports-related issue, perhaps on concussions in sports, but it could very well lead to a rip in the fabric of space-time.

I'm on the internet!

As anyone here in Philadelphia knows today by looking out the window, today marks the first snowfall of the season. As I wrote this morning to one of my cousins in Costa Rica (who has never experienced snow): it is one of those experiences which, no matter how old you may be, one feels like a child again, that feeling from the first snowfall of the season. It's special. Enjoy the day, my fellow Philadelphians! We won't likely be as happy to see snow in February or March as