My glorious moment today came from the Longform podcast. Aaron Lammer interviews New Yorker writer Sam Anderson, who puts into concrete form the struggle I’m up against. I’m grappling with a super-sized project involving tens of thousands of document pages and dozens of hours of interviews and interview transcripts. This, an entire universe of content, … Continue reading A universe of content
Non-Fiction
JFK: i come here tonight to go to bed
I come here tonight to go to bed... I also come here tonight to ask you… to ask you to join in the effort.
A writer in residence
I've taken on a surprising new assignment. I have a nice official title, but what it boils down to really is writer in residence. And what is this residence? I report to a cozy white cottage behind a row of heirloom corn off the beaten paths traversing the expansive training grounds of our nation’s foreign … Continue reading A writer in residence
Decision Monkey
When I feel indecisive at work I turn to my pet monkey. There is no decision too big or too small for my decision monkey. Decision monkey has enough energy for even the most complex problems, and lacks any self-esteem issues over simple tasks that might insult the intelligence of an ordinary human. Decision monkey … Continue reading Decision Monkey
Live on, Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager mostly hangs out in the upper canopy, making it a rare sighting for hikers in the Shenandoah National Park. This one visited us in the lower canopy, hunting insects for his mate or flashing his red plumage to make her love him. Mohan later rendered it in pen and color pencil. It … Continue reading Live on, Scarlet Tanager
Speaking of Tone-Lōc
I haven't thought about Tone-Lōc in years, but I woke up on Friday eager write about him. The next day, a horse called Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby. It so happens I’m also studying synchronicity right now. Here in Mumbai we’re living through our own Tone-Lōc moment, a sort of Tone-Lōc-down. It’s déjà vu … Continue reading Speaking of Tone-Lōc
Thanksgiving Hike
We shook off the lingering Thanksgiving weekend with a sturdy hike today, climbing 1,100 feet to reach Karnala Fort. The climb passes through the Karnala Bird Sanctuary off highway 66 in Raigad, Maharashtra, home to some two hundred species of birds. We also spotted wood spiders, carpenter bees, termites, dragon flies, and cicadas, and saw … Continue reading Thanksgiving Hike
Don Turkey & Key Lime Pie
Me bloggy familiars: recognize this? We made such pies a few years back. And we ate those discs of lemony lime so again Kodachrome the tarty goodness in oven-baked form. After Don Turkey loses his head we’ll top ‘em with cream. Whipping it first! (Did I say, Don Turkey, THE Donald Turkey? Pardon me, pardon … Continue reading Don Turkey & Key Lime Pie
Lost
Nothing in 2020 was immune to the pandemic. Even my hard drive crashed by June, shelved for months before a fix could be found. Vista along the Mahuli Fort trek, Thane Well before my laptop's demise, the year had already presented its share of challenges. Travel to Bhopal in January to support American blues performers … Continue reading Lost
Captain’s Blog…
Raw eggs hurtle toward earth. Our lunar descent vehicles promise soft landings. Of course, we lose a few good eggs along the way. Big Red Dan was the first to go. Never even made it out of the living room. One short drop from shoulder height in his 12-straw craft, plus inner capsule, pushed his insides … Continue reading Captain’s Blog…
Ben East Books 