Rebranding for the 13th century — The Middle Ages were a pretty tough time to live through, what with the Black Death, average life expectancy at around 33 years, the brutal conditions of serfdom, and (as far as my research can discover) absolutely zero access to Brand Strategy Consultants who could help your business develop a…

A lovely, silly image captured at just the right moment — Nature is a beautiful mystery and a photographer with the right eye can pay homage to its endless variety by patiently waiting for precious moments like the morning sun catching dew drops on a marigold, or a pronghorn fawn frolicking with her siblings. But it’s widely known that the real…

Illustrated, quite helpfully, by Medieval art. — There is no known cure for the affliction of being a “people pleaser,” and even if there were, those of us who are sufferers would likely turn it down out of fear that it might be too much trouble for someone to administer. Or else we’d be too busy helping…

And yes, it’s mostly cats. — When historians finally get around to writing the story of 2021, they will not pause to ask themselves what the cats were up to. This will be entirely appropriate, but that doesn’t make it a bad question, and for those of us who are inclined to find a silver lining…

How Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and even Stacey taught this Dad to live his best life. — I’m the host of the Baby-Sitters Club Club podcast (now called Strange Bedfellows). This essay is reprinted from the excellent collection We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers. I’m a Mary Anne. I like to read and I’m shy. Wait, no, that’s not quite right. I’m…

These breathtaking photographs are the winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition — The 13th annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition conducted by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich has produced an awe-inspiring array of images of cosmic phenomena, from colorful nebulae to solar eclipses to swirling storm clouds above Jupiter. …

Pulp fiction that only makes sense if you’re a little bit awkward — Have you ever been stuck in an endless “I’m good. How are You?” loop? Have you ever felt like skipping the country and starting a new life because you thought someone was waving at you but they were waving at the person behind you? Have you ever literally forgotten how…

Man, this dog is big. — I took my family to see Clifford: The Big Red Dog this weekend and boy, was I surprised by what I saw. Here’s the thing they don’t tell you: This dog is HUGE. I mean, it’s absolutely massive. And I know what you’re going to say: “We’ve seen big dogs…

The real truth about pit bulls — It’s a lot easier to see what a pit bull truly is when they’re decked out in comfortable nightwear. Daylight may be the best disinfectant, but when it comes to pit bulls, there’s nothing quite so illuminating as catching one just as he’s getting read for bed. If you ever…