File 13 »
Once Upon An Apocalypse In N.Y.
Scene 1. Paleontologist Joe addresses the U.N. PJoe: Our study found that global warming from natural causes caused an ice age to come and go over North America 10,000 years ago. To stop
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MEET THE SMITHS
There is a place called “Tricorner.” It’s a place where the states of West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia meet. It’s one of the poorest places in the U.S. Many adults in Tricorner don’t have
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On Maury Povich
recently saw an episode of the Maury Povich show. First to appear on the show was an obese woman. It was hard to guess her age; she might have been 30. She didn’t appear
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ON HOARDERS
The practice of watching recent seasons of television shows on DVD or streaming video has grown in tandem with the decisions of several networks, such as HBO, Showtime and AMC, to lavish huge budgets
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Does Older Mean Wiser?
The idea that people necessarily grow wise as they grow old baffles me as much as most commonplaces do. I think in vain of examples of old people who’ve told me something I consider
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EARLY MEMORIES
Before I say anything about any early memories I might have, I’d like to emphasize that the most important thing in any discussion of early memories is to avoid sentimentality. A memory is never
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ON MOTTOS
When I first moved here 15 years ago, Lake Charles had a motto I ran across a lot. The motto was so common it was even painted in big letters all across the big
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PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT ME
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were preparing to go to a book sale. As I dressed, she persuaded me to change the pants I’d put on and wear a different pair
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THE WALKING DEAD IN 1,700 WORDS
Scene 1. In the kitchen. Andrea cooks and Glenn sits at the table. Andrea: Fried or scrambled? Glenn: Scrambled. Rick (entering kitchen suddenly): Do the right thing! Glenn (after a pause): OK. Is it
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ON NOT FINISHING BOOKS
I recently stopped reading a book titled Flames Over Tokyo on page 222. It wasn’t that the book was especially boring or anything of that sort. It was just that I figured I’d learned
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