Chris Rodell's Blog, page 58
May 26, 2016
A pill to end need for sleep; one to end need for food: Which do you take?
(850 words)
Imagine it is the future, which means it could be 10, 20 or 50 years from now or it could be tomorrow morning.
It is announced a major pharmaceutical company has developed a pill that if you take just once will eliminate the need to eat.
Simultaneously, a rival announces it has developed a pill that eliminates the need to sleep.
And because it is the future and we’re
Imagine it is the future, which means it could be 10, 20 or 50 years from now or it could be tomorrow morning.
It is announced a major pharmaceutical company has developed a pill that if you take just once will eliminate the need to eat.
Simultaneously, a rival announces it has developed a pill that eliminates the need to sleep.
And because it is the future and we’re
May 25, 2016
I was bumped from mag cover by luscious Margot Bingham
(843 words)
Have you ever woken up feeling an irrational disdain for actress Margot Bingham?
I mean, who hasn’t?
Happened to me just last week.
Who’s Margot Bingham? She plays detective Nina Meyer on the ABC show “The Family.”
That’s the generic headline.
But in some ways, I’m beginning to feel like she’s the blacker, female, more stylish, successful and kissable version of
Have you ever woken up feeling an irrational disdain for actress Margot Bingham?
I mean, who hasn’t?
Happened to me just last week.
Who’s Margot Bingham? She plays detective Nina Meyer on the ABC show “The Family.”
That’s the generic headline.
But in some ways, I’m beginning to feel like she’s the blacker, female, more stylish, successful and kissable version of
May 24, 2016
Happy Birthday to Bob Dylan & this blog
A reader from Brazil — hello Roberto McCarthy — called today as is his custom to wish my blog a happy birthday. I’d nearly forgotten. So here’s what I posted in 2013 when the blog turned 5.
You’re probably unaware of the vanity, but for the past two years this blog has been lying about its age.
It says it’s younger than it really is.
By one day.
See, my very first blog was
You’re probably unaware of the vanity, but for the past two years this blog has been lying about its age.
It says it’s younger than it really is.
By one day.
See, my very first blog was
Word master spelling bee reactions spell cruel
(674 words)
It was the kind of night that could do irreparable harm to my reputation. I deliberately made small children cry then did nothing to comfort the afflicted.
That’s not me.
My instinct whenever I see tears streaming from a child is to immediately console. With my own daughters, I put my strong arms around them, pull them onto my lap and rock them back and forth until the
It was the kind of night that could do irreparable harm to my reputation. I deliberately made small children cry then did nothing to comfort the afflicted.
That’s not me.
My instinct whenever I see tears streaming from a child is to immediately console. With my own daughters, I put my strong arms around them, pull them onto my lap and rock them back and forth until the
May 20, 2016
Lebo: Seemed like the sun was shining just for me
(834 words)
It was already destined to be a blue-ribbon day when the confused motorist asked me if I knew the zip code we were in.
“15228!” I shouted across the traffic.
“Thanks, man!”
“Thank you for asking me a question that didn’t involve math!”
I was back in downtown Mt. Lebanon. It was a beautiful and everywhere I went the sun seemed like it was shining just for me.
First
It was already destined to be a blue-ribbon day when the confused motorist asked me if I knew the zip code we were in.
“15228!” I shouted across the traffic.
“Thanks, man!”
“Thank you for asking me a question that didn’t involve math!”
I was back in downtown Mt. Lebanon. It was a beautiful and everywhere I went the sun seemed like it was shining just for me.
First
May 19, 2016
I am Word Master! (from '14)
Busy day. A 2 p.m. "Crayons!" presentation in Lebo, then a dash across town to reprise my role as word master for the Greensburg Rotary spelling bee. It's a lot of fun and I'm pleased they keep having me back. This is what I wrote in advance of my '14 debut.
(786 words)
The list was given to me in strictest confidence with explicit instructions not to share it with another soul.
(786 words)
The list was given to me in strictest confidence with explicit instructions not to share it with another soul.
May 18, 2016
A sad, sexy story on rhino horns
(646 words)
Todays’ example of man’s madness — and I mean man exclusively — is the plight of the endangered rhinoceros.
South African gamesmen are in broad daylight legally removing rhino horns to prevent poachers from illegally removing them past dusk.
They tranquilize the great beasts from above, land, and then with a chainsaw hack off the animal’s most notable feature. They then
Todays’ example of man’s madness — and I mean man exclusively — is the plight of the endangered rhinoceros.
South African gamesmen are in broad daylight legally removing rhino horns to prevent poachers from illegally removing them past dusk.
They tranquilize the great beasts from above, land, and then with a chainsaw hack off the animal’s most notable feature. They then
May 17, 2016
Too much political talk making us sick
(601 words)
Because I have two public speaking engagements on Thursday, I’ve decided to go diva and rest my voice.
That means when the 9 year old asks me to explain why I wear pajamas around the house on days when other daddies wear suits to crowded offices, I just hold up my hands, my signal the subject is closed.
I’ve been doing this for two days and by now the whole family
Because I have two public speaking engagements on Thursday, I’ve decided to go diva and rest my voice.
That means when the 9 year old asks me to explain why I wear pajamas around the house on days when other daddies wear suits to crowded offices, I just hold up my hands, my signal the subject is closed.
I’ve been doing this for two days and by now the whole family
May 16, 2016
Telling the truth to teen writers about writing
(963 words)
Would the teen me ever become a writer if he’d heard the 53-year-old me lament how difficult it is to be a writer?
That’s the question I’m asking myself after being invited to co-host with fellow writer D.R. Rosensteel a two-day teen writers workshop starting June 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Greensburg Barnes & Noble. Even non-teens are welcome to attend as long as they
Would the teen me ever become a writer if he’d heard the 53-year-old me lament how difficult it is to be a writer?
That’s the question I’m asking myself after being invited to co-host with fellow writer D.R. Rosensteel a two-day teen writers workshop starting June 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Greensburg Barnes & Noble. Even non-teens are welcome to attend as long as they
May 14, 2016
Naming babies after cities, states (from '12)
So I was watching a news show where Savannah Guthrie was slated to be talk to Dakota Fanning and wondering why some cities and states rate baby names and others do not.
I love Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I’ve never heard of man named Pittsburgh Smith or a woman named Pennsylvania Barnes. But I’ve heckled retired baseball manager Dallas Green, read Virginia Woolf, and maintain one of the
I love Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I’ve never heard of man named Pittsburgh Smith or a woman named Pennsylvania Barnes. But I’ve heckled retired baseball manager Dallas Green, read Virginia Woolf, and maintain one of the
