Coolest Souvenir Ever
I recall purchasing a refrigerator magnet on my first trip to Ukraine in 2012 that said “Welcome to Ukraine, home of the not-smiling country,” with a stern Slavic grandma illustration. Well, a lot has changed since 2012, including the preponderance of smiles I see (yes, stoicism is typically followed by a smile, if you are […]
Running Partners: Beloved and Reviled
Yesterday I went for a run, as I’m apt to do on a sunny spring day in New York City—or anywhere, for that matter. Because it was a beautiful Saturday, my regular route by the water was crowded, so I took a little detour to a small circular track around a field that hosts kids’ […]
Americans in Ukraine
AMERICANS IN UKRAINE For whatever reason, during my annual visit to Ukraine in 2025 I felt I met more Americans than ever before working and living in Ukraine. Perhaps it was the election of our current ruzzian friendly president, or maybe it was pure coincidence, but my curiosity got the best of me on more […]
Yousef and Laila in Hammamet, Tunisia
Let me tell you a story about Yousef and Laila in Hammamet, Tunisia. As an experiment, I used AI to help plan part of this trip. For the record, no travel planners were harmed in the making of this itinerary; I still do all my own research and always have. AI suggested Hammamet as a […]
When is anti-Semitism actually anti-Semitism?
Here is a recommended link to an excellent article from the newsletter “The UnPopulist” about the recent resurgence of anti-Semitism and it’s frequent misuse by Christian nationalist, MAGA conservatives and Israel’s war mongering extreme hard right wingers. Anti-Semitism is being conveniently screamed by extreme right-wing war-mongers to deflect any legitimate criticism of alleged (and likely) […]
Meeting Inspiring 88 Year-Old Solo Female Traveler, Willoughby
This is Willoughby, an 88-year-old, SOLO female traveler from Seattle. She spent 17 days at a hostel in the Historic Center of Oaxaca. I saw her at the airport and introduced myself as I had to learn her story. This was her first visit to Oaxaca. She didn’t take any group tours but explored on […]
Holding Hands in Mexico City
MEXICO CITY: On my final day in Mexico City, I had a 40-minute treadmill run at the gym, overlooking a busy street below. As I ran, I found myself watching the rhythm of people crossing at the stoplight. And I was struck by something simple but powerful: affection. Not just couples—but a grandfather holding his […]
MLK Day, My Hometown and the First Amendment
I hope you’re enjoying the MLK holiday. This day carries special meaning for me. It was January 15, 1986—just days before the very first Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday on January 20—when the Ku Klux Klan marched through my hometown of Pulaski, Tennessee. It was not a proud moment. The town quite literally turned […]
The Kyiv Independent Puts Current U.S. Journalism to Shame
I finally met some of my greatest professional heroes—the journalists of the Kyiv Independent. If you are not familiar with the Kyiv Independent, you should be. These courageous reporters broke away from a rival news organization after many resigned in protest over an oligarch owner’s interference in editorial decisions. Determined to build a genuinely independent […]
Synagogue in Kyiv Hit by ruzzian Drone
A ruzzian drone hit last night (Oct. 24, 2025) in Kyiv, a synagogue in Podil. It was just two blocks from my apartment, where I stayed in July/August. I walked past it every other day during my runs along the Dnipro River. I don’t know why it makes war feel more tangible when something or […]
The Once Mighty New York Times Goes Full On ruzzian Propaganda
I’m sharing this because some of you are probably readers of the #TheNewYorkTimes I stopped subscribing a while ago because I don’t believe they can be trusted and are almost as bad as the #NYPost. At least with the NY Post, you know you’re getting a biased, incomplete, partisan version of the truth or an […]
Linda Yaccarino Resigns X as I Cower in My Bathroom in Kyiv, Ukraine
How fitting that on the day Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO from Twitter/X and expresses gratitude to Elon Musk “for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech…” I am cowering in my apartment’s bathroom in Kyiv, Ukraine, at 3 AM because Ruzzia is bombing us again and terrorizing Ukrainian citizens for over three […]