green trees inside the glasshouse

Fun Facts and a Dystopian Fiction

The other day my wife and I took our kids to Gardens by the Bay – one of the major tourist attractions here in Singapore. If you’ve not heard of it, it’s a stunning nature park spanning 100 acres. It sits adjacent to the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel.  Inside the gardens are two massive temperature-controlled dome-shaped glass conservatories. One is known as the cloud … Continue reading Fun Facts and a Dystopian Fiction

Repost: Others

Life is like a great meandering stroll through a vast wilderness of ever-changing scenery.  Such a long tramp is bound to change us, so it’s highly likely we’ll undergo one transformation after another as we travel. I was an only child during the earliest stages of my “journey.”  I spent the first few years of my life living in a quiet, rural setting where neighbors … Continue reading Repost: Others

Sharing is Caring

Dear, Readers, I’m speaking for all Wise & Shine writers when I say that we so appreciate your continued support of this blog.  To show how thankful we are, we want to ask you to share a link to your blog or site in the “thoughts” or comments section at the bottom of this page.  Please feel free to include a statement about what inspires … Continue reading Sharing is Caring

Communicating with the Community

I’ve been thinking about our WP community, how important it is; what purpose it serves and extending from that, do we, the more experienced bloggers, have a role in helping and guiding new bloggers so that they stay within the blogging world and become contributing members of the community who, in turn, will then help future bloggers. Do you think about the less experienced bloggers? I suspect for many of us, we think about our own needs.  What is required for our own blogs and being in touch with our friends and contacts within the Community. Continue reading Communicating with the Community

THE LAW OF UNRELATED THINGS

I wonder. A lot. About a lot. To what extent are coincidences unplanned, uncoordinated and unrelated? To what extent are planned occurrences deliberate, independent and timed? Ramblings much? Perhaps. Onto something? Maybe. The enterprise of writing , after all, has always involved a degree of madness. With more than 7 billion people on the planet, who can truly tell what each of them is planning … Continue reading THE LAW OF UNRELATED THINGS

body of water with snow under a dramatic sky

Sunday Evening, Long Island, February 2023

The laundry is folded (or doing a passable imitation of folded), the dogs are silent and sleeping, and the house is freshly vacuumed, and even though, an hour later, its efforts have already become hard to spot as a fresh battalion of fur easily reclaims its beachheads, the house is still neat and clean (or doing a passable imitation of neat and clean). Monday looms … Continue reading Sunday Evening, Long Island, February 2023

Musings from Flood Warnings

Hello all! Good morning from a very rainy California! You might have heard, California has been dealing with severe rain in recent weeks, specifically the past week, and we have been under evacuation warning due to risk of flood a few times in the past week. Some nearby areas have actually been evacuated. The state has been under tornado threat, which is very rare from … Continue reading Musings from Flood Warnings

Question of the Day (Inspired by the Red-headed Stranger)

I’m currently reading The Tao of Willie:  A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart, with “Willie” being the great Willie Nelson, musician and songwriter extraordinaire. As you might guess from the title, the book, coauthored by Nelson and Turk Pipkin, elucidates the singer’s philosophy of life, which was strongly influenced by Buddhist and Taoist tenets, and includes lots of autobiographical details. In one of … Continue reading Question of the Day (Inspired by the Red-headed Stranger)

Wise & Shine Podcasts in 2023

In October of last year, Wise & Shine started a podcast.  In the weeks ahead, we’ll be recording new episodes for your listening pleasure.  Tuesday will be the day we publish new podcasts to the site.  If you haven’t already done so, please have a listen to our recordings from 2022. We are interested in hearing from readers and experts who’d like to be a part … Continue reading Wise & Shine Podcasts in 2023

close up photo of a condenser microphone

New Podcast Today!

Hi!  We’ve just posted a new episode of the Wise & Shine podcast.  Have a listen as I talk with the uber-talented and insightful Art Russell.  In this podcast, we attempt to answer the question “What’s Really Important?”  Thanks for tuning in!  Continue reading New Podcast Today!

people on sidewalk selective focal photo

“We Know What We Are, But Know Not What We May Be”

Who Am I? Depends Who You Ask Barring a few Zen Masters, all of us spend virtually every waking moment (and every non-waking moment) in our own heads. These accommodations may strike you as lightless prison cells, bright, soft palaces, or something in between, depending on your moods and/or medications. Hamlet claimed, “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of … Continue reading “We Know What We Are, But Know Not What We May Be”

adult frowned male writer working on typewriter at home

A Radical Idea. (I’m Going To Write a Book.)

Just imagine, you’re sat fat, dumb and happy when BAM! Your engine shits itself. (And so do you.) Suddenly you’re forced to divert. You need to get on the ground pronto! Before you know it, there you are. Grounded with a bum engine – a million miles from the original destination you had in mind.  So, you find yourself sat around in your underpants on … Continue reading A Radical Idea. (I’m Going To Write a Book.)

red leaf trees near the road

Autumnal Thoughts About Fall As Autumn Nears

As the leaves start to turn, like so many stomachs at the sight of a MAGA hat, one becomes reflective. I’m the one, by the way. I’m not saying I’m Number One or anything, it isn’t an ego thing. I just thought it would sound classier. But reading back over it, it feels maybe a little narcissistic – which isn’t a deal breaker – and … Continue reading Autumnal Thoughts About Fall As Autumn Nears

loving diverse couple having fun in new own home

I’m Back

When Micheal Jordan returned from the NBA after an extended hiatus his publicity manager was unsure how they should announce the news. So, he wrote a number of press releases for Micheal to choose from. But Jordan didn’t like any of them. He said, “I’ll do it myself.” before picking up a pen and writing down the following message, “I’m back.” That was it. The … Continue reading I’m Back

yelling formal man watching news on laptop

A Mercifully Brief Post About Knowing Nothing

Like most people, I’ve led an unusual life. For me, part of its unorthodoxy is my insistence on trying to make a living as a writer. Let’s just say, it’s been an uphill climb. But occasionally I comfort myself with the knowledge that there are a million reasons why things either gain recognition or fail to. So, here are a few quick and hilarious examples. … Continue reading A Mercifully Brief Post About Knowing Nothing