A rare crested macaque that took a now internationally famous “selfie” cannot own the copyright to the photograph because he is not human, a U.S. judge ruled in a suit brought by animal rights group PETA on behalf of the monkey. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals brought the case in September on behalf of the seven-year-old monkey Naruto […]
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Big Bang for Little Billy This was the first Christmas Billy was old enough to speak when he saw his gifts under the sparkling tree. His parents were waiting to hear what he’d say. Billy laughed and jumped and clapped his hands. With a big smile, he shouted “Santa brought me these!” Then Daddy picked Billy up, bounced him on his knee and whispered […]
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Imbalance Disadvantaged, a common word in America, used to dismiss millions from opportunity, and as they succumb to idleness, crime, waste, many might have been contributors of worth to a declining society slowly being strangled by the privileged.
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Music Review: Spaceship and “Shake Time Loose” by, Melissa R. Mendelson When I was a kid, I remember lying on top of my parents’ car, staring up into the milky way, and waiting, waiting for the stars to fall. It was summer, a cool night, and the meteor shower had arrived. And I wanted to catch a shooting […]
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It’s Snowing in Manila “The snow is always falling in ‘Fargo,’ cloaking the world in metaphysical confusion.” – Jessica Zafra The militant chided the child for singing “White Christmas” when the longest Christmas season isn’t white, in the absence of snow in these parts. (The movement would not give its imprimatur.) But it gets almost-white cold up in Baguio City. But […]
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Processes Grammar of grief wraps itself around the tremors of time and chips: organize blue pencillers. This will obliterate your errors. Better still, equip yourself and be your own editor.
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Just Talking About Science-Fiction By, Melissa R. Mendelson When I was a kid, I would curl up on the couch with my parents and watch “The Twilight Zone,” “Outer Limits,” and “Amazing Stories.” For a holiday gift, my father gave me a hard covered book, the best of Science-Fiction, which included stories from Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. I’ve […]
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Unfriendly Skies by, Melissa R. Mendelson The sky was portrait blue. White clouds graced across it. The sun dipped in and out. Black strokes of bird swayed into view. The world was quiet and disappeared down below, and all the strangers sat like porcelain dolls, lost inside their minds. Only the engines rumbled, and voices crackled over the radio. […]
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Ten Years Is A Wonderful Life by, Melissa R. Mendelson If a television show makes it into its tenth year, then that show should re-enact the scene from “It’s A Wonderful Life,” where George goes running through the streets, wishing all of Bedford Falls a Merry Christmas. Ten Years is an enormous feat. If a television show even makes it […]
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A Jolt of Kola by, Melissa R. Mendelson Recently, I had a bad health scare. I had found a lump. The doctor said that I had to have a mammography done plus sonogram, which I did. The results were not good, and I had to return to the lab a week later for a biopsy, which turned into a […]
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