A speech act, called a performative , is when simply to speak the words is to perform the action.  For example, if you say “I apo...

        Today I offer a selection of mythical P creatures, and it just so happens that I’m making split pea soup for dinner tonight, ev...

        Today seems like a good day to share a very cool wood block print done jointly by 26 artists in the Society of Wood Engravers.  E...

        Ogres and onis and orcs, o my!   ogre - a humanoid monster that is large, hideous, and eats humans, especially babies.  The ...

        Ted Faiers (1908-1985) was born in England, grew up in Canada, and spent his adult life in the United States.  His work was heavi...

        I’ll reiterate that my selections of mythical creatures aren’t intended to be comprehensive - how would that even be possible?  S...

        April is National Poetry Month (besides which, every month is a good month for poetry), so here’s a poem I wrote years ago - decade...

        I’ve always loved Scheherazade, the brave, smart, wise hero who saves her sister (and her kingdom) by telling stories.  As some...

        For some time scientists have been studying the calanchi goose, a rare heritage variety still raised in small villages in the Emi...