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Written In the Land

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of over 25,000 years of Aboriginal occupation within this area, and Kakadu's rock art (gunbim) represents the longest historical record of any group of people in the world
by David McGee
 

 
 
Barry Lopez featured

Reflections on Barry Lopez

TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS honors her friend, the late, great nature writer BARRY LOPEZ
by David McGee
 

 

 
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In Her Own Words: Up-and-Coming Illustrator Sairom Moon

Our heralded kids' lit blogger JULES interviews up-and-coming illustrator Sairom Moon, and kicks off the new year by blessing us with a couple of new illustrations from the redoubtable illustrator Elisa Kleven.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Robert Neubecker’s Little Plane That Could

Two superb new children's books are on JULES's radar: ROBERT NEUBECKER's charming LITTLE SMOKEY and, from the legendary ELOISE GREENFIELD, a personal look at midwives in THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Lily Tomlin & The Elephants In the Room (and On the Planet)

A few years ago LILY TOMLIN became engrossed in an effort to move two elephants from the L.A. Zoo to a sanctuary. Now she's championing the humane treatment of the big fellas in an HBO documentary, AN APOLOGY TO ELEPHANTS.
by David McGee
 

 
 
caleb smith featured

Spreading Hope & Happiness (with Bunnies)

Welcome to Peacebunny Island, where 16-year-old CALEB SMITH and friends are spreading hope and happiness with their comfort rabbits. Yes, comfort rabbits. DUNCAN STRAUSS finds out what's up, doc.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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The Beach Girls and The Monster (1965)

A lost beach classic is headlining at Deep Roots Theater: THE BEACH GIRLS AND THE MONSTER, with music by Frank Sinatra Jr. Also: Felix the Cat in 'April Maze' (1930)
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Sustainable Agriculture News

The USDA is giving $35 million in funding to local and regional food systems, including farmers markets, but can farmers, especially small ones, make enough at those markets to make them worth their while?
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Surf in Verse, 2021 Edition

Return to one of our most popular summer features, SURF IN VERSE, four evocative poems about the surf experience. This year's edition includes the oldest known surfing poem, THE SONG OF THE SURF, circa 1867, by ADAM LINDSAY GORDON
by David McGee
 

 
 
James Lord Pierpont

The Murky Origins & Everlasting Life of ‘Jingle Bells’

In 1850 JAMES LORD PIERPONT, inspired by one-horse open-sleigh races in his home town, wrote a Thanksgiving ditty for his father's Sunday School class. Thus the humble origin of 'Jingle Bells.'
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Ding Dong, Merrily On High, Indeed!

Returned to print by Real Gone Music, THE THREE SUNS' amazing 1959 seasonal effort, A DING DONG DANDY CHRISTMAS, is lounge exotica run amuck, a genuine Yuletide gem.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Christmas 1974: Santa (USPS) Brings the 1st Self-Adhesive Stamp

Those self-adhesive stamps we so love? Christmas 1974 brought the first of what were then considered experimental issues, featuring the Dove of Peace weathervane from George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Much trial-and-error ...
by David McGee