On a Lighter Note…

A water drop and ripples

Taking it easy on Thanksgiving!

By Justin Katz | November 23, 2023 |

A water drop and ripples

A Trump short story is waiting to be written.

By Justin Katz | November 11, 2022 |

Story pitch:  Behind the scenes, secretly and heroically, a selfless former President leans into his own clichés to create space for his political party to disengage from him.  Sacrificing his own aspirations, he masterfully appears to stumble over his reputed faults because he realizes it is the only way to hand off the torch of…

Firedancer in a ring of fire

A Pause for Recreation

By John Loughlin | November 5, 2022 |

John Loughlin interviews Ed Cabral on WaterFire’s Salute to Veterans and Michelle Cruz on Trinity Rep’s community engagement.

A water drop and ripples

A tip for a few moments’ distraction.

By Justin Katz | June 8, 2022 |

Wordle is good, but Quordle is better.

A military explosion

Saltwater, War, and Cancer

By John Loughlin | March 8, 2022 |

John Loughlin speaks with Dr. Tim Shafman on colorectal cancer, Jack Posobiec of Human Events on Ukraine, and Greg Vespe on saltwater fishing.

A water drop and ripples

Some moments are just the right blend of soreness and satisfaction.

By Justin Katz | January 29, 2022 |

We just got in from the whole family shoveling snow, with some drifts up to three-and-a-half feet.  Here’s the recovery formula: Six ounces of mid-roast Starbucks espresso out of the machine Mix in a shot (or so…) of Mister Katz’s Rock & Rye whisky Put on Miles Davis Kind of Blue Light a candle Choose to…

A water drop and ripples

Penelope Barrel Strength bourbon is really, really good.

By Justin Katz | January 3, 2022 |

In fact, in my admittedly short experience with whiskeys, it may be my favorite of any style.  (Subject to revision, of course!)

A water drop and ripples

Sometimes headline misfires make for imaginative fictional takes.

By Justin Katz | December 24, 2021 |

If I were a teacher or professor of creative writing, I’d save headlines like the following from a WPRI story by Melanie DaSilva for class assignments.  English is wonderful for ambiguities, which makes it an excellent language in which to embed two, three, or even four layers of subtext, but a sometimes-challenging language with which…

A water drop and ripples

Boston Globe plays the straight man for SNL.

By Justin Katz | November 9, 2021 |

I have to admit that I found Kenneth Singletary’s write-up for the Boston Globe about a Saturday Night Live skit involving Rhode Island to be more humorous than the skit itself: Singletary plays the straight man (that’s a comedy term, for the woke out there) with his straight-news report: Strong looks worried. The newscast continues.…

A water drop and ripples

Comedy Central’s version of Toby Flenderson Cancels ‘Diversity Day’ from its The Office re-runs

By Marc Comtois | August 25, 2021 |

According to Daily Wire (first discovered by Barstool), Comedy Central doesn’t find a particular episode of the sitcom The Office funny after all. The episode is famous for its politically incorrect storyline which features boss Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) forcing the paper company staff to participate in a racial diversity seminar where he speaks in…