Doris O'Brien is a retired college Speech teacher and banker. She has published two books of humor (Up or Down With Women's Liberation and Humor Me a Little) and for many years contributed light verse to the Pepper 'n Salt column of the Wall Street Journal. She is an avid writer of letters to the editors.
Doris celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in the same year she welcomed her first grandchild. She now lives in Pasadena with a great view of the San Gabriel mountains — and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
She can be reached by e-mail: witsendob at (@) gmail.com
Masterpiece Theater's New Saga, Indian Summers: The Imperial Game Was Up
Set against the grandeur of the Himalayas and tea plantations of Northern India, the drama tells the story of the decline of the British Empire and the birth of modern India, from both sides of the experience. But at the heart of the story lie the implications and ramifications of the web of passions, rivalries and clashes that define the lives of those brought together in this summer which will change everything. more »
Thirty Interesting Facts About Dorothy Day's Life, Many Commonly Known and Others Less So
Dorothy Day, highlighted as one of the four Americans that Pope Francis spoke of in his address to Congress. Her last jailing was in 1973 at the age of 75 while protesting with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. She loved the beauty of the natural world and would seek out the quiet of a small beach cottage she owned on the shore of Staten Island. She went to jail four times from 1955 to 1959 for acts of civil disobedience. more »
What Do Americans Think of Pope Francis? More Than 64% Express a Favorable View
Among US adults overall, more than six-in-ten (64%) express a favorable view of Pope Francis. While this is lower than the high of 70% who gave Francis a favorable rating in February of this year, the share of Americans expressing an unfavorable view of Francis also has ticked down (10% now, compared with 15% in February). Making up for these differences: The share of people who say they cannot rate the pope has increased from 15% earlier this year to 27% now. more »
Ferida Wolff's Backyard: It's Still Summer; Hummingbirds Are Particularly Special and Peter Cottontail Rescued
There are so many possibilities in the change of seasons — to see something new, to rethink something familiar, to expand our understanding. The shift of my perception of moth to butterfly pleased me. I saw it anew. Perhaps that's what the seasons really foster, new ways of seeing our usually familiar world. more »
