The sound of bagpipes in the distance drifts in through the open window of the yellow cab as I head down Broadway to New York University. It's the first real spring day after a long winter and the bagpipes seem to herald the return of warmer weather, and the renewal of the spirit that spring brings. How does one express the effect that that ancient sound has when it reaches … [Read more...] about Renewing the Spirit
Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House
By Joe Zentner
March/April 1996
Nestled in the foothills of the San Ramon Valley near San Francisco, a concrete block residence sits prominently amidst the landscape. At one time the site provided this country's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright a sanctuary in which to create masterpieces of American drama.Built in 1937, the home today serves as a memorial to Eugene O'Neill's contribution to this country's … [Read more...] about Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House
A Pilgrimage of Repair
By Colum McCann
May 3, 2025 Newsletter
In January 2025, to open the Jubilee of the World of Communication in Rome, the Dicastery for Communication at the Vatican, Colum McCann, author of numerous works and co-founder of Narrative 4 – a global non-profit which uses storytelling to better communities, stressed the importance of stories in his address to an audience that included Pope Francis. “The shortest distance … [Read more...] about A Pilgrimage of Repair
Nellie Bly: “The Best Reporter in America”
By Darina Molloy
November 1999
Nellie Bly’s biographer, Brooke Kroeger, captured the essence of his admirable subject when he wrote: “In the 1880s, she pioneered the development of ‘detective’ or ‘stunt’ journalism, the acknowledged forerunner to full-scale investigative reporting.” Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864 to Michael Cochran and Mary Jane Cummings, both of whom were of Irish descent, Bly … [Read more...] about Nellie Bly: “The Best Reporter in America”
Liam Neeson
The Big Fella Liam Neeson's career has skyrocketed in recent years, beginning with his starring role in the celebrated movie Schindler's List which led to a nomination for an Academy Award. The County Antrim-born Neeson, a veteran of some 35 movies, now plays the title role in the epic movie by Neil Jordan based on the life of IRA leader Michael Collins, which will be … [Read more...] about Liam Neeson