John Jasper was a noted slave preacher who became a significant community leader in Richmond, Virginia, following the Civil War. Born and raised on a plantation in Fluvanna County, Virginia, Jasper at the age of 13 was hired out to work in tobacco factories in Richmond and later in the coal mines of Chesterfield County. […] Read more

In God’s wildness lies the hope of the world – the great fresh unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization drops off, and wounds heal ere we are aware. From the unpublished journals of John Muir […] Read more

Thank you. I’ve always believed in numbers and the equations and logics that lead to reason. But after a lifetime of such pursuits, I ask, “What truly is logic? Who decides reason?” My quest has taken me through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional — and back. And I have made the most important discovery […] Read more

Although an American, John Singer Sargent did not even see the United States until he was 20. He was born in Florence on January 12, 1856. His mother, an amateur artist, had persuaded her doctor husband, that her sickly constitution required the healing climes of Europe. Her son remained an expatriate for the rest of […] Read more

As war raged across the country, John Wilkes Booth became a star. In 1862, he performed in St. Louis, Chicago, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati. He was Hamlet, McBeth, Othello, and Romeo. Appearing 167 times, Booth played 18 different roles in the course of a single year […] Read more

The idea is JOY. When was the last time you felt real joy–that down-to-your-toes tingle of pure delight? Bigger than contentment, more intense than happiness, it’s a feeling so vast it almost overwhelms you. And however fleeting, joy is the ultimate expression of gratitude and appreciation. It’s what fills you up and fills you out, […] Read more

The idea is JOY. When was the last time you felt real joy–that down-to-your-toes tingle of pure delight? Bigger than contentment, more intense than happiness, it’s a feeling so vast it almost overwhelms you. And however fleeting, joy is the ultimate expression of gratitude and appreciation. It’s what fills you up and fills you out, […] Read more

Welcome to the world of pigs. Forget what you’ve heard about them and take a fresh look at these animals. You’ll discover that they are wonderful creatures, remarkable products of evolution, though, in some cases, by human design. Their unusual looks and their untidy eating habits have given them a bad reputation. Actually, they are […] Read more

The velociraptor sniffed. It jerked its head, and looked right at Tim; Tim nearly gasped with fright. Tim’s body was rigid, tense. He watched as the reptile eye moved, scanning the room. Another sniff. He’s got me, Tim thought. Then the head jerked back to look forward, and the animal went on, toward the fifth […] Read more