You can be a contributor to history

Written by Shelley Plett Wednesday, 11 June 2008 06:22

“You say want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world.... You ask me for a contribution. Well you know, we’re doing what we can.”

—“Revolution,” The Beatles



If time travel was straight-forward, minus the annoying paradoxes and parallel universe arguments, where would you go? I can think of a few.

I’d quantum leap into a 1920s jazz club with a flapper bob, sequin dress and extra long cigarette holder.

Or to the early 19th century, on Lewis & Clark’s course, setting camp between an unwelcoming tribe of Sioux and the Rocky Mountains.

Or maybe into a dark gym with the deafening backbeat of “Mony Mony,” enveloped by inches upon inches of teased bangs and oversized Aerosmith T-shirts. (Wait...

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Playing in the dirt can clear a mind

Written by Shelley Plett Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:17

“When you finish…do you have the proverbial grit under your fingernails, splinters in your hand, sunburn on your face and ache in your joints? If so, chances are you put your whole soul into the effort.” —Hope Clark



Manual labor is not my best friend. It’s not that I’m lazy, just not the first one to jump behind a lawn mower when a lawn chair is just as close. As I settle into the chair, steadying my book and drink, knowing I should be behind the mower, a hint of guilt has been known to creep into my head. I can usually shake it off.

I admire people who work outside all day. I’m just not one of them. I’m not conditioned for it since my days are filled with central air and fluorescent lighting.

It’s easier to opt...

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Be anything you want…on the web

Written by Shelley Plett Wednesday, 14 May 2008 09:55

“It seems there is something about anonymity which brings out the worst in us. If you doubt that, come with me into the often-weird world of Internet chat rooms and message boards.”

—Pat Sajak



The collective message of this graduation season will be something like “…and just remember that you can be anything you want to be.” And it’s not just true for the graduates. You too can be anything, or anyone, you want to be…on the Internet.

Total (unless the right software is installed) anonymity can transform introverts into extroverts, minors into adults, dogs into pigs, males into females, or the average person into a complete jerk.

Cyber bullying, which in my opinion is much more brutal than the classic and apparently...

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Less information is sometimes good

Written by Shelley Plett Wednesday, 23 April 2008 01:39

“Doctor to patient: I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are not a hypochondriac.” —Unknown



Living in this age of technology, we can count on getting more information than is probably needed. I know there are fact hounds among us that seek the final answer to their question and will pick their way through every wrong explanation along the way to get there.

And all of those possible answers are there for the taking. We can no longer just give thanks to that one know-it-all who is happy to offer their enlightenment on every subject. (We all know one.) Now we have the glorious luxury of the Internet.

I constantly use search engines for work, research, entertainment and procrastination. But the one thing I...

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