In 1684, colonists headed from France to the New World, intending to settle near the Mississippi. Instead, their maps sent them to present-day Texas, where all of their ships eventually sank, including the tiny La Belle that contained their supplies. It was discovered in 1995 and is now in Austin's Bullock Museum. Find out more in my "One Cool Thing" travel piece in the Toronto Star.
WHERE I WRITE
ALL ABOUT AUTOMOBILES
ALL ABOUT ME
- I'm a writer by trade, and a curmudgeon by design. My specialty is automotive, but I'll write about anything the editors want - and that has included cocktails, cooking, travel, celebrity interviews, and even the stuff that's shipped in plain brown wrappers.
I'm interested in a lot of things: I collect fountain pens, books and tattoos; I love horse racing; and when I have some spare time I like to bake and garden. I also have opinions, which I'm not afraid to share, and that's what this blog is all about.
For auto-related stuff, check out my car blog that's linked above. For everything else, here it is!
MAGAZINE FEATURES
- "April, New Orleans", Lichen, A Literary Journal, Fall/Winter 2004
- "Band of Brothers" (Neville Brothers), Where New Orleans, November 2004
- "Cloudy with a chance of delicious: Cask ale," Sharp, December 2009
- "Details make the difference," Pen World February 2010
- "King of the Spirits", Where New Orleans, May 2005
- "Net Gain: Web Sites Prove Helpful for Browsers and Buyers", Vancouver International Auto Show Guide, March 2007
- "Rejection or Refusal?", Writer's Journal, January/February 2005
- "Rolling on the River", Where New Orleans, July 2004
- "Smart Car, Smart Pen", Pen World, Jan. 2007
- "Start Your Engines! Introducing the C-Series by Cross", Pen World, April 2009
- "Thank You Notes", Pen World, November 2006
- "The Economical AutoTrac Tractor", Rural Delivery, September 2004
- "The Need For Speed", Pen World, December 2008
- "Ultimate Carriers" (Dog-Friendly Vehicles), Dogs In Canada, September 2004
- "War and Remembrance" (D-Day Museum), Where New Orleans, June 2004
- "What Do Women Want?", Pen World June 2010
- "What Kind Of Boss Are You?" Tire News December 2009
- "Yes, We Had A Fair", Rural Delivery, March 2007
MY OTHER ARTICLES
- "Aging Drivers: Public Safety and Private Mobility," Old Autos June 2, 2008
- "Dining at the Lenten Table", Toronto Star, February 25 2004
- "It's All Business In The Korean DMZ," Toronto Star July 27 2010
- "Legislature is a place for politics, not prayer", The Toronto Star, April 20 2008
- "Menace Drives By In A Maroon Car", Toronto Star, August 29 2007
- "My Mom, Irv Weinstein and Me," Toronto Star, January 6, 1999
- "Rock and Roll Gearhead from A to ZZ" (Billy Gibbons interview), Toronto Star, November 12 2005
- "Rosa Parks Bus", Toronto Star, October 29 2005
- "The Generation That Went From Coal-Oil Lamps To The Moon," Toronto Star, August 22 1994
FOR PEN FANS (LIKE ME!)
- AppleMan Pen Creations
- Blackwing Pages
- Fahrney's Pens (Washington, DC)
- Fountain Pen Hospital (New York City)
- Letter Writers Alliance
- London (Ontario) Pen Club
- London Pen Club Blog
- Papeterie Nota Bene
- Peel Pen Shop (London, Ontario)
- Pen World Magazine
- Pencil Talk
- Phidon Pens
- Richard Binder Fountain Pens
- Stylus Fine Pens (Edmonton, Alberta)
- Ted Bishop (The Social Life of Ink)
- The Leadhead's Pencil Blog
- Vancouver Pen Club
- Wonder Pens (Toronto)
- Writer's Bloc Blog
Become a Fan
FRIENDS' PAGES
- Brian Early - Loose Nut Behind The Wheel
- Danny Bailey Photography & Videography
- Ellen Roseman - "On Your Side"
- Footcircles: Travel for Life
- Gary Gray (my big brother!)
- Hot Rod Swag
- Jim Kenzie
- Joe Rada - Writer and Editor
- Justin Pritchard - Auto Videos and Reviews
- Kathy Renwald
- Kevin Allman: writing about writing
- Lorraine Sommerfeld
- Michael Banovsky - Cars & Culture
- Nika Rolczewski's Racerchicks
- Norm West's Blue Sky Glass
- This is What I Think of your Car
- Wozeroff
OTHER STUFF THAT INTERESTS ME
Categories
- Antiques
- Art
- Beer
- Body Double
- Books
- Carnival
- Celebrities
- Christmas
- Clocks
- Clothing
- Cooking
- Corporate-Speak Translation
- Decorating
- Drinks
- Employment
- Environment
- Film
- Finance
- Food
- Gardening
- Gay Marriage
- Grammar
- Hats
- Health
- Horse Racing
- House
- Human Rights
- Journalism
- Money
- Movies
- Music
- Nature
- New Year's
- Newspapers
- Pens and paper
- Pension
- Pets
- Politics
- Rants
- Religion
- Remembrance Day
- Shopping
- Spring
- Tattoo
- Toys
- Travel
- Writing
- Ya can't make this stuff up
- You Can, But You Shouldn't ...
More Stuff
Taxicab Collection
- My collection of taxicab memorabilia - click on each photo to view it.
Pen Collection
- My collection of fountain and ballpoint pens - click on each photo to see it all!
Kentucky Derby 136 - May 1, 2010
- A lifelong dream come true: I go to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby!