The Mast-Head: Rotten Branches
Each intense storm provides a tree-pruning service. We are overdue for another.
The Shipwreck Rose: King of Curmudgeons
A curmudgeon may be someone who hates change when change is for the worse, hates trendiness, but a curmudgeon is also someone who plays a useful role as cultural watchdog.
Gristmill: Eco-Fiction Rising
Jeff VanderMeer redeems an entire literary genre. Make that several.
Guestwords: Unhating the Yankees
A lifelong Red Sox fan says the enemy Yankees made him a better loser. You might say even a good-will ambassador.