It’s up to us to create our own light during these dark times. In Let the Bells Ring Out, Barbara Lloyd McMichael writes about the National Bell Festival and the noble act of bell restoration. Why does humanity make the same mistakes over and over? We posed this question when we interviewed Dr. Peter Corning. In this age of anxiety, there is a way to flourish. Take a lesson from my essay “The Renaissance Belongs to You.” I wish you many blessings and much joy during this holiday season! – Patricia Vaccarino
Let the Bells Ring Out by Barbara Lloyd McMichael
Are your ears ringing? Bell restoration was the inaugural project that went on to launch the National Bell Festival. On January 1, 2025, no matter where we are, the National Bell Festival encourages people across the United States to participate in a simultaneous bell-ringing that will resonate across the nation. (This means it will happen at 2 PM Eastern,1 PM Central, 12 PM Mountain, 11 AM Pacific, 10 AM Alaska, and 9 AM Hawaii/Aleutian time.) Everyone is invited to participate, with whatever bells are at your disposal: hand bells, church bells, fire bells, memorial bells, carillons, memorial chimes….
The Renaissance Belongs to You by Patricia Vaccarino
Should a greater darkness befall us, due to economic woes, war, violence, tribalism, and the many impacts of climate change, we can trust that great writers, artists, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, every type of creative under the sun, will continue to create work that embodies the Renaissance ideal.
What Lies Ahead by Annie Searle
We seem to have come to a reckoning point in American history where explanations we have relied upon for years should be re-examined. We need to better understand the issues that make a difference to voters of all races and ethnicities.
An Interview with Dr. Peter A. Corning
While humanity has made many strides toward progress, as of late, our culture seems to be in a regression. Why don’t human beings learn from the mistakes made in the past? This is an age old question that has plagued us since the beginning of time. This is the question we brought to the evolutionary biologist and author Dr. Peter Corning.
A Dream About the Human Condition And the Future of Life on Earth by Dr. Peter A Corning
“I call it the ‘Life Tree’ – a living combined effect. It came to me in a dream. I saw a vast circle of small lights – like flickering candles, or maybe tiny Christmas lights.” To read Dr. Corning’s latest work, please go to his website.
The Return of a Demagogic Populist President after 200 Years by Nick J. Licata
This year, our nation experienced the mobilization of the lowest economic class against the establishment controlled by the elites for the second time. It’s not a Marxist revolution or a fascist coup; it’s a significant portion of American voters uprising to overthrow the established order.
Book Review: The Tigers of Lents by Mark Pomeroy
Author Mark Pomeroy does a fine job of capturing the saga of a family living in Lents, Oregon. These are real people grappling with real problems in a world where everything has been stacked against them. The family members belong to an invisible economic class—the working poor. – Patricia Vaccarino