In 1837, when mob violence raged, a young lawyer rose to defend the rule of law. He spoke not to his time but for all time.

LYNN MARGULIS -- DEFYING DARWIN

When she proposed cooperation as the source of evolution, her research was called “crap.” But science soon proved Lynn Margulis’ radical theory.

HEROESThe AtticJanuary 8, 2021Lynn Margulis, Micro biology, Gaia Hypothesis, James Lovelock Comments

EDWARD S. CURTIS, SHADOW CATCHER

Roaming the West for three decades, Edward Curtis caught more than shadows. He caught the soul of proud nations.

ART-ISHThe AtticDecember 18, 2020Edward S. Curtis, Photography, Native Americans, ES Curtis Comments

THE WOMAN WHO SAVES OLD GROWTH

Stepping into Old Growth, Joan Maloof felt the forest. Now she is set on saving “the ancients.”

FAULKNER'S FINEST MOMENT

Shy and reclusive, he did not want to accept his Nobel in person. But he rose to the podium and lit a candle for humanity

H.L. MENCKEN, BANE OF THE BOOBOISIE

“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.” — H.L. Mencken

WITSThe AtticNovember 26, 2020H.L. Mencken, 1920s, American humor, Scopes Trial, Baltimore Comments

THAT MAD, MAD MAGAZINE

For a full generation, as the world teetered on the brink, the lone voice mocking in the wilderness was truly MAD.

WITSThe AtticNovember 19, 2020MAD Magazine, Satire, Humor, 1960s, Mort Drucker, Alfred E. Newman Comments

THE ONE, THE ONLY -- HARPO!

Shy second grade dropout. Struggled onstage with one-liners. Without a further word, he became a clown for the ages.

WITSThe AtticNovember 13, 2020Harpo Marx, The Marx Brothers, Comedies, Groucho Marx, Mime Comments

WOODY'S "OTHER NATIONAL ANTHEM"

On a winter night, alone and adrift, he checked into a fleabag hotel and began a new song. This land is your land, this land is my land. . .

FOLKIESThe AtticOctober 15, 2020Woody Guthrie, This Land is Your Land Comments

THE OTHER COLUMBUS DAY

After centuries of smooth sailing, Columbus ran into the shoals of history. And Indigenous Peoples’ Day was born.

History, REBELSThe AtticOctober 8, 2020COLUMBUS DAY, Indigenous People's Day Comment

WATCHING US WATCH TV

Others saw TV as mindless, but George Gerbner saw it as mean. And he had the data to prove it.

HOW HERBERT HOOVER SAVED MILLIONS

During WW I, when famine loomed, Herbert Hoover masterminded a global relief effort that saved millions.

HEROESThe AtticSeptember 17, 2020Herbert Hoover, World War I, Hunger relief, Belgian relief Comments

GOOD WILL ROGERS

“There’s no secret to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”

Humor, WITSThe AtticSeptember 10, 2020Will Rogers, American humor, Wit, 1920s Comments

OCTAVIA BUTLER -- SCI FI, SLAVERY, AND SEEDS OF THE FUTURE

Reading science fiction, Octavia Butler saw no one like herself. So she vowed to “write myself in.”

ROBINSON JEFFERS AND "THE ANSWER"

Turning his back to the continent, Robinson Jeffers offered an answer for our own troubled times.

BOOK-ISHThe AtticAugust 27, 2020Robinson Jeffers, Big Sur, California coast, American poetry, Poetry Comments

THE MOHAWKS AND 'HIGH STEEL'

Builders offered jobs on the ground, but the Mohawks soared. Soon these “Fearless Wonders” were building the American skyline.

KINDER, COOLER, SMARTER

NOW IN OUR TENTH YEAR!

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