From the Back Forty: Platner May Be Gone, but the Memories Remain

Reminiscences of a young CND activist

Sorry I’ve been offline for so long. I’m back. For now, anyway. Among other things I’ve been writing a little bit about what it was like for me being a teenager involved in left wing politics at the beginning of the 80’s. This is the first (and far the longest) of a series of reminiscences []

They started playing L.A. Municipal softball 50 years ago. They're still at it

As the original Doc Feeney's All Stars roster crosses into their 70s, a new generation is stepping up to the plate to keep a half-century of brotherhood — and the memory of a fallen teammate — alive.

‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ Songwriter Dies at 87

YouTube/Glenn CampbellThe British songwriter responsible for country musician Glenn Campbell’s iconic 1975 hit “Rhinestone Cowboy” has died at the age of 87. Brian Potter’s daughter, Karen, said the producer and composer had been suffering from dementia for several years prior to his death. Best known for his collaboration with Campbell, Potter worked with dozens of artists throughout his celebrated, decades-long career—including RB group Tavares, pop-soul ensemble Four Tops, and legendary singer Dusty Springfield. Potter and Campbell also both worked on rock band Player’s No.1 hit “Baby Come Back,” and helped produce Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana’s 1978 album Inner Secrets. After what was an amicable creative split from Campbell in the late 1980s, Potter worked on a number of projects independently with artists like country icon Kenny Roger, multi-genre singers the Pointer Sisters, and famed keyboardist George Duke. He is survived by his wife, with whom he was married for 55 years, his stepdaughter, Mary Shirley, and his daughter, Karen. Read it at GuardianRead more at The Daily Beast.

Was Dad Being a Creep? And Other Childhood Memories to Decipher

An interview with the PEN15 actor and writer.

Ghosts of summers past

The trauma of foster care left gaps in my memory. Could I piece together a past I couldn’t recall?- by Lisa Marie BasileRead on Psyche