If You Build A Better Mousetrap, Nature

When You Get Older, Keeping The Private Stuff Private Seems Less Important.

This Church Was Open And Seemingly Unattended, And It Was A Throwback In Another Way As Well. The Candles In The Little Side Altars Were Real Ones, Actual Wax Candles That Burned With An Open Flame. Lots Of Churches Have Switched Over To Electrified Altars. You Drop Your Quarter In The Slot And A Flame-shaped Bulb Goes On And Stays On For Your Quarter's Worth Of Time. It's Like A Parking Meter, And If You Stay Too Long They Tow Away Your Soul.

Asking Me Why I Did Or Didn't Do Anything Is Generally Pointless. How Do I Know? And Asking Me What I'll Do In The Future Is Even Less Rewarding.

The Short Story, I Should Point Out, Is Perforce A Labor Of Love In Today's Literary World; There's Precious Little Economic Incentive To Write One.

Back Then, Before It Became Clear That Democracy Was Best Served By A Drunken Electorate, The Bars In New York City Were Required To Close On Election Day.