Every blog I write is written for you. No one here is more important to me than my readers ... not organizations or other bloggers, not editors, not myself. I write about what I feel you want and need to know ... and occasionally to entertain ... and I write as well and as honestly as I possibly can. I work very hard to do the best job I'm able to do, and I do it seven days a week.

Although I compose blogs for you ... to provide information, to exchange ideas, to give a smile or encourage a ponder ... I am compelled to do this by something deep within me. Blogging is one way I strive... more

When I'm writing from the world instead of from my head ... blogs, magazine articles, non-fiction books and such, rather than fiction ... my heart is still involved in the work, and only what can sit there right gets on the page. Before I make a move I have to understand what I'm writing, and I must have a darned good grasp on the bits I can't or don't have time or need to absorb so those are illustrated correctly for others to interpret. If I don't get something, I never... more

As you may have noticed, there's been some action around me here lately ... an announcement of a new blog I'll be starting soon and a bit of a brouhaha going on on this one.

With all the attention, and since a few of the comments placed as responses to posts I'd written attempt to impugn my integrity and call much in the way of my talent, knowledge and judgment into question, I thought... more

Since we're without a Korean Adoption blogger at the moment, I thought I'd pass on this news about the Smithsonian Museum's launching of its Korea Gallery. Officially open since Friday, the 8th of June, the gallery is in the new Hall of Asian Cultures on the second floor of the museum displaying over 4,000 artifacts representing Korean history and culture.

The idea for this took root in 2003, when Korea's First... more

Starting with an event I would love to attend, and one those interested will have to jump on right away ... NCLO, a great organization that works with children in Cambodia, is to be the beneficiary of a special premiere of "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix" near Chicago on the 14th of July ... and the Weasley Twins will be there to sign autographs. Is that cool, or what!

Tickets are only $6, but going fast. For information contact awtodd@comcast.net... more

I'm tempted to kick myself for making much of Mirah (aka Marsha) Riben's latest spew of mediocre pap designed to turn Mothers Day into a drive-by slapping.

Please don't misunderstand; I'm not regretting pointing out the poor quality of the prose, even though the simpy writing does speak for itself, or her agenda-encumbered POV that reduces any part of the big picture to the narrowest of misleading apertures.... more

It's not been long since I felt compelled to address a poorly composed bit of tripe from anti-adoption swill-tosser and Origins co-founder Mirah (aka Marsha) Riben.

The last time, she was slinging words that accused international adoptive parents of being racists and perpetrators of "cultural genocide".

(For a look at this from an cultural anthropologists view, ... more

I decided early this morning that today's post would be a catch-up on bits of adoption news floating around my desk. When I learned that another power cut was in the cards for a better part of the day, that settled it. Writing anything deeper without the ability to bounce around the Net researching isn't how I like to work, so a good little tidy sounded even better ... my blogging equivalent to some light dusting.

Little did I know I'd end up in tears.

As is far too often really obvious, adoptive parents get a lot... more

The first section of the interview with Kari Grady Grossman, author of "Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia is here. The second part is here.

SHB: Project 20 years ahead ... what will life be like for the average... more

The first section of the interview with Kari Grady Grossman, author of "Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia is here.

SHB: Are there any actions people can take to encourage the reopening of Cambodian adoptions for Americans?

KGG:

My understanding is that this is now in the hands of the Cambodian... more