One thing I am learning from the kitten is that everything he is doing seems to be in preparation for murder.

If I lived where I live right now, and my kids were in middle school, they would be the only white kids in the school. That is not a burden I wanted to place on them. My preference would have been a school that was totally diverse - half and half, or close. I wouldn't have hesitated at all if they would have been in the racial minority. But to be the only white kids: I don't think that would have been fair to them.

The horrifying thing is that nearly half of America seems in synch with xenophobia and race-baiting.

Most men I know adore women, and I am including gay men. I think studies on jury selection show that the biggest critics of women - people less likely to trust their character or judgment - are women.

Mostly, you become a writer not because you want to get rich or famous, but because you have to write; because there is something inside that must come out.

Being both stupid and ignorant is an accomplishment.

I don't think the people of Chicago should be robbed of their birthright to be perennial losers.