September
Notable Maryland Author
Dr. Ben Carson
Maryland Author: Dr. Ben Carson - Genre: Nonfiction
“I started reading about people of great accomplishment… and it dawned on me suddenly that the person who has the most to do with what happens in your life is you.” Dr. Ben Carson
Dr. Ben Carson was born in Detroit to a single mother with a 3rd grade education who worked multiple jobs to support their family. Dr. Carson was raised to love reading and education. He overcame deep poverty on the way to graduating from Yale University and the University of Michigan Medical School. In 1984, he became the youngest Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.
Dr. Carson is famous for his pioneering surgery in separating the Binder twins who were born joined at the back of the head. Dr. Carson has written many articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored nine nonfiction books, four of which he co-wrote with his wife Candy on his medical career and political stances. He was the subject of a television drama film in 2009
Dr. Carson and his wife, Lacena "Candy," met in 1971 at Yale University, married in 1975 and lived in Howard County, Maryland, before moving to West Friendship, Maryland, They have three sons as well as several grandchildren.
Genre - Nonfiction: Nonfiction writing is about real things, people, events, and places, (i.e. things that are true). The author of a work of nonfiction has specific information or ideas they want to describe and generally come out and say what they have on their minds.
A partial reading list includes: Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story; You Have a Brain: A Teen's Guide to T.H.I.N.K. B.I.G.; The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What's Really Important in Life.
Writer's Prompt Responses
Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing part of a Non-Fiction story using only 100 words. In your 100 words, pick a motivational topic and weave together the topic with its benefit and a practical step to take OR pick a pretend historical person and weave together their name and accomplishment and its effect on their time in history.
Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing part of a Non-Fiction story using only 100 words. In your 100 words, pick a motivational topic and weave together the topic with its benefit and a practical step to take OR pick a pretend historical person and weave together their name and accomplishment and its effect on their time in history.
Penny Knobel-Besa - Cumberland Times - Flintstone, MD
Tip For A Happier and Healthier Heart
In real estate the most important thing is location, location, location. To live a happier life I would say it’s smiling, smiling, smiling. I didn’t realize it in my youth, but I always smiled and talked to strangers. Then, at 40 your face begins to slide down and unless you smile you look worried. People ask, “Are you alright?” So, I made an effort to turn up the corners of my mouth all the time. It became automatic. People smiled back. I noticed a warmth around my heart each time and decided that it must make your heart smile too.
Tip For A Happier and Healthier Heart
In real estate the most important thing is location, location, location. To live a happier life I would say it’s smiling, smiling, smiling. I didn’t realize it in my youth, but I always smiled and talked to strangers. Then, at 40 your face begins to slide down and unless you smile you look worried. People ask, “Are you alright?” So, I made an effort to turn up the corners of my mouth all the time. It became automatic. People smiled back. I noticed a warmth around my heart each time and decided that it must make your heart smile too.
Jon Ketzner - Cumberland Times - Cumberland, MD
Back in the groovy 60"s , when I was thirteen and my brother twelve, Dad announced that he'd purchased a shoeshine box and had secured jobs for us as bootblacks at the local barbershop.
We were gob-smacked. Being the groovy 60's, we avoided barbershops like quicksand. But, off we went each day after school, enduring the taunts of our buddies.
We learned the valuable salesmanship skill of asking for business. We mastered quality control, accounting and cultivating business through high service and gratitude.
We also got an education in bookie operations and smut retailing; but that's a story for another day.
Back in the groovy 60"s , when I was thirteen and my brother twelve, Dad announced that he'd purchased a shoeshine box and had secured jobs for us as bootblacks at the local barbershop.
We were gob-smacked. Being the groovy 60's, we avoided barbershops like quicksand. But, off we went each day after school, enduring the taunts of our buddies.
We learned the valuable salesmanship skill of asking for business. We mastered quality control, accounting and cultivating business through high service and gratitude.
We also got an education in bookie operations and smut retailing; but that's a story for another day.
Patricia A Hughes - Frederick News Post - Middleton, MD
Senior Trip
The senior population in this country has much to offer us in this time of turmoil and uncertainty. This generation has witnessed many difficult and turbulent times from the Great Depression to the Vietnam War to the terror of 9/11.
The wisdom and insight into our past is an often overlooked and powerful tool to understanding the world today and how to maneuver the ever changing landscape. Having been regulated to the sidelines and dismissed is a disservice to their lives and our future.
Take a senior to lunch, turn off your phones, and see where they will take you.
Senior Trip
The senior population in this country has much to offer us in this time of turmoil and uncertainty. This generation has witnessed many difficult and turbulent times from the Great Depression to the Vietnam War to the terror of 9/11.
The wisdom and insight into our past is an often overlooked and powerful tool to understanding the world today and how to maneuver the ever changing landscape. Having been regulated to the sidelines and dismissed is a disservice to their lives and our future.
Take a senior to lunch, turn off your phones, and see where they will take you.
Lawrence McGuire - MD Independent - Waldorf, MD
On July 19, 1814, a slave named Achilles Maddison guarded the Huffman plantation.
Fearing the British, his master had fled. Achilles now stood against British Captain Christian Rusy and fourteen soldiers. Achilles was unarmed.
Rusy asked him: "If all men are God's children, how can one own another?"
Achilles smiled. "What you need, sir?"
"A guide. To the Prince Frederick courthouse."
"I know the way."
To the shock of his men, Rusy loaned Achilles his sword. The soldiers prepared torches. A torch in his fist, the sword in his other, Achilles raged. First, against the plantation house. Then, Prince Frederick.
On July 19, 1814, a slave named Achilles Maddison guarded the Huffman plantation.
Fearing the British, his master had fled. Achilles now stood against British Captain Christian Rusy and fourteen soldiers. Achilles was unarmed.
Rusy asked him: "If all men are God's children, how can one own another?"
Achilles smiled. "What you need, sir?"
"A guide. To the Prince Frederick courthouse."
"I know the way."
To the shock of his men, Rusy loaned Achilles his sword. The soldiers prepared torches. A torch in his fist, the sword in his other, Achilles raged. First, against the plantation house. Then, Prince Frederick.
Rachel Brewster - MD Independent - Pomfret, MD
The Inquisition, Spanish or otherwise, endeavored to create unity. But it really forced uniformity rather than creating unity. It forced uniformity in areas where it probably should not exist. The forced uniformity became the test for authentic Catholic unity. For example, the Spanish Inquisition sought to eradicate obedience to Torah among Jewish converts. The most common Torah observance the Inquisition condemned: not eating pork. When conversos did not eat pork people perceived them as being either insincere converts or still faithful Jews. Forcing uniformity in such practices does not foster genuine Christian unity. It created lots of fear and suspicion.
The Inquisition, Spanish or otherwise, endeavored to create unity. But it really forced uniformity rather than creating unity. It forced uniformity in areas where it probably should not exist. The forced uniformity became the test for authentic Catholic unity. For example, the Spanish Inquisition sought to eradicate obedience to Torah among Jewish converts. The most common Torah observance the Inquisition condemned: not eating pork. When conversos did not eat pork people perceived them as being either insincere converts or still faithful Jews. Forcing uniformity in such practices does not foster genuine Christian unity. It created lots of fear and suspicion.
Patsy Snyder - Cumberland, MD - Cumberland Times
HOW TO TELL AN ADULT CHILD HE IS MAKING A MISTAKE
You don’t, unless the mistake is life threatening, you keep your unsolicited advice to yourself. Your child will just feel criticized. Even if your child asks for advice, he is probably just looking for reassurance. What to do? Listen and then listen some more. Ask a few questions such as what result is he looking for? What is the very first step he could do to move in that direction? Discuss how a successful chess game works, looking ahead several moves to win the game. Whatever happens, keep listening.
HOW TO TELL AN ADULT CHILD HE IS MAKING A MISTAKE
You don’t, unless the mistake is life threatening, you keep your unsolicited advice to yourself. Your child will just feel criticized. Even if your child asks for advice, he is probably just looking for reassurance. What to do? Listen and then listen some more. Ask a few questions such as what result is he looking for? What is the very first step he could do to move in that direction? Discuss how a successful chess game works, looking ahead several moves to win the game. Whatever happens, keep listening.