Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Persistent coughing and labored breathing in humans have taken on heightened significance in the past year, as they are commonly reported symptoms of covid-19 infection. Not all coughing and wheezing in humans is of viral origin, however. Asthma in humans is a disease of the lower airways that can cause coughing,…
A really excellent memoir and coming of age story by a kid who immigrated to America in 1975 during the fall of Saigon, ending up in the small town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. As he struggles to fit in, he finds comfort and identity in music (particularly punk rock) and in literature, allowing him to navigate the feelings of isolation, the…
This is another book in Aperture’s Photography Workshop Series. The photographer featured in this book is Larry Fink. His black and white photos are definitely pretty interesting, but it’s his commentary that made the bigger impression on me, particularly his comments on perception and perspective. He quotes Lisette Model, a photographer whom he studied with, who once said to him,…
After being amazed by Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room” a few weeks back, I was anxious to explore additional novels by him. This semi-autobiographical book was his first major work, published in 1953. It’s a coming-of-age story that deals primarily with religion, although there’s a lot about race, classism, sex, and violence. The themes are heavy and the book, though not too…
Readers of my blog know that I have a personal and professional interest in rabies. As a practicing veterinarian, I’ve vaccinated thousands of cats and dogs against this deadly disease, and in my retirement, I’ve volunteered with the amazing organization Mission Rabies, joining teams of international veterinarians, technicians, and laypersons to help vaccinate dogs in vulnerable communities in Africa and…
This book is by a poet, Anne Boyer, who was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 41. The book is composed of several short chapters, each chapter consisting of brief paragraphs, some connected to each other, some not. I found it a difficult book to read. The author gets into the brutal nitty-gritty…
The New York music scene in the late 70s and early 80s is a favorite topic of mine. CBGBs and Max’s were the primary music venues, but a number of smaller clubs that catered to the art scene as well as the music scene made their mark on New York, such as Club 57 and The Mudd Club. This book…
Although I was unfamiliar with the work of playwright David Adjmi, I grabbed this book because I found the uniformly good reviews enticing, especially since the author grew up in the same obscure Brooklyn neighborhood that I did. Adjmi paints a very colorful portrait of Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community. Always feeling like an outsider in his own community, family, and…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Dental disorders are amongst the most common medical issues seen in cats. If unaddressed, dental problems can lead to a variety of consequences including bad breath, loose teeth, oral pain, and difficulty eating. Sometimes it can be challenging to tell if a cat is experiencing oral discomfort because cats by nature…
Although I’m far enough along in my street photography journey that this book should feel a little simplistic, it’s so well-written and filled with wisdom that I found it refreshing and inspiring. Broken into 20 small chapters, this book offers helpful tips and insightful philosophy regarding street photography. The premise of each chapter is supported with a few of the…
This book is a psychological thriller that didn’t leave me very thrilled at all. Jake and his girlfriend are driving to his parents’ farm, where Jake will introduce his girlfriend to his parents. His girlfriend has mixed feelings about Jake and spends much of her time ruminating on whether to break up with him. After the odd visit with the…
Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. My friends have heard me complain many times about my spouse’s loud snoring. A snoring cat, however, has never bothered me. My beloved cat Crispy, who died in 2017, was a notorious snorer. When she slept on the bed, I found her rhythmic respiratory sounds soothing and reassuring. If the environmental…
Dorothea Lange was an amazing photographer. She created many iconic images, such as White Angel Bread Line, One Nation Indivisible, and her most famous, Migrant Mother. Her Depression-era photographs were pioneering, and are especially incredible considering so few women were active in photography at that time. Her writing, however, has received much less attention, as have the textual descriptions and…
I’ve wanted to read this Baldwin classic for years, ever since visiting a popular gay bookstore in Philadelphia that named itself after the novel. A few months ago, I read a novel called Swimming in the Dark. In that book, the main characters bond over a shared love of the book. I finally hit The Strand and purchased the book. …