writing – mikesteinharter.com

All the Presidents (Are) Men

I realize that it’s obvious – all of the US Presidents have been men, and all but one have been white men. (tall white men.) I’m not sure that’s served us well. I think back on the Presidents who have been in office that I can recall having an opinion about. Nixon was clearly aContinue reading “All the Presidents (Are) Men”

Surrey

We said goodby to Surrey on February 3, 2026. She had been with us – as my son Will’s dog – since 2/11/12. She was a little over 14 years old. It has taken me several weeks to get up the courage to write this post. We have had many pets over the years. IContinue reading “Surrey”

Are we a heartless nation?

I have never thought so. I was brought up to believe that we – the USA – are not only the most powerful nation on earth, but also the one that takes care of the world. We spent billions in Africa, we ran to the defense of a multitude of peoples who we thought wereContinue reading “Are we a heartless nation?”

I’d like my parents back, please

Last year my kids gave me a couple of Christmas gifts that will last. My son gave me a book called Dad, I want to hear your story. It was filled with questions about my life and I spent months filling it in, as stories came to me. My daughter gave to my wife andContinue reading “I’d like my parents back, please”

The News

I have been a loyal subscriber to the NY Times for many years. When I lived in CT I got the NYTimes delivered to the house each morning. I would read it and the Wall St Journal every day on the way to work in NYC. The Times has always leaned left and the JournalContinue reading “The News”

Embarrassing

I’m reading a book called Quiet, by Susan Cain. It is a study of introverts and extroverts. Susan is an introvert. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking book. In the current chapter she discusses how people react to being embarrassed. No surprise that introverts take it a lot harder than extroverts, who tend to shrug thingsContinue reading “Embarrassing”

All Solutions Are Local

I’ve never been more frustrated, reading the national news each morning. I think Trump and his sycophantic group of unqualified losers are causing so much damage to our country – and it’s reputation worldwide – that it will be irrecoverable. The question I wrestle with is what to do about it. I’m not going toContinue reading “All Solutions Are Local”

Have I reinvented myself?

Someone said recently that I have reinvented myself. It was a comment based on a posting I made recently on LinkedIn that I have just joined the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Maine. I thought about it, and think he may actually be right. I spent 40 years in the corporate world, leadingContinue reading “Have I reinvented myself?”

Steve

Steve is a chicken. She (yes, Steve is a she) is the black one in this photo, taken when we still had several chickens. This is the story of Steve. My wife likes chickens. Something about them makes her feel good. She had a big chicken coop made outside our home, and even a bigContinue reading “Steve”

College Reunion

I’m 65 years old. I’ve been out of college for 44 years, having graduated in 1981. I went to Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire. It’s a great school, one of the best in the world, academically. It’s also a wonderful place to spend four years, and I would do it all again if IContinue reading “College Reunion”