The business of being an artist

Originally published in the Journal Inquirer Friday, May 24, 2013
by Kristen J. Tsetsi

Jim Michaud / Journal Inquirer

Roger DiTarando works on a Sunburst in his shop. Photo by Jim Michaud / Journal Inquirer

One way to make an impressive amount of money in the art world after having the work embraced by the requisite discerning circles is to create enough product to distribute to galleries around the country (or, for the very in-demand artists, the world). Continue reading

Video games, violence, and addiction

Originally published in the Journal Inquirer Tuesday, May 14, 2013
by Kristen J. Tsetsi

When a person found guilty of a shockingly violent attack is discovered to be a frequent player of violent video games—or when a criminal such as confessed cop-killer Devin Moore says the “Grand Theft Auto” video game directly influenced his 2003 crime spree—an outraged public revives the sleeping debate about video games and their relationship with real-world violence. Continue reading

Aging is the most beautiful, life-affirming, wondrous, spiritual, uh…wondrous…

Aging as a woman is thrilling, exciting, invigorating, life-affirming, and super cool.  With my 39th birthday arriving on the first day of summer, I am finding myself ever-enthralled with the changes I’m seeing in my face, my hair, my skin, as I mature. Woo!

I’m just like Gwyneth Paltrow, who said, “I like being older. It’s nice to really know yourself and feel relaxed. And I actually think I look better now than I did when I was 24, so I’m very comfortable with myself.”

Exactly! I was hideous as a 20-something. Ask anyone. Almost-40 is the bomb diggety doo (or whatever the kids are saying now). Continue reading

New animal rescue with home environment saves otherwise unadoptable animals

Originally published in the Journal Inquirer Saturday, March 23, 2013
By Kristen J. Tsetsi

Dudley, one of Our Companions' adoptable dogs, was found in poor health in a cemetery in Bloomfield where his owner had abandoned him. Dudley was still waiting to be taken home (Jared Ramsdell / Journal Inquirer).

Dudley, one of Our Companions’ adoptable dogs, was found in poor health in a cemetery in Bloomfield where his owner had abandoned him. Dudley was still waiting to be taken home (Jared Ramsdell / Journal Inquirer).

Dogs tend to stay where their caretakers leave them, thinking they’ll come back to take them home. “It’s a little psychological thing,” Marie Joyner begins to explain before breaking into laughter over Dudley, a young dog at Our Companions animal rescue in Ashford, Conn.

Dudley is bouncing around with a tennis ball in his mouth. “He’s just a hoot,” she says.

Dudley was abandoned in a Bloomfield cemetery and was found — still waiting for his owner — in “bad shape,” says Joyner, the rescue center’s canine operations director. Continue reading