Issue of April 6, 2009

Backyard Astronomy: What's Up April 2009 by Cheryl Haimann — Astronomy Venus Mercury Lyrids

Mercury is visible and Venus is not (briefly, anyway), and a meteor shower keeps you company in between.

Offshore: Book Review by Wendy Robards — Book review "Offshore"

Wendy Robards reviews the book, "Offshore" by Penelope Fitzgerald.

That's Not Our Car by Barry Udoff — Cover story essay humor cars family

To an outsider, his off beat taste in cars might have pegged him as an eccentric, or else a guy in desperate need of attention. Father was neither.

Transitions 08 by Sand Pilarski — Fiction family relationships

Drama at school, drama at home ... the only thing left is to go outside and take a walk. But good luck with that, with a monster storm raging.

Australia: Now With Twice the Neurotoxin! by Dan H. Woods — Humor column essay "Australia" snakes spiders

Keep the money, Dan H. Woods says send lawyers, guns, and anti-venom in yet another column about the land down under.

Peek of the Week 189 by Jon Renaut — Photo art

Stained glass windows in Sainte Chapelle, in Paris, France.

Epic by Mel Trent — Poem, unrhymed

Mel Trent presents a poem about that evergreen quest.

Strange Bedfellows 03 by Lydia Manx — Serial fiction horror vampires mature content

Natasha is full of worries and irritation at the upcoming wedding, which could turn out to be a deadly fiasco -- until she gets a call from a certain someone ...

A Case of Amnesia by Dan Mulhollen — Short fiction

Confronted with an unexpected event, do we step forward to embrace the adventure -- or is it better to remain safe?