Author Archives: Aya Katz

About Aya Katz

Aya Katz is the administrator of Pubwages. When she is not busy administering, she sometimes also writes posts like a regular user.

The Art of Conversation

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Aya Katz

There is an art to brilliant conversation. It is more than each person talking in turn. It is more than showing courtesy to your interlocutor, pausing when needed, and listening just as much as you speak. Real conversations, the ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Child Rearing, Education: Teaching and Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Reciprocity and Turn Taking in Love

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Aya Katz

No love is selfless. Love is its own reward and is tied directly to the reward center of the brain, Continue reading →

Posted in Apes and Language, Opinion Pieces and Editorials, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where Have All the Nannies Gone? A Review of Saving Mr. Banks

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Aya Katz

Ultimately both Disney and Travers were conflicted and inconsistent. He enjoyed great business success, but put out movies that pandered to the foes of industry and free trade. She wanted to hold on to her artistic purity, but did not realize that only money could set her free to do that. All in all, it’s still a very optimistic movie. Why? Because the Sherman brothers wrote great songs! They showed both sides of the coin equally well. Continue reading →

Posted in Composers, Money, Movies and Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Is It For Children?

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Aya Katz

As an author, and also as a reader, I have a problem with genre in general. My books do not fit squarely into any given genre, because basically they are all about the same thing: my view of life. It … Continue reading →

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Hayao Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises: For Children or Not?

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Aya Katz

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film is a biography, based on the true life story of Jiro Horikoshi, (堀越 二郎), the man who designed the Zero fighter used by the Japanese during World War II. This may be Miyazaki’s last film, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies and Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Songs of Slavery

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Aya Katz

Songs of Slavery Slavery, as a human institution, has existed since time immemorial. It is sanctioned in the Bible and was practiced by the Greeks and the Romans. It was prevalent in medieval eastern Europe, and it was even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion Pieces and Editorials, Politics and Philosophy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Buy Tahini Sesame Paste Online

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Aya Katz

In a recent visit, my mother prepared tahini for us, and I wrote about it on my food blog, The Feast Before Us. Here is my mother’s recipe, with directions and even a demonstration: Tahini recipe This particular recipe, the one … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Eating and Cooking, Vegan food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lobbying the Madisons: Letters to James and Dolley

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Aya Katz

When the government has done us wrong, any attempt to seek redress is fraught with difficulty. Ironically, people find it much easier to ask for a handout or a government job or a special favor than to ask for justice. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion Pieces and Editorials, Politics and Philosophy, PubWages Staff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Meeting People Halfway: Detours in Communication

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Aya Katz

Most people agree that if you want to communicate with someone else, you have to meet him halfway. It’s all about give and take, and we have to be willing to do both. But what many people have never stopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Opinion Pieces and Editorials | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

An Interview with F.L. Light

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Aya Katz

F. L. Light is a poet, translator and dramatist. He is a prolific writer, and Amazon lists 65 of his works.  He also writes online, and two of his blogs can be found here: Solopassion and The Eleutherian Laureate. I recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments