Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write? Joe Pluta: Now — historical fiction, especially short stories. In the past — nonfiction in the areas of history and economics. Scribe: What authors would you like to have coffee or a beer with and which beverage? JP: Living authors — Doris Kearns Goodwin, Naomi Klein, Philip Roth, […]

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OUR DREAMS? by Joseph E. Pluta Distant Echo Press 2015 Available at Amazon.com and CreateSpace eStore (click on photo to enlarge) Meet a man who in 1976 offers a compelling claim that he knows who really killed JFK, an African American janitor who in 1954 becomes the most beloved mentor at a […]

“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OUR DREAMS?” will be published shortly! A sneak preview: over 20 stories on topics ranging from youthful innocence to the mismanagement of dying universities. Set within various locations in the U. S. and in other countries. The stories are fictional…….. or maybe not so fictional. A touch of mystery, humor, and unique […]

The best colleagues I have ever had. What an outstanding Economics Department! It was an honor for me to be part of such a wonderful and accomplished group of friends. My sincere thanks to all of you: Jack Bucco, Leslie Blanke, Hilal Yilmaz, Bin Wang, Matt Clements. (Click on photo to see a closeup)    

Way to go, Des!! Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a gathering that honored my long time friend, Des Lawler. His book, WATER QUALITY ENGINEERING, was named one of the top four books published this past year by faculty in all departments at the University of Texas at Austin. Des holds an endowed chair in […]

Phased retirement (1/2 time) is pretty good; full retirement should be even better. It happens in 51 days but who’s counting? After 46 years of university teaching, it’s time. I am ready to begin a new life of having fun with family and friends as well as becoming a part of Mitt Romney’s 47%.  

In my research on American life during the Great Depression, I stumbled on a number of websites containing hundreds of posters produced by artists under Works Progress Administration (WPA) sponsorship. I am posting some of the more interesting of these here. Do notice the various causes advocated and the points of view expressed. Such posters […]

In 1947, my Dad’s eight-year-old Packard broke down in a blizzard just outside the gas station and café in the first old photo below. I grew up nearby because, by a unique stroke of fate, the owner was selling a farm that my parents would buy. Years later, I learned that John Dillinger had frequented […]

As promised in an earlier post, here are my favorite films of all time. I found every single one of these to be inspirational in one way or another. Obviously, the title of my memoir, “The Best Six Years of Any Life”, was “borrowed” from the 1946 movie of the year. The final movie on […]