Schrödinger’s Baby
SENTENCED A life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences. Schrödinger’s Baby WRITTEN BY RJ JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA JACOBS THE PROMPT The following is a one-sentence short story by Lydia Davis: “At a certain point in her life, she realises it is not so much that […]
A Water Shortage in Our Future?
PERSONALITIES BY: BRAD ROGERS A Water Shortage in Our Future? Currently, about 90 percent of the state is suffering drought conditions. Here in Ocala, we are in a declared “extreme drought.” The U.S. Census Bureau just announced last week that the Ocala is the fastest growing metro area in the United States. For the second […]
All Hail The Neighborhood Market
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH All Hail The Neighborhood Market WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER In a town eager for something good, sometimes joy shows up in the dairy aisle. Make no mistake, Ocala’s new Walmart Neighborhood Market looms large in our lives. From the day the “Coming Soon” sign appeared, the WNM – as the cool […]
Ways to Know Your Home is in Ocala
TEN THINGS BY: DAVID MOORE 10 Ways You Know Your House is in Ocala You use your air conditioning and heat in the same day. Go figure. Golf carts roll through your neighborhood even though you don’t live in a country club. Perhaps you live in the Ocala Historic District or in Woodfields? Your roof […]
Sentenced March 2026
SENTENCED A life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences. A Very Handsome Piece WRITTEN BY RJ JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA JACOBS THE PROMPT This setting description appears in Jane Austen’s beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice: “The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. […]
Hogs, Steers, and Tomorrow’s Leaders
PERSONALITIES BY: BRAD ROGERS Hogs, Steers, and Tomorrow’s Leaders The Southeastern Youth Fair is a community treasure. “It teaches the kids,” Sackrider said. “It turned my life around when I went to the Youth Fair.” For 85 years, the SEYF has showcased Marion County’s agriculture heft and, over that time, has grown into a remarkable […]
The Sound of My Own Voice
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH The Sound of My Own Voice WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER The problem with having so many great stories to tell Amy and I sat at the kitchen table, rubbing our temples, sighing and discussing how — as in how in the freakin’ world?? — will we pay for the private, out-of-state […]
10 Things To Love About Ocala
TEN THINGS BY: DAVID MOORE 10 Things to Love About Ocala A Thriving DowntownDowntown Ocala continues to grow with new restaurants, new businesses, a second and third hotel in the works and a second parking garage. There is always something new, it seems! Great OutdoorsTake advantage of our temperate weather to enjoy the great outdoors […]
The Minds Own Reckoning
WRITTEN BY: R.J. JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY: JOSHUA JACOBS The Minds Own Reckoning A life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences The prompt: This sentence appears in Alice Munro’s 2009 collection of short stories, Too Much Happiness: “In your life there are a few places, or maybe only […]
Explosive Growth is Here to Stay
PERSONALITIES BY: BRAD ROGERS Explosive Growth is Here to Stay Marion County was the fastest growing metro area in the land last year Road capacity is not keeping up. Schools are scrambling to provide enough classrooms. A reassessment of our water supply is always on the back burner. The Census Bureau reported last month that […]
The Writing is on the Wall
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH The Writing is on the Wall WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER A sobering look at the emotional weight modern teens shoulder, revealed through sticky notes. To be sure, I had my share of bullies and broken hearts in high school. I was a twig of a kid sifting through ample peer pressure […]
10 Things: Resolutions You’ll Actually Enjoy Doing This Year
TEN THINGS BY: DAVID MOORE 10 Resolutions You’ll Actually Enjoy Doing This Year. You can do it! Make Something. Make some cookies to share or bake some bread. Try a new recipe for a weekend dinner. Take a pottery class, repot a plant, or try a new craft. Take a break from all things digital […]
Sentenced: January 2026
SENTENCED WRITTEN BY: R.J. JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Picking Up The Pieces …in which a life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences THE PROMPTThese sentences appear in Toni Morrison’s Beloved: “She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, […]
Personalities: January 2026
PERSONALITIES BY: BRAD ROGERS Tom Petty Found His Distiny in Ocala “Elvis in Ocala, Tom Petty Inspired” A historic marker will be installed at the corner of Silver Springs Boulevard and Osceola Road. “He stepped out radiant as an angel,” Petty remembered in a 2007 interview. “He seemed to walk above the ground. It was […]
Hold My Beer
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH Hold My Beer WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER A treadmill arrives, a button flees, and middle age dares me to do something about it. We officially have become THOSE people. That is to say, we now have a treadmill. In our house. And I am pleased to say, there is no laundry […]
Forgiveness, A Life’s Sentence
WRITTEN BY: R.J. JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Forgiveness, A Life’s Sentence …in which a life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences The promptThis sentence appears in Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner: “I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded; not with the fanfare of […]
Animal House
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH Animal House In a home ruled by a Golden Doodle and two feline overlords, one man chronicles life under the paw. WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER “Wait until he sits down. Wait. Wait. Go! You snag the paper towel, and I’ll take the utility bill. Remember, do NOT get down until he […]
10 Things: Local Gift Ideas for the Holidays
BY: DAVID MOORE 10 Things: Local Gift Ideas for the Holidays We’re all about the local here ar Mosaic, so naturally we wanted to offer up an awesome local holiday gift list for our December issue. Anyone can go shop online for stuff, but we wanted to offer some gift ideas and experiences that are […]
Confessions of a Wedding Photographer
LITTLE MAN, BIG MOUTH Confessions of a Wedding Photographer (and Recovering Best Man) WRITTEN BY DAVE SCHLENKER After witnessing countless wedding toasts go sideways — including his own — a seasoned photographer offers tips for keeping your speech off the blooper reel In addition to writing about cat vomit and ear hair, I also am […]
10 Things: Osceola Middle School Centennial Celebration
By: David Moore
Nov. 25 issue
A Human, an AI, and One Perfect Sentence Walk into a Paragraph
WRITTEN BY: R.J. JENKINS ILLUSTRATION BY: JOSHUA JACOBS A Human, an AI, and One Perfect Sentence Walk into a Paragraph …in which a life-long lover of books—and especially, sentences—responds to ChatGPT’s answers to his questions about books—and especially, sentences The promptThis sentence appears at the start of chapter 5 of Edith Wharton’s novel, The House […]
Our Brand Is In Crisis
BY: BRAD ROGERS Our Brand is in Crisis College football is serious business in Florida. So, when its two largest state schools, the University of Florida and Florida State University, are not living up to what is known as “the standard” on the football field — that is, winning big and often and occasionally bringing […]