We swam in the ocean and pulled crab from the brackish waters of a tidal creek; walked along the marshes and watched the flight of big, graceful birds. The draw of the sea is powerful, but perhaps because I was formed of dust and not of sand, no amount of salt and sun, nor even … More Across the Great Empty – Part 2
“From the mountains to the sea,Where her rivers roll.There I ever long to be,O my heart; my soul;” These are the words of Robert Loveman from his poem, “Georgia,” which, along with the music of Lollie Belle Wylie, formed the official anthem of the State of Georgia before 1979. The words have always spoken to … More Across The Great Empty – Part 1
Are you still reluctantly crouched at the starting line of the age of information and technology? No, it’s not a race if you choose not to run. However, though you may still be, for example, quite content with your 1998 Craftsman riding mower, your repair guy only wants to work on a brand new zero … More Reluctantly Crouched at the Starting Line
We honored our mothers this weekend past, and for those of us fortunate to have them with us, it was an opportunity to embrace the moments we can still share. The rest of us honored the devotion and sacrifice of the women who gave us life, and the memories we cherish. I am of the … More The Wheel Turns
When I was a young lad we moved to Chicken City on a rainy day in May. Our house was on a hill in a quiet neighborhood that, looking back, resembled Mayberry, North Carolina in many ways. At the end of that memorable day spent exploring the new house and its mysterious basement, the wooded … More My Favorite Window
”This tuber is insipid and mealy. It cannot be classed among the agreeable foodstuffs. But it furnishes abundant and rather wholesome nutrition to men who are content to be nourished. It is justly regarded as flatulent, but what are winds to the vigorous organs of peasants and laborers?” So wrote Denis Diderot of the humble … More Content to be Nourished
Here’s the premise: Massive infrastructure and spending bills generally do not help ordinary people as much as they facilitate the transfer of wealth from average incomes, through corporate entities and into the hands of the wealthy. which exacerbates rather than relieves economic and social ills. After two terms under Franklin Delano Roosevelt and massive New … More Change My Mind
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Are you spending too much time on social media? Here’s a quick fix: Ignore anything that didn’t originate with the sender. My incomplete, biased and unscientific study of the matter predicts that this would eliminate 95% of what you see on facebook or twitter, and free … More The Bonfire of Vanity
After the recent upgrade of my Windows operating system, Cortana suggested lightening up on the cream cheese I was spreading on my bagel, or switching to a low fat variety. I asked her how she knew, since I don’t use Cortana for shopping, but she said she didn’t understand the question. I think the refrigerator … More If Everything You Say Is True, I’d Have to Agree
If you’re one of the good people who still watch The Andy Griffith Show, you might get invited to our barbecue. This classic television series remains one of my favorite diversions, and a lonesome reminder that television is capable of doing some good. It stands in stark contrast to the snark, meanness and debauchery waiting … More You Ain’t Seen The Last Of Ernest T. Bass
