-
SHOOTING ONESELF IN ONE’S OWN FEETS
A scholar casually reading the title to this essay may conclude that it is not in accordance with the King’s English or at least the King James version of the English language. But if you will bear with me, I will try to explain to the doubters why I contend that we are shooting ourselves…
-
A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT RICHNESS AND POORNESS
Jacob Cohen was a well-known personality who once offered the thought that “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor; and believe me, rich is better.” I hope that there is no disagreement from my readers as to the wisdom of Mr. Cohen’s remarks. The fact is that the honorable Mr. Cohen was known as a…
-
AUNT MARY CHICKA, REST IN PEACE
Two deaths took place yesterday, December 18. Because the Earth turns from east to west, the first death took place in North Korea. The dictator there, Kim Jong-il, aged 69, died. The civilized world was not impressed by the passing of the North Korean dictator. As might be expected, the North Koreans have required public…
-
ABJECT HATRED AND/OR THE GASEOUS ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
My parents had eight children, five of whom grew to maturity. Only one of them was troubled by vindictiveness to a degree of unpleasant hatred. If a major league hitter knocked out four balls out of five, it would be considered a phenomenon. Now consider this: I was in the American Army for a few…
-
THE WEINER AFFAIR AND AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM
This essay is being written after Anthony Weiner resigned from Congress. In his disgrace, former Congressman Weiner has earned a bit of admiration on my part. For the past day or two, it has been obvious that former Congressman Weiner had no choice but to resign from Congress. Resigning from his Congressional seat is one…
-
PETERING OUT WITH HURRICANE IRENE
I am dictating these lines in the early afternoon of September 4. Today is Sunday and so far it seems to be a peaceful day. I cite the peace and quiet of this Sunday as contrasted with the multitude of problems that existed just one week ago when Hurricane Irene was upon us. It would…
-
THE PHILANDERER’S CUP RACE
A few weeks back when Herman Cain was still in the race for the Presidential nomination, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain sat down for what was laughingly called a debate among themselves. Actually it was not a debate at all but a mutual admiration society. Given the facts of the matter about their past philandering,…
-
NEWS OF “LA OUTHOUSE”
You may recall that the large house across the street from this residence installed an outhouse some 16 or 17 months ago on their front lawn. During that period of time, the outhouse became beloved by delivery men, the postman, and my friends and relatives. The sad fact of the matter is that on November…
-
WHO PUT THE SUGAR INTO THE CORNBREAD?
Lillie Carr was my mother, who observed the rules of rural speech and of rural cooking. She was a good woman who has now been deceased for 50 years. She was always one of my defenders, and while I was in the Army she kept a blue star in the window of her living room. …
-
WARM WEATHER
During my enlistment in the United States Army, it was my fortune to wind up spending an inordinate time with the forces of the British Empire. I did not care much for the big shots such as Jumbo Wilson, he being of the rank of general or admiral. On the other hand, I tended to…