Category: January 2010

  • WHO CHANGED THE RULES?

    My breakfast was interrupted this morning by a report from Washington that Peter Orszag, the Budget Director for President Obama, had fathered a baby child out of wedlock.  He reports that the little child, a girl, is a beautiful creature.  It was also confirmed that during the pregnancy of his girlfriend, Mr. Orszag was romancing…

  • EVERYONE GOT HONORABLE MENTION

    As a general proposition, by the time my essays have been dictated and reread twice in the proofreading process, I grow sick of them and want them to be completed and mailed.  In the last series of essays, I thought that two or three of them were worthwhile.  One of them had to do with…

  • COJONES

    Within the next few days, Barack Obama will celebrate his first year in the office of the presidency of the United States.  I suppose the media will make this anniversary something to remember.  If I may be excused, I would like to add the words of an old essayist to the batch of communications that…

  • CAPTAIN BELL’S INNATE DECENCY

    This is an essay about my military career which ended about 65 years ago.  The essay will necessarily record the incompetence of the United States Army but at the same time will celebrate the decency of one commissioned officer.  This essay is being recorded at this time prior to my brain delivering a “don’t answer”…

  • BLOWING SMOKE RINGS

    Let me take you back perhaps 25 years when it seemed to me that almost everyone smoked cigarettes.  Cigarettes require fire at their tips.  The fire may be provided by a cigarette lighter, or by a kitchen match, and it can also be provided by matches contained in a small packet that fits precisely in…

  • THE AL GORE SEPARATION

    In recent weeks Al Gore, the former vice-president, and his wife Tipper announced that they are going to be separated after 40 years of marriage.  This has set the news hawks and news hens to digging for details as to why the Gores are ending their marriage after such a long time.  I will have…

  • ABIDING CONCLUSIONS

    The title to this essay is a very practical one. The “abiding” part has to do with some thoughts that have remained in my brain for the better part of 80 years. The “conclusion” part has to do with these statements which allow no room for debate. And, finally, you will be surprised to know…