It came to me this morning. I finally understand Donald Trump and his appeal to the poorly educated among up. Donald Trump is … wait for it … Dando Shaft. Back in the mid 1960s, writer Don Calhoun created a character who was an advertising man looking for a short cut to riches and fame. …
“Life is full of surprises.” That’s a phrase many of us have heard — or even said — from time to time. I found myself wondering if anyone was famous for saying it, and I found two famous men who were credited with it in recent years. One was British Prime Minister John Major and …
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no …
“The world is made for people who aren’t cursed with self awareness.” I always thought that was one of the best lines from one of my favorite movies. Susan Sarandon nearly always played memorable characters, and Annie Savoy in “Bull Durham” was one of the best. I saw it at one of the least stressful …
Repressed anger is one of life’s nasty surprises Read More »
“Up until the 1950s, American children yearned for adulthood. When their time came to be adults, they stepped into the role proudly, leaving childhood behind and taking up the mantles of responsibility, honor and dignity. They embraced and championed the ideals of those who came before them while valiantly tackling new ideas and problems that …
In our toxic political century, we’ve been hearing a lot about the Original Intent of the Founding Fathers, who we now just call the Founders (even though they were all men). Original Intent is important to conservatives, who seem to believe that such wonderful things happened in the late 18th Century that we should do …
When historians study the inaugural addresses delivered by presidents either taking office or continuing in office, they look for memorable themes and phrases. Perhaps the most memorable — and the most tragic — was on March 4, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln spoke just before the end of the Civil War about putting things back together. …
In the course of nearly 25 years of school, I managed to come across some teachers with some odd gimmicks. In the mid ’70s, when I was trying to get my mojo back taking some junior college courses, I signed up for Sociology 101 and met a teacher who gave the final exam on the …
I wrote this about 10 years ago and came across it recently. I’m reposting it because it may have been the very best action I took in my entire career and it made a real difference in someone’s life. I wrote the other day about my two years in Greeley, Colorado, and what they meant …
I never understood the logic behind remaking movies. Oh, I understand it from a financial standpoint. If a movie is popular, then a remake of it has a built-in audience. And there is certainly a history of some great stories being told again and again in Old Hollywood — “Quo Vadis,” “The Four Feathers,” even …
