What’s the one thing that has the greatest effect on a president’s popularity that he has least effect on? That’s easy. Gas prices. A little more than two years ago — at the depths of COVID-19 — I was able to fill my gas tank for less than $20. I didn’t find myself praising Donald …
LOOK FOR THE REAL REASONS GAS PRICES ARE SO HIGH Read More »
“One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. …
I don’t think I could ever have more respect for anyone than I do for the men who made up the first wave hitting Omaha Beach in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. When they went ashore at 0630. they had to know their life span was measured in minutes rather than years. Indeed, …
OMAHA BEACH LANDING FILLS ME WITH FEELING OF AWE Read More »
“long ago, I used to be a young man …” I love that line from Michael Peter Smith’s lovely song, “The Dutchman.” It’s a song that has been covered many times people and groups as varied as Liam Clancy, Jerry Jeff Walker and Celtic Thunder. The line is from the chorus of a song about …
PETERS’ ‘CORNFIELD’ BRINGS BACK GREELEY MEMORIES Read More »
A rotting, maggot-infested corpse? A seriously wounded man with a gangrenous leg that will require amputation? An old woman slipping further and further into dementia? There are doubtless other metaphors that would work, but all three of the above describe at least partially America 2022. A dozen or so years back, a historian in Russia …
Comedian Tim Wilson was interacting with his audience. “Youngster, did you play Little League?” The young man shook his head no. “What? You a puss?” For some reason, that was what came to mind when I heard about the disgraceful performance by the Uvalde police department while 19 children were being murdered in their classroom. …
NOT A WHOLE LOT FOR UVALDE POLICE TO BE PROUD OF Read More »
“On Tuesday morning, at least 19 children’s parents woke them up and helped them brush their teeth, fed them breakfast, made sure they had their little backpacks packed. They held their children’s small hands as they walked or drove them to school. Those children were alive when their parents waved to them and handed them …
“Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it’s the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth.” So sayeth Ted Cruz of Texas in response to a British journalist asking why the U.S. doesn’t do anything about guns in the light of more and more school shootings that don’t …
“I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” — ERIC “OTTER” STRATTON Ever since the first time I saw “Animal House” in 1978, it has been one of my two or three favorite movies Friends and acquaintances who know me as a serious, mature adult …
Did you hear about the horrible school shooting in Australia? Or the one in Scotland? What about the one in British Columbia? And of course the massacre in Belgium? If you say you did, you’re either lying or delusional. Kids in those countries and most others have parents who love them enough to make sure …
