DECEMBER 11, 2012 3:23PM

The Arab Spring Ends in North Dakota

As our president is considering sending more and more troops to kill or be killed in the Big Sandbox, the end of Arab and Muslim hegemony is here in the badlands of North Dakota.   Enough oil is being drilled and hauled on tank cars (they don't have a pipeline yet, and… Read full post »

I am 5'5" tall and weigh far much more than I should.  I served my time in the Army and I walk every day to the veteran's club because it is closer to my house than anything else, and long ago  I fell in love with the barmaid.

There is plenty… Read full post »

APRIL 21, 2012 12:06PM

Life with Mauser

My roommate is a large, assertive cat.  We have been thrown out of better places, but now he shares my humble flat a few blocks from the mighty Mississippi.  I have earned my cat food through teaching on line courses and I am surprised to find that so many people on… Read full post »

FEBRUARY 18, 2012 7:31PM

No More Fish on Friday

I never minded Fish on Friday...I am a New Englander and enjoy seafood.  Then they got rid of Mass in Latin, which had a different pronunciation than we had in high school.  Somewhere along the line Limbo was dropped and you never heard of Purgatory any more.   My dad was Episcopa… Read full post »

FEBRUARY 10, 2012 10:50PM

The Last Open Anything

I used to comment on many of the timely articles posted in Salon.  As an old curmudgeon sitting at home watching  TV with my cat, this is a time-honored pastime, dating back to the days of writing crank letters to the editor.   Alas, after three years of contributing, Salon won't… Read full post »

MAY 3, 2011 11:51AM

Not So Bad a May Day

Well, the Brits married off Prince Willy, the Canucks have a real government with a majority and the Paks stood by while we bumped off their stooge Bin Laden. It probably would have been done easier with a hit man, but he's gone. Next time send the Crips… Read full post »

MARCH 23, 2011 6:38PM

SHEEN IN 2012

Everybody who is somebody has a secret wish to see Charlie Sheen elected President of the United States.   Not a bad idea, at all.   Here's the clincher, Bree Olson as First Lady....Move aside, Carla Bruni Sarkozy.   There is another Goddess, but she will be relegated to… Read full post »

MARCH 11, 2011 10:12AM

The Last Refuge of Dilettantes

Our society rejoices and strives to keep up with the latest advances in technology.   We key the success of our economy with technology savvy, and count our success with our mastery of technology.  Except for one group.  Lawyers.   With the exception of patent law, attor… Read full post »

FEBRUARY 19, 2011 7:41PM

The Slow Death of High Speed Rail

Uncle Sam is handing out a cool 50 billion to the states for high speed rail passenger service with no takers (Maine and Vermont, I think, are still in the loop).  I guess it is easier to cut out something that isn't yet in place than to cut existing services---like Essential… Read full post »

DECEMBER 13, 2010 9:35AM

The Upper House

Friends from Canada or Europe are truly surprised that the Democratic party has elected a president and has--for the nonce--a majority in both houses, and can't get much passed.  Even more surprising is the fact that one senator can block the passage of a law, and it takes a supermajority to… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 21, 2010 2:51PM

Get On the Bus, Gus

With Thanksgiving traffic rush upon us, would-be flyers are confronted with the same old mess at TSA checkpoints, not to mention the new improvements of X-rays, feel-em-up enhancements, and body imaging.  This may or may not make us safer, but it does take more time doing uncomfortable thins bef… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 12, 2010 10:24AM

The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

As movie theatres are touting a railroad action film called "Unstoppable", the aftermath of the 2010 elections is that rail travel is stoppable indeed.

In the week following Election Day the newly elected governors in Wisconsin and Ohio have told the Transportation Department to take that money and s… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 3, 2010 3:57PM

I Kinda Thought There Was a War

The election is over with mixed results.  Somewhere off stage men and women are killing and being killed and  huge amounts of money are being borrowed from our Chinese bankers to support an expeditionary force in countries where we are not wanted and have no business (except, I suppose, the… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 5, 2009 6:03PM

GIBLET??

Well, originally it was Gay,Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans something.  Now they are adding new acronyms.  This is worse than the Army, or politically correct "learning centers' in the colleges (former libraries).  Just dream up some sort of new acronym and let the rest of the English speakin… Read full post »