An American’s observations of a first time trip to France. It wasn’t too long ago that the idea of driving in Europe was on par with sky diving; everything is in a language I don’t understand, how do you get gas (in the usual manner?), the driving habits and traffic laws are different, maybe the …
An American’s observations of a first time trip to France. “Travel is not a reward for working, it’s education for living.” ~ Anthony Bourdain We hit the first traffic of any consequence on the eastern fringes of Quimper. Quimper advertises itself as a village, but with a population of 64,000, I feel l have to …
“I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It’s essential to cement @realDonaldTrump’s agenda and the Golden Age of America. I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state.” ~ Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, on X in April of 2026. As one can plainly tell, Marsha Blackburn is a true …
With sincere apologies to Christmas, Thanksgiving, May Day and all the other days of note, I think that Independence Day is the most important of the American holidays. It isn’t about the fireworks (we don’t have a local display anyway), or the flags, the patriotic music, or the hotdogs and apple pie. Hold on. Let’s …
Headlight glowin’The cars hurry pastJust like the yearsAre flowin’ so fastIf I can get there I know I’ll be warmThe ackin’ in my bones will soon be gonelAnd I journey back to Tonopah I’ve got a caffeine buzz from a giant coffee, a sugar high from the biggest apple fritter in the coffee joint’s display …
You walk in reverence, overwhelmed by the sheer number of white markers that shine bright in the midday sun. At Arlington the gravestones go on and on until they disappear over a short rise and continue on, unseen. On a sweltering July day in Gettysburg they march in lines from the bright unrelenting sun, to …
An American’s observations of a first time trip to France. “Brittany has something of Ireland’s melancholy and Spain’s passion, with its cliffs like fortresses and its villages like sanctuaries.” ~ attributed to Victor Hugo. Every July, year upon year, almost without fail, I cruised the French countryside. I rumbled over the narrow cobblestone streets of …
An authoritarian has been toppled in Hungary. The rise and fall of Viktor Orban should provide a lesson for nations in the grip of authoritarians, and those struggling with creeping authoritarianism. And that especially goes for the United States. Viktor Orban was in power for sixteen consecutive years. His total stay in power was twenty …
In Washington Square Park the street bound are unfurling from their makeshift bedding, rubbing beards, stretching and shielding the morning sun from their eyes. Dogs are fetching balls on the green and in the shadow of St. Peter and Paul Church the Chinese matrons in colorful garb are practicing their Tai Chi. At venerable Original …
The signs of uncertain times. “. . . when a people or family so divide, it never fails to be against themselves.” ~ Federalist No. 4, John Jay. November 7, 1787. ” However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent …
The Life in My Years 