Why The Founding Fathers Matter to Americans
Founding Fathers
Young people tell me I'm out of touch for believing in the American Founding Fathers. I'm told…
Author
Journey to a Protest
Journey to a Protest
I went to a Black Lives Matter rally at the University of Arizona. OK, so did many others.…
A Heartfelt Birthday Present
A Heartfelt Birthday Present
Many of you know the story of Paddington Bear, the bear found in Paddington…
Mr. Carson of Downton Abbey and My Library Visit
Mr. Carson of Downton Abbey
I’ve written before about Downton Abbey and my favorite character, the butler Mr.…
John Cleese and Eric Idle Come to Tucson
John Cleese and Eric Idle Come to Tucson
Those who know me, know I’m a major fan of Monty Python. In the Spring,…
An Olympic Presidential Election
An Olympic Presidential Election
I didn’t think I would be writing the essay, but the words on this page prove…
A Jewish Mother in Rwanda?
A Jewish Mother in Rwanda
I grew up around Jewish mothers and worry. I remember a Mad Magazine skit from…
Father, Why Must I Learn English?
Why Must I Learn English?
No, not for me. English is my first language (OK, I sort of lied, Brooklynese is).…
Trump vs Sanders
Trump vs Sanders
This may or may not happen in the general election for 2016, but my silly sense of humor, with…
The Journey of Bernie Sanders
“Grandpa, you promised to take me out on Lake Champlain. Why are you running for President?”
The Trump Cabinet
I was watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and a terrible thought crossed what passes for my mind
Trump’s New Year Fights
Trump's New Year Fights
It's a New Year, there are new Donald fights. Again, I am leaning more toward silly,…
A Rwandan Genocide Survival Story
Rwandan Genocide Survival
Picture a mountainous nation that is supposed to be beautiful. It's known as “The Land…
The Romans Lose in the Teutoburg Forest
Teutoburg Forest
I had heard of Boris Johnson before I started reading his books. I read his Churchill book, and…
The South African Weapon of Mass Destruction
South African Weapon of Mass Destruction
It's not the atomic or hydrogen bomb. It's something more insidious. It…
Trump Skewering the American Presidential Race
Trump Skewering the American Presidential Race
This essay turned out to be more serious than originally…
Smack-down of a Thirteen-year-old Girl
An inquisitive thirteen-year-old and an older woman, who isn't wiser
The Wind in the Reeds
The Wind in the Reeds: If you don't know who Wendell Pierce is, first watch HBO's The Wire and Treme and read this…
The Chicago Cubs Must Not Be Allowed to Win the W. Series
One hundred and seven years since the last World Series victory
Be Yourself
Be Yourself
You've probably read this in many different places, but I'm giving you my take on it. I'm not sure…
You Have No Legal Residence Here, Move On!
No Legal Residence
I saw this chilling line in the Hidden Pope about Pope John II's childhood friend Jerzy…
Inventing While Islamic
Inventing While Islamic
Fourteen-year-old Ahmed Mohamed invents a clock. When does the high school celebrate…
When You are Wealthy…
When You Are Wealthy: Salon Magazine had an article about the United States heading the way of the end of the…
A Male Yankee Slob’s Look at Downton Abbey
I am a Yank, but I am also an Anglophile. I enjoy things British
Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom
I just read a chilling article in the Atlantic, called The Coddling of the American Mind.…
Ashley Madison
Meeting and having chemistry may or not be deliberate. Ashley Madison can be nothing but deliberate.
Eastern Europeans Should Be Fans of The New York Mets
Fans of The New York Mets
I grew up as a fan of the “other” baseball team in New York City. You know…
Trump as Julius Caesar?
Trump as Julius Caesar?
I'm not sure how he'd look in a toga. No, I am not sleep-deprived or sillier than usual.…
Cecil: A Lion with a Name
Cecil: A Lion with a Name
Why do people care about Cecil? Lots of lions and other wildlife are killed in Africa,…
A More Disciplined United States?
A More Disciplined United States?
Much of this will be a “Do as I say, not as I did.” Negative experiences can…
More on South Carolina and The Confederate Battle Flag
African-Americans and whites protesting outside the South Carolina State House
Will Greece be Given a Grexit?
Will Greece be Given a Grexit?
I wondered if I were a misbehaving state, could I be thrown out? South Carolina was…
What’s in a Flag?
What's in a Flag?
I'm starting with a disclaimer. As with many television programs saying you may be offended,…
Poverty in the United States
Poverty in the United States
I just finished reading 'Hand to Mouth' by Linda Tirado. Her original essay went…
General George S. Patton Murdered or Killed in Accident?
General George S. Patton Murdered or Killed in Accident?
This was interesting to write about, with the Seventieth…
My Cat is Eating me
My Cat is Eating me
It was 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning. My well-earned rest from a week at work was disturbed…
A Cat Named Yerbie
I would try to read, and he would come up on my lap. Trying to write? Forget about it
Some New Immigrants to Boston
People would call in saying, the snowdrift was a 'Gronk' and a half high
Welcome to Castle Belichick
Castle Belichick
The New York Times Magazine cover story on Super Bowl Sunday was about Tom Brady.
The…
The Future of American Football
My take on American Football and the issues I would like to cover
The 2024 Summer Olympics, Will They Be Banned in Boston?
The 2024 Summer Olympics
2024 Summer Olympics in Boston? Boston is now the United States finalist for the 2024…
A Silly Look at Monty Python’s Life of Brian
Isn’t this an oxymoron? Maybe, but look at this essay as a silly movie review.
Manspreading?!
Manspreading
Manspreading?! - I will begin with the serious part, but most of this will be sarcastic. This New…
The DNA of Richard III
The DNA of Richard III
Even with my interest in English History, I never developed that much interest in Richard…
Policing in the United States
One major discussion has been about racial profiling. I can now safely tell you I have been profiled
The Chicago Cubs Might Win the World Series!
The Chicago Cubs haven't won the World Series for more than a century
Citizens Arrests Gone Mad
It was a bright sunny day in Mesa Verde, though Diana Sanchez, dispatcher extraordinaire was fielding some very…
Ask Your Mother
"Ask your mother," Anastase said softly. "Mom will say no," he wailed. I burst out laughing
How Anastase Broke Himself
My Rwandan friend Anastase and I have started working on his biography. This is from a few years ago
A Silly Look at Paris
A Paris Obstacle Course for Americans. This is meant to be a modern, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad type look at…
The Making of U.S. Citizen Anastase
The first reaction when you tell people you have to go to court is “What did you do? Or is it for jury duty?”
L.A. Story
L.A. Story: Mr. Charton, aren’t you a little old to be going to Hollywood? If I had been stopped by LAPD for any…
How to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket.
Anastase was driving back home, so his youngest son, eight year old Cadeau could take his shower and go to his…
A Cobra Called Cleopatra
Cleopatra inhabits the reptile house at the Bronx Zoo. She is young, and found out the Bronx is not a glamorous…
China, You’re Fired!
The first act is what he said in the interview. A 25% tax on all Chinese goods coming here. We are defaulting on…
The Revenge of The Chicago Bears…
...or The Illinois Wisconsin Border War.
What is going on with the protests in Wisconsin is serious. I could not…
The Battle Of Southie
The Battle Of Southie
September 12th, 1974:
Ray Lynch thought he’d seen enough conflict in Vietnamese Rice…
What’s a Girl Gotta Do to Get a Guy in this Town?
What’s a Girl Gotta Do
(With apologies to country singer Joe Nichols)
The administrator of Cottonwood Assisted…
Meeting With Susi Baldwin
Meeting With Susi Baldwin
The story of Susi Baldwin begins for me in January 1976, a cold January. It is the…
Kids Will be Kids
Kids Will be Kids
Phone calls to the Mesa Verde Police Department were normally about a cat up a tree, so two…