All across America people are dancing in the streets while others are decrying the end of country they love. In case you missed it this past Thursday the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rendered a 5-4 decision to uphold the “Affordable Care Act.” The details of the ruling are complex and shoot down the President’s argument this bill is not a tax. Yet the bottom line is Read the rest of this entry »
it is smart to know your limits
Posted: June 30, 2012 in Observations and CommentaryTags: America, democracy, expertise, health care, law, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, United States
shadow memories
Posted: June 26, 2012 in Observations and CommentaryTags: 1940's, big band, life, memory, music, nostalgia, Sinatra, Three Dog Night
The elusive “they” say music is one of our strongest memory inducers. You can hear a song and be immediately transported back to a specific time and place from your life, the details of that moment as vivid as if you had just lived it. It is one of the brilliant powers of music – and one of the best. I know whenever I hear Three Dog Night’s Joy to the World I am once again in the 8th grade cafeteria where the 45 rpm single Read the rest of this entry »
preparing for the future
Posted: June 25, 2012 in Humorous Bits, Observations and CommentaryTags: 2003, dance, education, humor, humour, life, The Hustle, Wheaton College
Thousands of truckers descended upon Wheaton, Illinois this week. They came from places far and near, places like Missoula, Waco, Teaneck and Cicero. They pulled their 18-wheelers into town united in a cause, joined together with a crackling energy not often seen in this country outside of tax evasion season. They arrived to help the students of Read the rest of this entry »
the power of flower power
Posted: June 24, 2012 in PhotographyTags: beauty, flowers, Mother Earth, nature, Photography, roses, summer
There’s an adage that says when you do not know what to photograph, photograph flowers. Occasionally a negative connotation is associated with this. As if photographing a beautiful, amazing creation of Mother Earth is a cheat, an easy way out for those who do not have the drive or creativity to seek out something else. What a bunch of horseflooey! I do not say this because today I am “taking the easy way out.” I say it because Read the rest of this entry »
Trifextra – “The Grapes of Wrath” (in 33 words)
Posted: June 22, 2012 in FictionTags: apologies to Mr. Steinbeck, challenge, injustice, Okie, Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Trifextra, writing
This weekend’s Trifextra challenge: retelling. Retell your favorite book in 33 words. I’ll give “The Grapes of Wrath” a shot. Deepest apologies in advance to John Steinbeck. Read the rest of this entry »
siriusly can’t avoid the punny title
Posted: June 19, 2012 in Humorous BitsTags: change, humor, humour, life, music, radio, Sirius, XM
I recently got a free three month subscription to SiriusXM Radio, recently being last week. I am currently heart-deep in the honeymoon stage. You know how it is. Just thinking about your new beloved gets the adrenaline zipping through your veins like Gary Busey through a residential neighborhood. A mere passing thought makes you wonder how you ever possibly managed Read the rest of this entry »
soprano land
Posted: June 17, 2012 in New Jersey, PhotographyTags: Drive Safely, Jersey City, New Jersey, Newark, North Arlington, Photography, Pizzaland, Sopranos, television, turnpike
Your papa never told you about right or wrong…
Did you watch The Sopranos? Admittedly, it was a rough show. It is easy to understand why some folks were turned off by the amount of deathly violence. Seems like if you make a movie or television show about organized crime, it must be peppered with people dying in a variety inglorious and bloody ways. Sometimes it appeared as if Read the rest of this entry »
Trifextra – “boundaries”
Posted: June 16, 2012 in FictionTags: boundaries, challenge, childhood, fiction, life, protection, Trifextra
This weekend’s challenge brought to you by the fine folks at Trifextra. Please give us a creative piece inspired by the photo below. You have two options for word count: you can either give us 33 words or 333 words. Please note: we are not asking for a post between 33 and 333 words. We are asking for a post that is exactly 33 words or exactly 333 words.
(photo courtsey of Trifecta)
in our defense
Posted: June 13, 2012 in Humorous Bits, Observations and CommentaryTags: Cosmopolitan, humor, humour, life, men, society, war of the sexes, women
Cosmopolitan magazine recently published an online article asserting “tons of studies” have proven women are better than men at some things, specifically 12 things. Whether the 12 studies they referenced actually constitute “tons” is question for another time, one involving basic math skills. I suppose it doesn’t much matter seeing how math skills were not on their list. What is concerning is Cosmo has apparently taken the perspective that equality is no longer the issue, no longer “the cause”. What was once a noble quest has now become a full-fledged campaign to Read the rest of this entry »
Trask Avenue 
cool stuff
Posted: July 2, 2012 in Observations and CommentaryTags: 1972, computers, digital, encyclopedia, information, perspective, World Book
I’m a sucker for old encyclopedias. The older, the better. I love looking at how things were perceived years ago, what people thought was vital enough to include in this compendium of important stuff. What merited inclusion, how much space it was granted, and what was the general knowledge around the topic? Not only that, the old photos are Read the rest of this entry »