“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” – John Muir We live in a world full of unintended consequences. Christopher Columbus thought he landed in India after sailing the ocean blue in 1492. George Clinton improvised the lyrics to “Atomic Dog” because he… Read more

“All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.” – Sally Brown in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” There is a large chunk of American history where the makeup of the federal government’s workforce was determined by what is known as the spoils system. The name refers back… Read more

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire.” – Czech-Austrian composer Gustav Mahler Southerners love tradition. It forms a major part of our culture, and our deeper connection to nostalgia and rituals separates us from other regions of the country. Want to see how many true, blue friends and family members… Read more

“And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley College football season kicks off in earnest this… Read more

“Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.” – Steve Miller “The Jetsons” first episode aired in 1962. Google tells me promotional materials for the show’s premier places the Jetsons’ existence exactly 100 years into the future – 2062. As scary as it sounds, we are only 37 years away from the Jetsons’ time,… Read more

“Now the highway’s back open, and we’re leavin’ at the same time. So stay in your lane, boy, and I’ll stay in mine.” – Bronson Diamond and Greta Stanley My wife’s teaching job requires her to be in her classroom and ready to start receiving her students by 7 a.m. every morning. No one in… Read more

“(T)he common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of (political) party are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” – George Washington There is much myth built into the stories surrounding the founding of a nation. Ours is no exception, particularly those legends surrounding… Read more

“Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids.” – children in Trix cereal television commercials In my past life as a newspaper reporter, one of my coworkers was tasked with covering a beat that involved an elected official who, when the word “politics” would come up in a conversation, often would substitute the nonstandard word “politricks” in… Read more

“Show me the money!” – Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire in the film “Jerry Maguire” This time of year has garnered the nickname “talkin’ season” since that is about all fans, coaches and players of college sports can do until they can settle things on the field or court. But calling it talkin’ season is… Read more

“A slap in the face is more effective than 10 lectures. It makes you understand very quickly.” – Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch Let me tell you about one of my more unusual social media viewing habits. Yes, I plan to discuss government at some point, but bear with me. I have stumbled upon a newer sport… Read more