Category Archives: Columns

Originally published in the Lititz Record Express, May 20, 2021. Reproduced here because someone just contacted me about buying my car and I have to tell any potential buyers that the license plate stays. Read on and see why I have such an emotional attachment. In 60 years of auto owner­ship, I’ve only ever hadContinue reading “Plate It!”

We should be outraged by a lot at the moment. Beside the obvious–Ukraine, CDC COVID flip-flops, January 6 and everyone associated with it, lack of any movement on climate change–there are many outrageous things that have been overshadowed by this list. But, now, with the news of that Supreme Court preview ruling on abortion, let’sContinue reading “Outrageous!”

For years, I’ve had this long, 90˚ offset screwdriver. For those of you who have never tried to adjust the tiny mixture and idle screws used to synchronize the four Mikuni carburetors of a big Japanese motorcycle, consider this: Without that specialized $25 tool, it’s a near impossible, hand scorching task, since the alternative isContinue reading “The Tool”

What’s with all the labels? The recent nomination of Katanji Brown Jackson to be a Supreme Court justice is simply the latest example of where the label, in this case “First Black Woman,” superseded the actual person in the public eye. People like her seemingly aren’t considered just people by the media, they’re “Black people.”Continue reading “Labels”

The other day my wife said something very profound. It went something like, “ I feel so guilty sitting here in comfort and watching the plight of the Ukrainians, and then, when I’m able to put it out of my mind for a minute or so, I feel guilty about that.” Wow! That’s like beingContinue reading “Feeling Guilty”

Two recent CNN interviews have stuck out for me. Before I get to the details, let’s be clear. I’d pretty given up on CNN. Too much biased blabber in place of actual news, and too many commercials. But, as someone pointed out, when the chips are down CNN is the gold standard for crisis coverage.Continue reading “What Are We Waiting For?”

It wouldn’t seem we have much to be happy about. First there were the four turbulent years of he who shall remain nameless. During that time, our democracy was set back about 300 years, maybe 3000, as institutions, traditions and the rule of law, all of which combined to give our lives stability and structure,Continue reading “Silver Linings”

Everyone knows the old saw about not studying history and being condemned to repeat it. But the parallels between now and pre-WWII are really amazing. So as I wait to hear President Biden’s speech in a few moments, following Russia’s incursion into those two Ukrainian provinces, I have to wonder if we’ve learned. Let’s rollContinue reading “Parallels”

God, I hate to be prescient…again…but a good ol’ war would certainly be a boost for Joe Biden’s poll numbers, and perhaps would provide the needle the must eventually be stuck in the festering boil that is our contemporary politics. Enter one Vladimir Putin. It looks like Val is about to attempt to take aContinue reading “War! What is it good for?”