The WSJ published my letter to the editor. See http://www.wsj.com/articles/getting-out-of-dodge-or-baltimore-1434398183
In Iraq, chaos of our own making
Earlier this fall, the Star Tribune ran my oped on Obama’s handling of Iraq. I have never been an Obama supporter, but he has been true to his campaign promises and his handling of Iraq clearly reflects his view of America’s role in the Middle East.
To ‘the’ or Not to ‘the’
On June 4, 2013, The Wall Street Journal ran my essay on the use of the word, “the.” This letter “T” — which begins “these” not “the” — was one of over 200 T’s Donald Jackson created for The Saint John’s Bible. The text in this photo is from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible … Continue reading
Loyola in March
Loyola stands atop the lake Above the snow and ice Illumined by the warming sun A rampart clothed in white As I step up to its porch I yearn for summer days Into this chair I settle down Up to the sky I gaze My bones are cold, my fingers numb My soul still chilled … Continue reading
Death of a Weatherman
Louis loved to lick. His favorites were urine-drenched fire hydrants, the rear ends of fellow dogs, fallen branches, light poles, recycle bins, discarded beer cans, yellow snow and salty blacktop – especially at the end of winter. While most dogs were satisfied simply sniffing their way through life, Louis used his morning walks up Twisted … Continue reading
Jottings’ Election Bingo 2012
Nothing is more irritating than Monday morning quarterbacks. So, in the spirit of going out on a limb — knowing the high probability that I’ll be incredibly wrong — here is my prediction for the electoral map come November. I’m posting this August 27, 2012. (The subtitle of this post could be, “Wishful Thinking.”) If you’d … Continue reading
How I jinxed the winter of 2010-2011
On March 20, the Star Tribune ran this essay on the balmy winter we have had thanks to my excessive pride. I hope you enjoy the piece.
Rude Recliners
The dark side of business travel includes packing bags, leaving family, inching through security, and – all too often – wedging into a middle seat in coach. At 6’2”, 210 pounds, I rub elbows – literally – with my new neighbors because the average coach seat is 17 inches wide. If my neighbors are extra-large, we … Continue reading
The Human Touch
Back when grade school was called grammar school and the verb form of “text” did not exist, the Sisters of Charity at Immaculate Conception Grammar School in Montclair, New Jersey, took English, the parts of speech and sentence structure very seriously. They taught us why it’s important to avoid dangling modifiers, when an adverb can modify … Continue reading
Change.*
Before computers were friendly and usable, the geeks among us loved the asterisk. Forgotten by most, it shares a flat with number “8” on the northern row of the keyboard. As a wildcard for filenames, file extensions, and directories, the asterisk was – and still is – a great way to list, find, move, and copy files if … Continue reading
