December 2, 2022
That’s the origins of Venezuela’s name, “Little Venice.” And for you journalist mavens here’s your quick quiz of the week, right up front. Who is the most famous man in Venezuela or her history? A. Nicolas Maduro, B. Hugo Chávez, C. Simón Bolívar, D. Fidel Castro. Any choice but Simón Bolívar is wrong, really wrong. […]
November 24, 2022
Thursday Nov. 24 2022 How many times have you done or said something wrong? If you are not in this category of humankind, just quit reading and continue with your cup of coffee or glass of wine. If you have done or said something wrong, keep reading. There are two questions you need to answer: […]
August 12, 2022
Let’s start out with a simple decision most of us have to make at one time or another. I don’t know about you, but if I am flying or having surgery, I want someone qualified by training and ability to handle the cockpit or the scalpel. I certainly don’t want someone who is there because […]
June 7, 2022
I thought I would sound erudite and educated in the old-fashioned way today and try out some Latin on you. We’re all familiar with e pluribus unum but how many know what it means? Not too long ago I ran into Quid omnes tangit debet while working on the iconic Dominican priest Bartolomé de las […]
April 20, 2022
White Racists, 2022 Update Over the past several years, the University of Alabama’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion vigorously denied it teaches white racism is inevitable, endemic, and cannot be changed. But is this what they teach? A couple of summers ago DEI at UA hosted a “common read” of the New York Times […]
April 8, 2022
What Were You Doing in 1965? Over the past few months, I have read a lot of newspaper articles—most on the front pages—about the marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. In fact, I didn’t read much more in my local newspaper other than articles celebrating Black History Month. Which is fine. This is, after […]
February 8, 2022
We play with our children with words. “Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.” We learn, in fact, to communicate. Then something happens along the way. Someone says, “hey that’s not always true, we have white roses,” or something equally silly that challenges what the words say. Some of […]
January 22, 2022
In our older ages, my wife Louise and I have discovered new interests. She is studying mathematics with her piano instructor who is a math and music student at UA, and I am reading about how podcasts work. Why is this? Basically, we like to learn. I am an historian not only by training with […]
January 6, 2023
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