Life in America | The Port Rail

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What You Need to Know

January 13, 2023

I’ve been working on a book that requires me to remember what happened in the past. This is usually called a “history,” or perhaps a “memoir,” or some other easily recognizable description, with perhaps some analysis added, of the past. Most of you know what I mean. If I am going to write about “liberty” […]

Of Doctors, Pilots and Equity

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 […]

Cryptocurrency vs. Cryptography

November 7, 2021

Not too long ago I ran across an article on the Internet entitled “Crypto Explained.” I thought, “well, I should take a look, since I had to learn some cryptography back in 1964-66 while a young officer on a ship, the USS Donner (LSD 20) as we cruised the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean on various […]

The Long Run

September 26, 2021

The “long run” can be considered both literally and figuratively. It has a big place in our nation, both as a people collectively and for us as individuals. How we integrate the “long run” into our lives has an impact on our world, how it’s organized, how it operates, how it is both good and […]

Home is where the heart is

September 22, 2021

I woke up a few mornings ago—always a good sign when one gets up in age—and heard this song by a little girl, “Home is where the heart is.” It was a sweet, soothing song and I wrote it down so as not to forget it as we so often do of dreams. In this […]

Two Kinds of People

July 27, 2021

In my endeavor to understand our land and its people, I have decided to select a simple way of distinguishing people. There are those who pick up their pet’s (usually dogs) poop on their walks and those who don’t. I don’t care if you are the greatest anything—novelist, politician, computer guru, homemaker, teacher, real estate […]

The Wizard of Is

June 9, 2021

Many of you will remember seeing the movie about The Wizard of Oz. I know I am dating myself and will probably eliminate at least half of my readers. Look it up in Wikipedia. At the end of the movie Alice discovers a wizard behind a curtain who is manipulating everything, a wonderful old happy […]

Red Neck Month

March 15, 2021

A few weeks ago, Black History Month (February) ended, and March 1 ushered in Women’s Month. Less you be uninformed, February also celebrated: National Fasting Month, National Enrolled Agents Month, American Heart Month, An Affair to Remember Month, Canned Food Month, and Creative Romance Month. In March we celebrate: National Breast Implant Awareness Month, Asset […]

The Visit

February 27, 2021

I have discovered an axiom that I’ll share with you today. Just when you’ve got your rhythm and routine (your r and r’s) down to a comfortable pace and predictable pattern, stand by for a change, sometimes a big change, sometimes a happy one, sometimes a tragic one, sometimes a bit of both. And beware, […]

Compassion, or Unconditional Love

February 17, 2021

This column started out in the bathing area of a local pet shop. For ten bucks (plus tax) you get access to a huge tub, shampoo, warm water, a waterproof apron, and as much time as you need with your dog to give him a great bath. There’s a warm air dryer with a long […]