Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN

RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Antiques Roadshow" comes to Tennessee
If you are one of the 10 million who watch each episode of the “Antiques Roadshow” mark your calendar. The three upcoming Mondays, March 30, April 6 and April 13, were all taped in Chattanooga last July.
LION AND THE LAMB: An open letter to Sharon Baier
I was happy to read your well-written article, printed in last week's Chronicle. It makes a strong case, in the story of Al and Jennifer, that "To make money, you have to spend money." That misguided couple thought that they ought to cut down on their purchase of supplies, to save money. They did so, week after week, until they lost their business.
WE THE PEOPLE: Veterans storm the Hill
When young men and women risk their lives and sacrifice both physical and mental health for their country, a grateful country should at least provide them with shelter, food, and health care. But there is a lot of hypocrisy between what some windbag says on Veterans Day and what the country actually does for veterans.
THEREFORE I AM: Kids stress out parents? Well, duh!
This just in: According to an expert, children can add stress and strain to a marriage. In other news, further expert studies have indicated that the sky is in fact blue, Paris Hilton is a tad spoiled, peanut butter and chocolate taste great together, and the Middle East has issues. Thank goodness we have experts to tell us these things.
Want to read more columns? We've got plenty!
Check out some "oldies but goodies" from Mike Moser, David Spates, Dorothy Brush and Ed Wood. There are some doozies in there.
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: With shekels come shackles
When President Obama launched his faith-based initiative at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, he promised not only to sustain the Bush administration’s signature domestic program — but to expand it.
THEREFORE I AM: Jim Croce and I will keep you safe and sound
My philosophy of life is simple: When in doubt, follow the advice of a dead folk-rock star. I always found Jim Croce to be particularly handy in this capacity. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and regardless of how badly you may want to, do not, under any circumstances, mess around with Jim.
STUMPTALK: Stimulating a war on prosperity and freedom
Near Bush’s sunset, Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed chairman Bernanke terrified the nation with “the sky’s falling and America is doomed” unless the government steps in with new regulations, institutional takeovers and massive lending.
WE THE PEOPLE: Thoughts on bringing a recession to heel
Responding to the recent full-throated baying of conservative “economic watchdogs,” I slogged into the swamp of their icon Adam Smith’s murky tome, “The Wealth of Nations,” to see if they had finally treed anything of value.
LION AND THE LAMB: Reality
Dim blue of early morning shines into the living room
while you flip through television channels.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: I don't miss those Northern winters a bit!
Native Tennesseans probably wonder now and again why northerners move to their state. As one of those Yankees I can answer with one word – winter! A good share of my life was spent in my home state of Ohio and then as an adult in Michigan.
THEREFORE I AM: I need to brush up on manliness
Are you man enough? C’mon, take it like a man. Are you a man or a mouse? Man up! Be a man. He’s a man’s man. You da man! Stick it to the man. Oh man. Stand by your man. All men are created equal. We might need to rethink that last one. Apparently all men are not created equal — constitutionally perhaps, but not where it counts. Now before you get carried away, I’m talking about manliness as it relates to what we all agree is the most crucial criterion — the perception of a multinational corporation that sells junk food.
STUMPTALK: What have we done?
Apparently, we have elected either a criminal or a buffoon to the presidency. Obama ran for election on the platform of hope and change and then proceeds to name mostly former Clinton people to his list of “must haves” in his administration, along with many more of the “inside-the-beltway-crowd.”
GUEST EDITORIAL: Public documents should remain open records
Lawmakers in Nashville often talk about the "slippery slope," which is a political euphemism to describe what could follow if government opens the door to certain ideas or concepts. For example, if legislators pass a law this year banning the wearing of Alabama-themed sports wear in public places, what's to stop the General Assembly from banning Gator gear or Gamecock hats and shirts next year?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: How are y'all doing?
As long as there has been a South there has been the expression "y'all." That is the way it sounds to me but the dictionary is more proper and spells it "you-all." It has stood the test of time. Distinctly Southern in origin those folks from other regions of the country embrace it and feel accepted by those who address them with that friendly greeting, "you-all."
LION AND THE LAMB: Bump in the evolutionary road
The Cub was reading the Sunday funnies. The Kid was perusing the editorial page. “Here’s a letter from a vegetarian,” the Kid mused. “She’s upset because when she was a child her parents butchered pigs and hunted deer. She wants humans to stop killing other animals and eating them without understanding what she calls ‘the bloody horror’ it takes to turn millions of animals into the meat for their tables.”
STUMPTALK: Recent events remind us of Tom Wolfe’s 'Bonfire of the Vanities'
“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life,” said Oscar Wilde, and the current financial mess involving Wall Street and the Duke Lacrosse team outrage of 2006 provide stark testimony to the accuracy of the Wilde quotation.
THEREFORE I AM: It's supercolumnist to the rescue!
I thought supermodels died out with Y2K, dial-up modems and Monica Lewinsky jokes. Apparently not. We still have supermodels in the world, fighting for truth, justice and the American way, which, of course, includes silicone enhancement and thigh-high boots worn to the grocery store.
LION AND THE LAMB: Life, destiny and money
This is not a time to be a member of the so-called silent majority. Our prevailing economic system has concentrated almost unlimited power in the hands of a few. Believe it when you hear the words "money is power."
WE THE PEOPLE: Tag! You’re It!
As George Bush prepared to go his merry way, leaving the country in shambles, some asked whether or not we can afford the distraction of holding him and his wrecking crew accountable for what they have done to our country. Faced with the gigantic task of repairing the damage, would it not be wiser to forget him?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Only a fool would “unfriend” such a person!
In Hamlet Shakespeare used these words, “Those friends thou hast ... grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.” That is the way I feel about friends and then recently I saw this headline.
THEREFORE I AM: School projects are for kids, not parents
When I was a kid I never liked it when my classmates' parents did their school projects for them. Now, as a parent and a soon-to-be teacher, I like it even less. If some of you parents thought second-grade projects were time-consuming, you had better brush up on your calculus, physics and English literature. It only gets tougher.
STUMPTALK: Education a global crisis
Cumberland County citizens are clearly exercised about the state of their school system judging by the rash of letters to the editor that have appeared in the Crossville Chronicle.
WE THE PEOPLE: Join the movement for change
The election of Barack Obama was historic in many ways. It was a crucial and powerful blow against right-wing Republicans and their corporate bosses that signaled a major realignment of the nation's politics.
LION AND THE LAMB: Take heed, Wall Street!
The current economic meltdown has given us a good look at how our free market system works. The Reagan-Clinton-Bush belief that free markets will regulate themselves if big government doesn't interfere has turned out to be voodoo religion.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Random" still can have purpose
Today’s column is truly created by random thoughts. Random is defined as having no specific pattern or objective. The actions of the two subjects I write about happened randomly. Both I encountered years ago but in the past several weeks they have become newsworthy once again.
THEREFORE I AM: Participatory trophies a double-edged sword
Before I was a parent there were things I promised myself I would never do. I would never demand that my kids go to the same college I went to. Check. I would never tell them that the music they're growing up on is worse than the music I grew up on. Check (even though it is — well, some of it). I would never hand out participatory trophies at the end of sports seasons. Hmmm. Well, you see, umm.
STUMPTALK: Beam me up, Scotty. No one here listens
“Communication is a two way process,” says the cliché. Communication will not occur unless the message sent is also received and it must be received accurately, as the sender intends.
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Darwin at 200: Still controversial after all these years
Whether by random selection or grand design, Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were both born 200 years ago on Feb. 12, 1809.
GARY'S WORLD: A once in a lifetime story
In a reporter's career at a small-town newspaper, there are probably only a few stories one can cover that will stand out as being remarkable. I have been blessed with many, but one story stands out to me as incredible. It was a once in a lifetime story that I was fortunate enough to cover for Memorial Day 2006.
GUEST COLUMN: We'd rave about newspapers if they were invented today
I can understand why newspapers are not viewed as trendy today. After all, they were really the iPods of 1690.
WE THE PEOPLE: Water, water everywhere, but ...
It’s rockfish season. Sportsmen and their sons (and daughters) follow the giant aquatic predators as they move to the base of Watts Bar Dam to feed. Both predator and their prey are attracted by pieces of their unfortunate kin, sliced into chum by the turbine blades of TVA’s generators deep inside the dam. Positioning a small boat in the frigid, swirling waters isn’t easy, and every year there are mishaps.
LION AND THE LAMB: Blind support for Israel is not Christian
Some leaders in the Protestant community of the United States have urged the endorsement of far-reaching and unilateral political and military commitments to the government of Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing Holy Scripture as the basis for those commitments.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: May your love be forever young
Valentine’s Day is the official name for Feb. 14 but another important character’s name appears just as often as Valentine. That is Cupid, the son of Venus. It took a writer in the second century to spin a tale of love, jealousy and pride that complicated relationships then just as much as today. In his novel many of the mythical gods of that time played important roles as did a beautiful mortal woman called Pysche.
THEREFORE I AM: Devious bladders can lead to cold salmon
Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn't like. I kind of doubt it, but that's OK — coming up with clever sayings was Will's shtick. My kids' shtick is decidedly different. My children have never met a public restroom they didn't like. I'm not sure which one of those predilections is harder to understand.
STUMPTALK: Tons of money and still U.S. education doesn’t stack up
So good education is expensive, eh? American students continue to get badly beaten on international tests by other nations' students who spend less money and have larger average class sizes.
GUEST COLUMN: Expanding the death penalty is fiscally irresponsible
The Commonwealth of Virginia is in the throes of a massive budgetary crisis, with a current shortfall of just under $3 billion. As a result, a reduction in services, job losses and funding cuts for secondary and higher education are expected.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "The day the music died"
In Lubbock, TX, there is a sculpture of an oversized pair of black rimmed glasses. In a cornfield near Clear Lake, IA, is another sculpture of a stainless steel guitar with three names, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper and the date 2-3-59. Above the guitar are three 45 records titled "Peggy Sue," "Donna" and "Chantilly Lace."
WE THE PEOPLE: Tennessee senators slap women in face
 On January 22, the Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act by a vote of 61-36. The House had previously passed the bill by 247-171. Who is Lilly Ledbetter? She was the sole female supervisor at a Goodyear Tire plant in Gadsden, AL, for 19 years.
LION AND THE LAMB: What is a liberal anyway?
For several years now I have been writing occasional pieces for this column. The first one I submitted was on my understanding of the term "liberal." I have always called myself a liberal, even since Ronald Reagan began trashing the term. Liberal, I tried to explain, was something other than a philosophy of big government and high taxes.
THEREFORE I AM: Lamborghini or minivan? It's a tough choice
Recession? What recession? Sure, your house may be worth a fraction of what it was just a year ago and your 401(k) has taken a dive that would make a Kamikaze pilot blush, but all is not lost. Maybe what you need is a solid investment, perhaps a $300,000 ultra-futuristic sports car.
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: A week of historic firsts
In a week of historic firsts, the swearing in of Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States was of such significance that other breaks with the past during inauguration week have gotten little attention.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: A biblical snow?
Last week we had our first real snowfall of the season and I remembered the ditty kids in elementary school chanted, “Snow, snow beautiful snow, step on a hunk and away you go!” An unknown poet used the words of a more serious minded child to describe snow. “Little white feathers filling the air, how came you there?”
STUMPTALK: Insights into Reaganomics and depressions
There is a preponderance of commentary in the media comparing the current financial crisis to The Great Depression of 1930. The comparison is a stretch since the current recession ranks only the fifth severest in history.
THEREFORE I AM: Self-delusion can be the best medicine
Sometimes a little self-delusion can go a long way. It's seen me through many a nasty cold, like it did a few days ago. For some people, a cold calls for chicken soup, rest, a big jug of OJ and two boxes of Kleenex. My plan is this: Delude myself in my own fever-induced brain until I feel marginally better. It works for me.
WE THE PEOPLE: Bush must stand trial
Electing Barack Obama president was the first step in restoring American democracy. The second step must be indicting ex-president George W. Bush and putting him on trial. This is not a matter of petty partisan politics. This is about the rule of law in America.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: A penny saved ...
I am a saver. There are others who call me a pack rat which is defined in the dictionary as an eccentric collector of miscellaneous objects. To call me eccentric is debatable but it is true I collect anything that shows a covered bridge.
LION AND THE LAMB: The new beginning begins now
Advice is flowing from self-proclaimed experts about how to solve our energy problem, our pollution problem, the neglected threat of terrorism, and other alarming challenges piling up at the White House door.
I SAY: Change is coming, if we all take part
Americans fail to understand the impact of what we do as to how it relates to the rest of the world. I believe at times like this we also fail to appreciate just how fortunate we are to live in a nation where the change of leadership takes place in the absence of violence.
THEREFORE I AM: Obama and sliced bread are overhyped
Whether you voted for President Obama is fairly immaterial at this point. He's driving the bus for the next four years. However, in addition to the cranium-crushing headaches he's inheriting, another problem is that he's been so overhyped he can't possibly meet the expectations many people have set for him. The way I see it, the man needs a good bread slicer.
STUMPTALK: Spare us from the actions of the smart people
As Israel retaliated against Hamas for rocket attacks, killing innocent Palestinians in the process, I thought to myself, “Here we have another mess created by the smart people.” As readers know, in 1948 smart people from Western Europe and the United States created the State of Israel in Palestine, dislocating thousands of Palestinians in the process, many of whom – as my millennialist friends forget – were Christians.
I SAY: History escapes Tennessee
Jerry Mumpower could scarcely contain his excitement Monday as he addressed Crossville business and civic leaders at the annual Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Chamber. This was going to be a historic week in Tennessee politics because Mumpower was in line to be elected state Speaker of the House and that would have been the first time since Reconstruction — 1869 — that a GOP majority would be ruling the lower chamber.
WE THE PEOPLE: Quality education isn’t cheap
The Obama girls began attending their new school last week and Sidwell Friends School was another excellent choice by the First Family. Other similar schools with which I’m more familiar include Morristown-Beard, Pingry and Montclair-Kimberly in New Jersey, Chadwick in Los Angeles and Beauvoir and St. Albans in Washington D.C. (where Senator Frist sent his son).
LION AND THE LAMB: Bible never intended for inaugurations
Almost all the presidents since George Washington have taken their oath of office in the same way—by placing their left hand on a Bible and raising their right hand. Why the Bible has come to be used in such a way has never been explained.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: MoonPies and Louis L'Amour
The "Random Thoughts" column on New Year’s Eve told about the new idea planned at Mobile, AL. They were using a giant replica of a MoonPie to welcome 2009. Recently the Associated Press reported on the event. As music played and fireworks filled the sky the MoonPie was lifted by crane about 100 feet. It carried the words 2008.
THEREFORE I AM: "I'll have a deck of crullers." Sound good?
"I'm going to Dunkin' Donuts and get a couple dozen crullers." Reading that sentence, you know exactly how many doughnuts I'll be returning with, barring the presumptive in-car nibbling. My question is this: What's so great about 12? Apart from being 20 percent more than 10, why is everyone so hung up on 12?
STUMPTALK: But they are also stingier than conservatives
Elitists simply adore being on boards of charitable causes, which costs them nothing, and they simply adore giving away taxpayers money in a transfer of wealth, which costs them little, but when it comes to them giving their own money to charity – well, that is a different story.
WE THE PEOPLE: Capitalism, southern style
In 1914 Henry Ford raised wages at his auto plant to $5 an hour, twice the prevailing rate, while cutting the workday from nine to eight hours. His actions made headlines.
CUB AND THE KID: Knock! Knock! Who’s not there?
The Cub and the Kid were looking at the Big Dipper in the night sky. “I saw another UFO piece on TV this morning,” the Cub said. “There’s always a spurt of interest in UFOs at this time of year. Do you believe anyone else is out there?”
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Some holidays are fairly new to us
Many of us find it hard to believe that in the long-ago past our forefathers took no notice of special days. Not even Christmas! Was it the introduction of greeting cards that began a change? They changed the attitude of generation after generation about sending greetings on days marked special on calendars. Not only on calendars but stores that sell greeting cards keep reminding us by displaying suitable cards for the next day to remember.
THEREFORE I AM: Lucy? Can a cat really hold a football?
I've had a fair number of pets in my lifetime. That's the nice thing about animals — they don't live too long. After about 10 years or so, the pet dies and you get to go window shopping for a new one. Sure it's sad, but there's nothing like a brand new puppy or kitten to make you forget ol' what's-his-name.
STUMPTALK: Government fixes path to an authoritarian state
Sensing “the sky’s falling” volatility in the financial markets late last summer, people who should have known better, even some proclaimed free-market economists, went over to the dark side. Indeed, many of them apparently failed to understand how markets work and how government actions can hobble or kill those workings.
LION AND THE LAMB: Middle East aflame again
The news is not good. The news is bad, very bad. The news tells of the savage Israeli attacks on Gaza, attacks that promise to continue. The reason for the slaughter is that Hamas missiles have continued to drop in Israeli communities, and people were killed.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: January full of mixed feelings
January. What a perfect name the Romans found for the first month of the year. Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates. He also had two heads. One was looking backward and the other was looking forward. Isn’t that what we do as we say goodbye to the old year and look toward the new? Tonight, as people gather across the world, most will have those mixed feelings.
WE THE PEOPLE: Clawing our way up the ladder of civilization
Two thousand and eight, what a year! Two things happened that I never expected to see in my lifetime. In an outbreak of common sense, we elected an intelligent, eloquent black man as president of the United States; and a tough, savvy woman ran him a close second in the primary.
STUMPTALK: Politics can be entertaining if not taken seriously
Anyone who thinks politics a subject worth worrying about should get a life, but as entertainment it can be a hoot. One of the things I missed when Bill Clinton left office was the fun he brought us with his antics: “I never had ___ with that woman, Miss Lewinsky,” or “It depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is.”
THEREFORE I AM: I resolve to revive old column ideas
I'm not one for empty New Year's resolutions. They usually turn out to be little more than a way of announcing to the world something that you really should (or shouldn't) do, but with the built-in excuse of "Hey, it was just a New Year's resolution, no one keeps those." I don't resolve to do much of anything on Dec. 31. Instead, I like to sweep away the remnants of the past year and get a fresh jump on a new calendar.
GUEST COLUMN: This Christmas memory includes swimsuits, grilling out
It’s Christmas time again. Time for glowing lawn ornaments, peppermint-flavored Starbucks, and the resurgence of repetitive songs and movies extolling the glory of snow. When we’re not “dashing through the snow…” or “walking in a winter wonderland,” we’re watching "Frosty the Snowman" with its main character constructed entirely of granular crystalline water.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: President Bush and his bubble
During the past eight years, President Bush has often given the impression that he lives in a comfortable bubble. He has appeared upbeat about the war, our nation's economy, various natural disasters, and how we have supposedly been coping successfully with all of these challenges.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: “Oh, ye of little faith”
Once upon a time on a Christmas Eve, a family watched a lesson in faith unfold because a five-year-old believed. Our youngest, daughter Cindy, was that little girl. At that Christmas season in 1956, she and her three older brothers were all filled with excitement as the big day drew close. I was busy checking the list of all that had to be done before then. By the morning of Dec. 24, the cookies were all baked and the presents wrapped.
WE THE PEOPLE: The time for bold government is now
The American economy is in free fall. The U.S. has lost over 2 million private sector jobs this past year. One quarter of all businesses in the U.S. plan to cut jobs over the next year. Retail sales are recording the largest drop on record. Auto sales have collapsed, driving the auto companies towards the precipice.
STUMPTALK: A taste of reality is a sobering experience
Has anyone noticed that lately our “friends” in the “mainstream” media have not been trashing the “evil” oil companies in general lately, and Halliburton and Dick Cheney in particular?
THEREFORE I AM: Christmas is what you make of it
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year — the most wonderful time of the year, if you're inclined to believe song lyrics. But let's not pretend that Christmas is perfect. It's not. Wonderfulness comes with a price. It's the good and bad, the yin and yang. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I have no doubt that mine is the only newspaper column you'll read all week which combines Eastern spirituality, Western spirituality and Newtonian physics.
COMMENTARY: Recovering the magic of Christmas
When I was a child, Christmas was the best time of the year. And what made it so exciting was that everyone seemed to join in the fun. There was a Santa in every store, songs like "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" played on the radio, and people generally acknowledged that the day had special meaning because of the Christ Child — thus the reason for the Christmas season.
LION AND THE LAMB: Obama and health care reform
Indications are mounting that the success or failure of the Obama presidency will ultimately be determined by the success or failure of health care reform. At present, prospects do not appear very encouraging.
WE THE PEOPLE: Desperate times, extreme measures?
As we approach the holiday season, it’s considered appropriate in Christian households to pause and contemplate the life of Jesus. Although we now celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 (near the end of the Roman Saturnalia and on the same date as the emergence of Mithra from a rock), this date wasn’t established for Christian celebration until sometime after 200 AD (perhaps as late as 400 AD).
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Family, a Journey to Forever"
On our family room wall is a plaque that reads “Family, a Journey to Forever.” When a package arrived this week and I saw the return address, I thought of those words. Growing up, I was very close to my mother’s family because we all lived near each other.
THEREFORE I AM: Shed the Orlon, lest you get zapped!
This is a hard time of year for me, energy-wise. It's not that I'm worn out from Christmas shopping or preparing for the sundry yuletide festivities. I'm talking about a different kind of energy — the kind that causes me to blurt out a (nearly) inaudible curse every time I zap myself on a light switch or car door handle.
STUMPTALK: Big government verses free-market capitalism
The 2008 financial meltdown – caused by the Fed as it did in 1929 – has unleashed a fury of central planning mythology. The myth that free-market capitalism is responsible for our current economic crisis is promulgated by people who know practically nothing whatever of rational economic theory or the nature of laissez-faire capitalism
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Readers speak out on gay marriage fight
Last time out, I addressed the fallout from the passage of Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that bans same-sex marriage in California. Both sides, I argued, need to rethink their strategy of harsh attacks before the clash escalates out of control.
WE THE PEOPLE: Spreading the wealth
There was a huge clamor during the last days of the Presidential campaign regarding Joe the Plumber and “spreading the wealth.” We were besieged with terrifying thoughts of socialism descending upon America, taking money from hard-working people and giving it to “those” non-deserving slackers who were feeding off the rest of “us.”
LION AND THE LAMB: Do politics and religion mix?
A recent letter to the editor of the Chronicle raised an important question: "Do politics and religion mix?" The writer sought an answer to this age-old question. The article dealt with Islam, and appeared to be seeking common ground between religion and politics.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Drunken driving continues to be a heartless killer
Is your mailbox filled with letters pleading for financial help? Mine is, but a long time ago I decided any extra cash I had should go to groups in my own community. That doesn’t mean I don’t read every letter before it goes into the trash.
DAN'S PLANS FOR EDUCATION FANS: Fair funding fix flies through Delegate Assembly
Don't expect the conversation on funding for schools to die down any time soon. Armed with two resolutions originating from member school systems, the Tennessee School Boards Association's legislative agenda for the fast approaching new session on "The Hill" in Nashville places a fair funding fix at the top of the list.
STUMPTALK: How to live during fat and lean years
My wife once worked as controller for a successful homebuilder who had survived and prospered for years during both good times and bad. How did he do it? During fat years he built reserves large enough to carry him through lean years.
THEREFORE I AM: Toilet paper stymies me every time
Being a stay-at-home dad, I've become a fairly savvy shopper over the years. A three-second glance through plastic wrap is all I need to differentiate tender chicken from tough. I can tweak an avocado and tell you when, plus or minus 24 hours, you should eat it. Name any top-shelf snack cracker and I'll tell you the discounted store-brand equivalent. I have not actively pursued these skills, but rather acquired them over time. That being said, I continue to be stymied by toilet paper.
LION AND THE LAMB: My motto or your motto?
The Cub and the Kid were walking across the softball field. The Cub spotted a penny in the sparse grass. He picked it up and brushed it off. “Have you noticed that our coins have e pluribus unum stamped on them?”
RANDOM THOUGHTS: One holiday down ...
Now you have time to take a deep breath and relax. The first big holiday of the winter season is a memory. After a short rest it will be time to get ready for Dec. 25, followed by Jan. 1, 2009.
WE THE PEOPLE: Peace on Earth
When I was young the Christmas season was a magical time, a time when I truly believed there was "peace on earth." Then I grew older and heard the drums of war being thumped by the same people who were extolling peace and good will.
THEREFORE I AM: Pardon me? 171 and still counting
I’m not planning to murder anyone, traffic cocaine, or mastermind an insider junk-bond trade, but it sure would be nice to know I could count on a presidential pardon — you know, just in case the urge struck. Whom do I need to talk to about getting that lined up?
GUEST COLUMN: Recent column made untrue statements about me
This letter is in response to the guest editorial by Dr. Leonard Markham that appeared in the Crossville Chronicle on November 4, 2008, and the Glade Sun on November 5, 2008. While I agree with some of the points made, I am appalled that I have been misquoted by someone that admits he has never met or talked to me.
STUMPTALK: The rage factor vs. gross national happiness
Syracuse University business and government professor Arthur Brooks, in his new book, “Gross National Happiness,” statistically proved that conservatives are happier than liberals.
GUEST COLUMN: From the desk of the city manager
I have received a number of inquires and even a few complaints about the sidewalk recently installed at the corner of Deerfield Road and 10th street. Who is responsible and why build a sidewalk that no one will use at this location?
UNITED WE STAND: Let's unite behind a new president
We the people have spoken and America has elected a new president. Regardless of how we voted, we all need to unite behind the President-elect because our common destiny is tied to his success or failure.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Thanksgivng Day has grown
Many generations of youngsters grew up learning that the Pilgrims and Indians held the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621. It took years before any mention was made of the earlier time when the Jamestown colony gave thanks for their deliverance.
LION AND THE LAMB: What happened to Mugabe?
I have been asked to comment on Robert Mugabe, once a patriot and freedom fighter, and now a ruthless dictator who has despoiled his nation of Zimbabwe. What happened to him? Why did he become such a monster?
THEREFORE I AM: Low stress makes Thanksgiving great
Every year I find myself enjoying Thanksgiving more and more. I think it has something to do with Thanksgiving being woefully underrated. Most people don’t expect much out of Thanksgiving apart from a 3,000-calorie meal dripping with gravy and trytophan, but I have found Thanksgiving to be a lot more. It’s surprisingly enjoyable.
STUMPTALK: "A Raisin in the Sun" and President-Elect Barack Obama
Set in a Chicago ghetto, Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun shows what happens when the Younger family receives a ten-thousand dollar life insurance benefit from the death of Lena Younger’s husband, Big Walter Younger.
GUEST COLUMN: Do you hear the people sing?
For months we were told that President Elect Obama was a dangerous left-wing extremist and the most liberal member of the Senate (putting him to the left of declared democratic socialist Bernie Sanders). Some went beyond calling him an un-American socialist and asserted that he might have communist sympathies.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Harm me not"
Our home in my childhood was near the edge of a forest and I spent many hours in that dense friendly place. Surrounded by quiet I was enveloped in the serenity of those huge old trees. Many years later I read a sign in a state park titled the Prayer of the Woods and the final lines were, “Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: harm me not.”
LION AND THE LAMB: The voters came to a conclusion
On Nov. 4 a remarkable event took place in our nation: the American people chose an African-American as their next president. When one considers how recently slavery was officially blessed and practiced in our nation, this development becomes all the more significant. Twelve previous presidents had been slave owners. Living in their time, this new president-elect could have been the property of any one of them.
THEREFORE I AM: Grasshopper, this is the tao of leaves
For a man to walk the leafy path of wisdom, he must become one with the leaves. He must breathe with the leaves — he must breathe in the leaves. Confucius said we must honor, fear and respect the fallen leaves. Any clod can rake leaves, but only a man with true higher consciousness can fully grasp the tao of leaves.
STUMPTALK: Could the crisis get any worse?
In a discussion during the campaign season someone brought up the subject of universal health care. Another person commented that “it couldn’t be any worse than what we have now.”
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Obama election leaves joy and disbelief
November 4, 2008 will live forever in history. Not just in the history of the United States but of the world. Even though many felt it would happen some day it was not a sure thing. And even when the votes confirmed it had happened, there was joy along with a lingering sense of disbelief. A song written in 1940 expresses what many felt when they knew Obama was the president-elect.
WE THE PEOPLE: Time for accountability
Oct. 9 was another nerve-shattering day in the stock market with the Dow dropping 679 points, or more than 7 percent, the lowest level in five years. One year earlier to the day, the Dow hit closing highs. Since then, it has lost 5585 points or 39.4 percent. On this one day alone, paper losses totaled $872 billion; the one-year loss is an astounding $8.33 trillion.
THEREFORE I AM: God and president? It's Morgan Freeman
Back in June 2003, long before most anyone had ever heard the name Barack Obama, I wrote this column about a black president, a black God and other deep thoughts. Would you vote for a black presidential candidate? Better yet, how would you feel if, upon your untimely demise, you stepped through the Pearly Gates and discovered that The Almighty took the form of a black man?
STUMPTALK: Traveling the world searching for the meaning of life
In my youth I traveled widely across the world, most travel courtesy of the Navy. A jazz and blues enthusiast, I cultivated friends with the same interests. When our ships made port visits, we looked for clubs that played jazz and we found them everywhere.
WE THE PEOPLE: Religion and politics
Religion has become a weapon of political combat, the church pew a voting precinct. In the recent presidential race, one of the most disquieting things I witnessed was two candidates willingly subjecting themselves to religious interrogation by an evangelical minister.
LION AND THE LAMB: The Quaker Peace Testimony
This column deals with peace and justice issues from a variety of faith perspectives. As a Quaker, I want to share my reasons for working for peace, which are rooted in our Quaker peace testimony.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: A story of Defiance
Several years ago, I bought a book because of the title. It was named The Prize Winner, but under those large letters, the rest of the title was in small letters of Defiance, Ohio. Those words did it. For a number of years, we lived in Bryan, OH, located about 25 miles north of Defiance, and when we traveled south, we always passed through Defiance.
THEREFORE I AM: Too much of a good thing is exactly that
"These are the times that try men's souls." Tommy Paine had his problems, and I have mine. This week, above all others, demands more self-discipline and intestinal fortitude than I can muster. Tom had the Redcoats to deal with, but thine enemy is far more insidious — a house full of Halloween candy.
GUEST EDITORIAL: Mental Health Care deserves a prominent role in our nation and Tennessee
Nashville and the rest of the nation heard from Senators John McCain and Barack Obama about many topics during the recent presidential debates, but one critical subject was missing: America’s mental health. They have to be informed, as well our governor and state legislators, as to the importance of mental health services.
STUMPTALK: Classical economics according to Barack Obama
Obama’s economic plan is nothing more than a remake of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s class-warfare proclamation: “Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.”
GUEST EDITORIAL: County's budget impasse can be corrected
Many of us have experienced a plethora of emotions as we have lived through the last several months of the budget struggle played out for us with the county commissioners and the board of education. Dan Schlafer lives in Fairfield Glade and serves as a member of Cumberland County’s Board of Education. He also writes an occasional article in the Glade Sun informing many about education in Cumberland County. In a recent article, Dan said, “Ninth District Cumberland County Commissioner Clyde Cramer, take a bow!”
WE THE PEOPLE: The real cause of our financial crisis
Much has been written and said about our current financial crisis, but there has been little discussion of a fundamental cause of the crisis: our massive debt. Borrowing from the U.S. government to fund our huge military is undermining our national security.
LION AND THE LAMB: Our country in the world to come
In November 1963, I was working in a hospital and health program in rural Ghana. At the same time, a group of about 15 Russian agronomists were establishing a “State Farm” just a few miles away, in an attempt to increase food productivity. We enjoyed regular contact with the Russians in spite of the “cold war" between our countries.
THEREFORE I AM: I don't hate Obama, McCain or even Dukakis
Do I have to hate Barack Obama to properly support John McCain? Do I have to hate McCain to properly support Obama? Well, OK, maybe hate is too strong of a word. I shouldn't direct the same verb at politicians when we all know "hate" should be pointed solely at Al-Qaeda, Nazis, lima beans, stiletto heels worn to football games, and telemarketers.
STUMPTALK: Naked short-sell at the root
The Paulson rescue plan should have been called "The Great Bank Robbery of 2008." You heard “deregulation” and “oversight” bantered around. It wasn’t so much deregulation as it was archaic New Deal regulations that are outmoded for today’s investment strategies. How could “no oversight” be blamed when there was no regulation to stipulate it?
GARY'S WORLD: Rock wasn't meant to be commercial
Oh how the times are changing. I can remember a much simpler time in life. A much simpler time in the world. A time when rock 'n' roll music was associated with a lot of the bad things in the world. Rock music was associated with taboo subjects such as sex, drugs, violence and disrespect.
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Without character, freedom fails
While Gen. Colin Powell was making political news last Sunday (Oct. 19), his wife, Alma, was sounding the alarm about an issue that transcends partisan differences – and will define America’s future as much as any election.
LION AND THE LAMB: Jesus' words won't let us settle for less
A few days ago some of us were treated to a series of four lectures by Rusell Deats, head of Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), a pacifist organization. His general theme, not surprisingly, was non-violence. In a sense, these were not lectures; they were more a series of life stories from Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and good and noble people, most of whom were unknown to me.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Quilt reminds me that AIDS is still an issue
Last week, a picture in the newspaper brought back a memory. A concourse at Miami International Airport was shown where portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt fill the walls in honor of upcoming World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. I was reminded of a weekend in October 1987.
WE THE PEOPLE: The bailout blues
After the Great Depression, a number of financial regulations were established which led to the greatest peacetime economic expansion of middle class America that the country has ever seen. However, starting about 30 years ago those regulations came under attack.
THEREFORE I AM: Cut back on the exclamation points!
I am not the Punctuation Police, but if I don't point out problems, who will? Hey, maybe I should be the Punctuation Police. Would I be allowed to carry a gun and a badge? It's a wonderful thought: There I am, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, saving the world from mangled sentences and improperly used hyphens. That settles it. I just found my Halloween costume.
GUEST COLUMN: Genealogy, like politics, is local and is about “where”
Whether you spend time contacting parents, siblings or relatives for what they may know, or gain facts from such as the Internet, censuses, veterans’ and courts’ records; writings, and libraries, or all of the above, you need a plan!
STUMPTALK: What kind of president do citizens want?
During another interminable presidential campaign, questions about the kind of president Americans want are again asked. When asked to select my favorite presidents, I name the following: Franklin Pierce, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge, or Warren G. Harding
LION AND THE LAMB: What do we now know about Africa?
In 1957, my husband and I were home on leave from our work in the Rhodesia Mission of the then Congregational Church. One of our duties during this time in the states was to visit churches which supported our mission work. We were visiting a large church in Brooklyn, NY, whose pastor was one of the best known in the denomination.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Columbus went far across the "Ocean Sea"
Once upon a time, the body of water we call the Atlantic Ocean was known as the “Ocean Sea.” Centuries have passed since 41-year-old Christopher Columbus set sail with three small ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, on that body of water expecting to find a new shorter western route to southeastern Asia.
STUMPTALK: The global warming scare and its Marxist roots
On May 28, in Washington, the featured speaker at the annual dinner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) was the Honorable Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic. Klaus' book, Blue Planet in Green Shackles, had just been released.
THEREFORE I AM: 123 hours of movies no problem for me
Well, great. There goes my shot at a world's record. Someone finally sets up a competition that's right up my alley, and I miss it. I could watch movies from dawn to next dawn without blinking. Granted, five DAYS of constant movie watching would have been a challenge, but, like Abe Lincoln said, anything worth doing is worth doing well.
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: How would Jesus vote?
During Sunday morning worship on Sept. 28, the Rev. Dan Fisher told his congregation at Trinity Baptist Church how to vote on Nov. 4 – an act of civil disobedience that he knew would endanger the church’s tax-exempt status.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Why are people biased against marriage?
In the 1960s Frank Sinatra delighted his fans with the song, “Love and Marriage.” At that time many believed that love and marriage really did go together like a horse and carriage. Fast forward to 1987. That year Ted Koppel gave the commencement address at Duke University and his subject was a surprise. He spoke on morality. He said we have convinced ourselves that slogans will save us.
LION AND THE LAMB: This election is REALLY important
During the presidential election of 2004, I found myself in line to vote behind a woman who turned to me with a comment. With a look of anxious intent on her face she said to me, “This election is REALLY important.”
THEREFORE I AM: Even new pennies are an annoyance
You’ve seen this car around town — the clunker with more rust than metal, the shredded interior, and an engine that sounds like it’s been chain-smoking two packs a day for 40 years. However, the wheels on this garage-sale beater are immaculate with $3,000 worth of shiny, custom rims. That’s what I feel like we’re doing with the penny. We’re slapping $3,000 rims on a coin that should have been tossed into the chopper years ago
GUEST COLUMN: An excise tax on vehicles could be education's answer
As a Cumberland County resident for 10 years, education funding has always been an issue. Overall, the Board of Education has sincerely tried to come up with a budget that the taxpayers could afford. The county commissioners have truly tried their best to keep Cumberland County taxes low.
STUMPTALK: Sarah, have I got a list for you
The presidential debate on economics centers only on which class should shoulder the nation’s tax burden. True to political doctrine, McCain wants tax cuts for the rich whereas Obama wants to raise taxes, promoting a host of additional socialist programs.
THEREFORE I AM: No good debt goes unpunished
Putting my faith in politicians scares the bejeebers out of me. I guess that's why I'm so worried about this proposed economic bailout plan. Pretty much all I can do is trust that the country's economic leaders know what they're doing and can turn this ship around. Of course, these are the same economic leaders who helped get us here in the first place. That hissing you hear is my hope deflating.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: This is sorghum's sweet story
Labor Day marks the beginning of the harvesting season for sorghum and continues through all of October. One of my earliest childhood memories was watching my grandfather pour something he called sorghum syrup on a biscuit which he ate with delight. Little did I know that many, many years later I would live in an area known for its fine quality sorghum syrup.
THE WAY I SEE IT: Truth is determined by the readers
There are probably as many reasons why people write, as there are writers. Some people write for the same reason that some people talk. They love the sound of their own voices. There are some writers who actually believe that they, and only they, know the truth. They are pretty easy to spot, because they always have trouble making a point.
THEREFORE I AM: Get this dead animal out of my nose
I have a dead possum up my nose, and I'm none too pleased about it. In fact, I'm not crazy about any deceased animal taking up valuable real estate in my sinus cavity. I find the whole notion more than a little disgusting, but sticking bits and pieces of dead possum up my nose is just how it works.
STUMPTALK: A problem that will never go away
Some prominent college presidents recently put forth a proposal to lower the permissible drinking age to 18 because they believe that will reduce binge drinking on college campuses, a hard sell.
GUEST COLUMN: School board chairperson weighs in on budget cuts
First of all I need to say, I am a member of the Board of Education and the present chairperson for the board. These are my own personal opinions and comments, not necessarily that of the Board of Education or the school system. Having made this clear I would like to write to the public some of the things I have said in my responses to a number of my constituents who have asked why I voted no on the entire list of proposed school budget cuts.
THEREFORE I AM: Buy Mexican Coke for the nostalgic burps
Why do they sell Cokes alongside refried beans? It's not exactly the kind of question that most people think about, but it's just the sort of silliness that keeps me up at night. To be honest, I thought that maybe some people actually cook with Coke, but I don't think that happens even in Tennessee. No, the reason you find bottles of Coke alongside the refried beans at the grocery store is because that Coke is imported. Fancy, shmancy!
LION AND THE LAMB: The urge to merge
The urge to merge — to mate and copulate — is one of the most common and natural characteristics of living creatures. We can't speak for other kinds of organisms, but for human beings, the act of copulation has come to have a number of significant meanings for us besides propagation: pleasure, love, infatuation, passion, conquest, submission, accomplishment, and fear.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Where is the economy headed?
This week a few stories tied to the economy leave us with the question: The economy – good, bad or none of the above? If I remember right it was the end of July when the first FREE calendar arrived in my mail box. It was a gift from a nonprofit organization and though the emphasis was on FREE there was a return envelope and a statement with suggested amounts to donate that would be most helpful.
THE WAY I SEE IT: The decline and fall of civility
First, it was a shooting in a church by a deranged gunman. Before the dust settled, and the echoes of his shots faded away, a student was shot to death in a school lunchroom. Talk radio was dominated by callers asking why, blaming the Second Amendment and criticizing the school administration.
STUMPTALK: The Statue of Liberty play — what you see, not what you saw
It’s doubtful any football player is dumb enough to fall for the old 1940s incredibly obvious play. But why are so many taxpayers so easily fooled?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Bugs can be endlessly fascinating
Nature is a constant source of amazement. Most of us have mixed feelings about that huge population called bugs but they are an important part of the nature scene. I have written about some of those species, bedbugs, ticks, cicadas and ladybugs.
THE WAY I SEE IT: China is not really inscrutable
As the 2008 Olympics in Beijing drew to a close, every eye in the world was on China. The competition areas and the Olympic Village were elegant. The public celebrations, in predictable lockstep, were impressive. China had its best foot forward, and the presumptive Democrat candidate for president was apparently overwhelmed. Recently he said that their infrastructure, their ports, their airports and their train systems were greatly superior to America's.
STUMPTALK: The public schools will raise your children
Got a problem you can’t solve, such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse, violence, bad manners, or general immorality? Dump it onto the public schools. They will promise to solve any problem they are given.
THEREFORE I AM: Even with kids, one Mom is plenty
I already have a Mom, a good one. I don't really need another one. Yet here I am, 38 years old, and there sits yet another Mom, and this one lives in my house, folds my underwear and sometimes even steals the covers in the middle of the night.
GUEST COLUMN: The meaning of Rick Warren and the Obama-McCain interviews
"I have never been considered a part of the religious right, because I don't believe politics is the most effective way to change the world. Although public service can be a noble profession, and I believe it is our responsibility to vote, I don't have much faith in government solutions, given the track record." — Rick Warren
COMMENTARY: Why neither Obama nor McCain will save us
The problems Americans currently face seem insurmountable, and they only appear to worsen at every turn: the deepening moral and spiritual crisis, the erosion of civil liberties, militarism and perpetual war, our declining economy, joblessness, homelessness, the mortgage crisis, a disaffected youth, crime, violence and so on. But let’s be honest: it’s neither the Republicans’ nor the Democrats’ fault that we’re in such a mess today.
LION AND THE LAMB: Are emergencies vulnerable to budgets?
What would happen if, for budgetary reasons, all emergency services for our state were eliminated? No first responders, no police, or fire, or disaster recovery teams? What would you do? How would you feel?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: The story of Bob's 1964 gold medal
When the 1964 summer Olympics was held in Tokyo, Japan, television coverage was far from the spectacular show it became over the years. But on a rainy afternoon in that Asian city the cameras brought viewers one of the closing events – a most exciting 5000 meter race. An American won the gold and as of the 2008 Olympics he is still the only American to hold the gold in the 5000.
STUMPTALK: Barack Obama’s disastrous war plan
I was never fan of the Iraqi war, but even the most wild-eyed critic has to acknowledge now that Gen. David Petraeus’ “surge” worked. Violence has dramatically declined and political tranquility in the region is improving. In time we can put that war behind us.
THEREFORE I AM: I honestly don't need an 80-year-old bagboy
I'm not the biggest, smartest, strongest or fastest guy in the world, but I'm fairly certain I can get my grocery bags to my car and load them in the trunk. The day may come when I will need assistance, but that day isn't here just yet. So, while I appreciate his offer, I always feel a little uncomfortable when the 80-year-old grocery store bagboy asks me if I need his help.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Leave my basement where it is!
A basement is like a broken toe. You never really appreciate that hole in the ground until you are deprived of it. Several times our family moved to a new town and into a house without that comforting lower level. By the time the next move came a basement was a priority.
THE WAY I SEE IT: Evil never dies gracefully
Inspiration sometimes comes from the most unlikely sources. Just Friday morning, I was innocently going about my usual routine when inspiration suddenly raised its ugly head. I was listening to Tennessee's self-proclaimed leading radio talk show host. His guest was an editor from a prominent Tennessee newspaper.
THEREFORE I AM: J is key to being an Initials Guy; I don't have it
I could never be Initials Guy. Sometimes I wish I could. Initials Guy is usually pretty cool. Initials Guy often is fun to be around, and he tells a good story. Initials Guy knows what needs to be done, but at the same time he's relaxed enough to go with the flow. Being Initials Guy isn't for everyone, however. You need raw materials. You need good initials.
STUMPTALK: The Creature from Jekyll Island, part II
With a consecrated Fed and a courtier public, the monetary scientists have dropped all pretenses. George Baker, the audacious partner of J.P. Morgan, was asked by reporters for his reaction to Wisconsin Senator LaFollette's public charge: "The entire country is controlled by just fifty men." Baker replied, That's totally absurd. I know from personal knowledge that the number is not more than eight!
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Much is at stake in journalist-shield bill
There’s a delay in U.S. Senate consideration of a proposal to “shield” journalists from many federal subpoenas seeking disclosure of confidential sources. Supporters now hope to get a vote after Congress returns from summer recess. The proposed law – the Free Flow of Information Act – was headed for a vote until it got caught in an unrelated procedural stalemate over energy policy.
LION AND THE LAMB: Thoughts on state militias
Militias have been an important part of our national history. During our Colonial and Revolutionary War period, groups of volunteers bought their own guns and equipment and formed a citizen army to fight for independence from Great Britain.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Enthusiasm in the sports world
My daddy was a big wrestling fan. Those were the days when you went to a big hall and paid to sit in a jam-packed space with others watching two big guys knock each other around. Several times he took me, his little girl, to see these shows. Much later, when television was in its infancy, wrestling became one of the neighborhood attractions.
THE WAY I SEE IT: Defend our blueprint for democracy
Of all the works written by the hand of man, none has had a more positive effect on the entire human race than the Constitution of the United States, and the preamble to that document, our Declaration of Independence.
THEREFORE I AM: Double play a thrill for Dad and Coach Dave
When I'm on the field with my daughter's softball team, I walk a fine line between Dad and Coach. I feel like I did a pretty fair job of it last season, except once, and that one instance really wasn't my fault. When my daughter turned an unassisted double-play, Coach Spates was nowhere to be found. Dad was on the field.
STUMPTALK: The creature from Jekyll Island
High gas and food prices, home foreclosures, unemployment, wars and bank runs are hot issues currently dominating the political discourse. System analysts constantly try to identify potential single-point failures.
THE WAY I SEE IT: Separating which religion from what state
Religious groups of every denomination come together to decry our treatment of terrorists who have dedicated their very lives to the destruction of America. They stand upon their own religious values to implore our government to treat terrorists with kindness.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Your local library is invaluable
In mid-July Gannett News Service released an analysis on the nation’s libraries. They found that Tennessee ranked in the bottom five states in funding and in the least-visited libraries.
THEREFORE I AM: Does a Super Bowl win trump the wife and kids?
No one loves his wife and kids more than I, but what does that have to do with winning a Super Bowl? Or the World Series? Or the NBA championship? I’ve been happily married for nearly 15 years and have two wonderful children, but how do those feats compare with hoisting the Lombardi Trophy? Sadly, I’ll never know.
STUMPTALK: Are electric cars the solution to weaning us off oil?
In the mid-1960s I shared an office at Hughes Space & Communication with a senior mechanical engineer who had a passion for electric race cars. His home town of Riverside, California accommodated his car club by closing off some downtown streets weekends for some fun-racing. One day he asked, “You’re a control engineer; maybe you can help me.”
RANDOM THOUGHTS: It was a grand tour back in 1968
Today the word “staycation” is new but in earlier years it would have been a good word to describe the three-month period from the end of one school year till the beginning of the new year. In my youth summers meant no school, hot weather and keeping busy at home. Vacations were not on my family’s calendar. My parents were too busy running a milk route to even think about taking time away.
THE WAY I SEE IT: These are not the good old days
Like most Americans of my generation, I grew up believing that there were some places that would always be safe. Our homes were safe refuges in which we could sleep well, knowing that our parents loved us and protected us. Our schools were sanctuaries in which students were not only educated in the three "R's," but were taught to be respectful of teachers and of each other.
LION AND THE LAMB: Thoughts on torture
For more than forty years I worked in countries where it generally was true that people were treated as guilty until proven innocent. Upon their arrest, they were brutalized, often thrown in dirty cells, harassed, deprived of sleep.
THEREFORE I AM: 1,500 miles will give anyone a hangover
Have you ever had a hangover that lasted a week? As I write this, I’m in Day 7 of one of the most gut-wrenching hangovers in modern medical history. Anyone who’s ever “bent an elbow” knows there are different types. You have the margarita hangover on vacation, a green-dye hangover the day after St. Pat’s and the champagne hangover on New Year’s Day. My hangover trumps them all. I have a driving hangover.
STUMPTALK: People want kings to take care of them
No book illuminates political human nature better than the Bible, and 1 Samuel 8 offers a timeless example. In the time of the judges, Samuel appointed his sons, Joel and Abiah, judges in Beersheba. But his sons “…walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”
THE WAY I SEE IT: Even in politics, fair is fair
The very last thing I want to do is to be unfair to the presumptive Democrat candidate for president. My initial impression was that the circumstances of his birth gave him some sort of immunity from close examination. In order to avoid being called a racist, I decided to weigh this "immunity" against the experiences of similar Americans.
STUMPTALK: Some interesting statistics about Big Oil profits
In the past 25 years oil companies have paid $2.2 trillion in taxes to fed and state governments, not including property taxes, state sales taxes, severance taxes and onshore royalty payments. According to the Bureau of Economic Statistics and the US Department of Energy, this amounts to more than three times their profit during these 25 years.
THEREFORE I AM: Some abbreviations come up a tad short
Who decides which words are abbreviated? That's a job I think I could do pretty well. I haven't memorized every page (make that ANY page) of the Oxford English Dictionary, but I feel like I have a pretty fair grasp of the language. That being said, what did the word "versus" do to make us all so angry?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Space, the final frontier?
As the new space age unfolded, John Glenn became the first astronaut from my home state of Ohio to become part of history. He was the first American to orbit the earth in February 1962. Fate had more in store for another Ohioan, and when Neil Armstrong of Wapakoneta was chosen to land on the moon, the space program became very personal.
LION AND THE LAMB: Health care
After a delightful July 4 picnic at a neighbor's side yard, I made my weary way home, not entirely sure that I'd make it.
THE WAY I SEE IT: A man with a plan for America
I used to believe that the highest office in the Free World demanded certain qualifications of those who sought that honor. In addition to an inherent sense of patriotism, I thought that the President of the United States should have successful management experience and a clear vision for America. Apparently, I was wrong. In our enlightened times, all a candidate needs are vague notions of hope and change.
STUMPTALK: The cause of the food shortage and rising prices
The media is seriously exercised about the worldwide food shortage, which is real enough, but the reasons given are illogical. Economist Paul Krugman of the New York Times weighs in with his expert reasons: new food demand by China; the high price of oil; bad weather in farming areas (particularly Australia) and reduction of farmland available to grow foodstuff – in favor of biofuel crops.
LION AND THE LAMB: Understanding the reality in Palestine
There is a natural affinity among Americans for Israel due to historic and religious connections. However, most Americans have little or no understanding of the plight of the Palestinian people as they struggle to claim the state that was promised to them when the United Nations partitioned Palestine in 1947.
THE WAY I SEE IT: A peaceful solution to die for
The dictionary defines "symbiosis" as "the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms, in a mutually beneficial relationship." Robins and worms, bluegills and grubs, trout and minnows, deer and corn all enjoy symbiotic relationships. One group nourishes the other, while the other is kept in reasonable proportion by the group that consumes them.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Lots of history en route to Spring City
It may be a small town but its persistence paid off. Spring City was chosen to be the second Tennessee city to host the traveling exhibit “Bagels and Barbecues.” Sponsored by the Tennessee State Museum and several Jewish state organizations, it was first shown at the State Museum from December to February. Now on tour around the state it highlights the history of Jewish culture in Tennessee.
STUMPTALK: Republicans run as conservatives but never govern that way
In my memory beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, my Robert Taft Republican father complained often about the Republican Party’s tepid commitment to conservative principles.
THEREFORE I AM: Lots of (good?) reasons to skip a reunion
Would you do me a favor? Would you please double-check my math? Something just doesn't seem right. Here it is: 2008 minus 1988 equals 20. Can that possibly be correct? According to that, I've been out of high school for 20 years, but I know that's not right. Is it?
RANDOM THOUGHTS: July 4 is a red letter day in American history
A Fourth of July editorial in 2003 asked “Would You Sign?” I would venture to say that many who saw that heading would ask, “Sign what?” Even though it was clear the comments were about the Declaration of Independence, I remembered a survey that had been taken in New Hampshire in 1993. In that state, one of the original 13 colonies, only six of every ten adults knew we celebrate the Fourth of July because it commemorates the signing of that document.
LION AND THE LAMB: A story about America
The Fourth of July was near. The Kid and the Cub had volunteered to trim bushes and weed flower beds in the veterans memorial park. The Kid occasionally nibbled at a tasty leaf. The Cub was unusually quiet.
THE WAY I SEE IT: Three words that changed the course of history
The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution chose their words with great care. They took every precaution to make certain that their stated purposes were clear and precise. Long before the establishment of government schools, those colonists went to considerable lengths to ensure the clarity of their iconic documents.
THEREFORE I AM: Celebrating America with greasy fingertips
Go to any Fourth of July party on Friday and you’ll find bags and bags of chips. Chips are probably my favorite thing about the Fourth — except for maybe acknowledging America’s independence, fireworks, eating grilled food outside, hanging out with friends and family, coolers full of frosty beverages, and badminton in the front yard. But, yeah, chips are right up there
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Questionable judgment a too-common theme
Two stories in last week’s national news gave me pause for thought. First was that long U.S. Open Golf Tournament in California. It was covered not only in the sports pages but on the front page of newspapers. Second was the startling story from the other side of the country which told of a pact between 17 high school girls, all 16 years old or under, determined to become pregnant.
THE WAY I SEE IT: A Father's Day to remember
Father's Day means many things to many people. To most, hopefully, it means a day to celebrate the masculine half of that precious parental team that nurtures and protects our children. That "team" has been proven to be more successful than either team member working alone.
STUMPTALK: Should we be talking to Iran?
Common sense in contradiction with facts is a curse. This article challenges some common sense notions. Throughout the primaries, Barack Obama made “negotiation” the centerpiece of his foreign policy.
THEREFORE I AM: Some nicknames get a quote-ectomy
I always wanted a nickname, but it was not to be. Yes, plenty of people call me Dave rather than David, but that's not really a nickname per se — it's just a single-syllable reduction. I suppose Dave is better than nothing, but it's sure no Oil Can.
LION AND THE LAMB: We are having a serious God-problem
It is evident that our nation is in the midst of a serious God-problem. Our whole financial system is based on trust in God. All our currency and coins carry our official financial Statement of Faith: "In God we trust." Some of the most substantial buildings in our communities — our churches and banks — testify to this importance.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Is this the place for potty talk?
In my childhood I was taught personal business was not discussed freely and that especially pertained to bodily functions. Even saying toilet aloud was unacceptable. Much later I learned that the fabled newspaper man H.L. Menken wrote he thought that was pretty prudish. In the 1921 edition of The American Language he complained, “We yet use toilet, retiring-room and public comfort station in place of better terms.”
THE WAY I SEE IT: Re-inventing liberty and justice for all
In a landmark decision last Thursday, the Supreme Court of the United States effectively granted American citizenship to foreign terrorists. Oh sure, there are those who will say that never happened. They will claim that America has been cruel to those who would kill us.

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