Hi folks, I’m wearing my curmudgeon hat today and, as you can see, it’s a little tight so please bear with me. I was eating breakfast at a diner yesterday when I noticed a cute three-year old boy sitting at the table next to me. He was playing with the little cream containers and then tossing them on the … Continue reading
The following was passed along to me by a reader from the great state of Ohio. Thanks Rod. 1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country. 2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country. 3. The New York Times is … Continue reading
On a recent trip to Omaha, Nebraska I visited my old friends Frank and Jan. I don’t think Jan will like that description so let me rephrase that. I visited my long time friends Frank and Jan. One of their claims to fame is that they live on the same street as Warren Buffett. Now … Continue reading
I have spent several decades traveling around America in search of the best slow smoked meat. This quest has led me on various barbecue pilgrimages, mostly throughout the south, home to some of the finest barbecue in America. Since I’m a yankee living in the BBQ deprived north I truly appreciate these trips. However, the one place … Continue reading
Recently Glenn Beck went on the air and ripped my hometown of Philadelphia. He referred to the area around Independence Hall as “the killing streets” and the city as a whole as a “place you do not want to be.” He summed up his argument by saying “Philly sucks”, a cry that is usually only … Continue reading
I noticed recently that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. The amount of radiation has been reduced to somewhat manageable levels—allowing intrepid visitors to make a strictly timed visit to the 30-km radiation zone which had been abandoned after the nuclear reactor’s explosion. Realizing that my 25th anniversary is also taking place this year it seemed to … Continue reading
Even since I was a child I’ve been intrigued by the ads for berets placed in the back of magazines. I’m talking 40+ years of magazine reading at this point. Yet this ad still appears regularly. The ad and the photo—of a vaguely Gallic looking man who appears to be in the midst of pointing out the best … Continue reading
I finally got around to doing some Christmas shopping yesterday when I was confronted with a disturbing trend. The cashier asked me to contribute a dollar to charity. I first noticed this earlier in the year at the local supermarket. Depending on what disease was being hyped that month, I was asked to give to said disease. I … Continue reading
The expression that there are two sides to every story is never truer than at the site of Custer’s famous Last Stand. Even the site has had two names; it was originally named after the vanquished George Armstrong Custer. In 1991, recognizing modern sensibilities, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the name change … Continue reading
Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the death of blues rock guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughan. He had just finished a monster show at the Alpine Valley ski resort in Wisconsin. Other players on the bill included his brother Jimmie, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. After the show some of the performers boarded helicopters (continue reading)
Pretty soon I’ll be taking off for another cross-country drive. Since I’ll be travelling in remote areas with limited radio reception, I’m putting together a few CDs of top road trip songs. Some good driving songs will grab you at the opening power chord and have a thumping beat that makes you put the pedal to the metal. Others … Continue reading
Recently I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. For some reason I hadn’t expected much but it far surpassed my expectations. What I had not predicted was how it would be such a religious experience. Currently there is a special exhibit featuring the music of Bruce Springsteen. The title of the … Continue reading
