Once upon a time, I loved going to rock concerts. It didn’t matter what the act was. Tickets were cheap in the 1980s: $15-$20; maybe $27.50 for fancy seats. One week in the mid-80s I saw REO Speedwagon on a Monday night, and KISS that Thursday. I was at an Ozzy Osbourne/Metallica show where the… Continue reading Modern Concerts Are Big On Spectacle, Short On Feel
“Can I have $40 regular? Cash.” This used to get the gas tank on our SUV nearly full. But the other day something miraculous happened. The pump clicked to a stop after $29.50. “That fills it,” the gas station attendant said, seemingly as astonished as I was. “Here’s your change, sir.” Wow. I couldn’t have… Continue reading Cheap Gas Is Great, But Where Are The Other Savings?
We live in the Age of Apology, where knee jerk reactions are the norm, and thin-skinned political correctness reigns. Politicians, pop stars, athletes, actors, comedians, talk show hosts, and church leaders are pressured into insincere public apologies if they “offend” some special interest group or another. But the Age of Apology has little to do… Continue reading The Mystery of Superstar Forgiveness in the Age of Apology
You’ve heard the old adage – “It pays to buy the best.” Well, it’s a lie. Maybe it used to be true but it’s not anymore. Here’s another ancient un-truth: “You get what you pay for.” That’s true sometimes, but not always. I’m a cut-rate guy. I know this about myself and I accept it.… Continue reading Modern Junk: Buy the Best, Keep Getting Less
Remember “The Secret Garden?” No, not that stodgy old children’s tale. The adult coloring book! I’m not talking about funnyman Colin Quinn’s latest literary effort, “The Coloring Book: A Comedian Solves Race Relations in America,” either. That’s a funny book, but not the kind of coloring book I’m talking about. I’m talking about a grab-your-crayons-and-find-a-sunny-place-to-work… Continue reading Zen and the Art of the Adult Coloring Book
I wanted to be a marine biologist as a kid. My fascination with sea life began at age 7, when my parents took me to see “Jaws” (1975). The film left a deep mark/scar on me, and I became fascinated with creatures of the deep. I checked armloads of shark books out of the local… Continue reading The Long-Awaited Undoing Of SeaWorld
Colleges and universities were once hotbeds of creative ideas and free expression. Students used to question abuse, question authority. Today, students request “safe zones” so they can protest “offensive” Halloween costumes, and insensitive emails. St. Louis University is one of several institutions of higher learning where designated safe spaces are a perceived necessity among minority… Continue reading College safe zones degrade higher learning
The transgender issue is confusing, both politically and socially, but maybe we can find comfort and guidance in Greek mythology. Tiresias was a blind prophet from Thebes. He had a lifespan of seven generations, so he appears in a lot of ancient Greek stories and plays, usually showing up at an inopportune moment to give… Continue reading Mythology offers insight into modern transgender issue
Strange mosaic tile eyes follow me at the Chambers Street/WTC subway station, New York City, USA.
FEBRUARY 26, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015, 12:31 AM WAYNE TODAY I learned journalism basics at college in the late 80s. 1) Ask the five “W” questions. Who, what, when, where, and why. Sometimes “how.” 2) Report the facts. Stories have many sides, and the people involved all have a personal agenda. Cut… Continue reading Brian Williams saga shows false face of journalism
