Just when you thought that the economic news couldn’t get worse, both for the nation and individuals, a looming railroad strike could have further derailed any hope for a quick recovery. It appears to have been averted. The ruling party in Washington is breathing a sigh of relief since an angry electorate Read more
For those familiar with just war theory, it is very much an important component to civilized behavior. The concept reaches back to antiquity. But the first clear expression of it was from Saint Augustine. He believed that while the immediate resort to violence should be avoided, God has given government the power to Read more
Despite all the circumambient dysfunction and trouble we see today, I’m taking a break from all of it to update you on happier news. My publisher, the University Press of Kentucky, has announced that my latest book, Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Middle East, will be released for publication Read more
This week we learned that the President of the United Sates had decided—by fiat—that any student earning under $125,000 a year who also has an outstanding student loan debt will not be required to pay it in full. Never mind that some people have already paid off their student loans. They clearly should have delayed Read more
If you are like many other people, you have come to the realization that the political divide we now witness in America is toxic. E pluribus unum (out of many one), our national motto, in many ways is just a dusty old Latin phrase engraved on emblems and printed on our money. Divide Read more
There’s lots of wisdom concerning the consequences one might suffer when acting out of anger, seeking revenge, or exacting retribution from someone whom you are certain deserves it. The Book of Proverbs is replete with warnings about anger. Here are a few. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up Read more
Loyalty is an important virtue to me. I’d bet it’s important to you also. When I think of loyalty, I recall the first time I took an oath to the Constitution of the United States. I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Read more
This has been a great week to get away. Temperatures along the Gulf Coast have hovered in the upper eighties with a few pop-up thunder storms. As predicted, our grandchildren have kept us busy. But we’ve had great fun cooking in, playing games, and refereeing squabbles between the kids. Yep, that occurs occasionally. On Read more
So, tomorrow we depart for our trip to Rosemary Beach, Florida in that state’s panhandle. We stayed there last year with our son John and his wife Erika and grandkids Isaac and Abby. We loved it. In fact, we loved it so much that before we left, we reserved a place for this Read more
I recall what it was like to take my first shower in five months. Standing under a warm flow of clean water feeling the layers of sand roll off of my head and back was bliss. I had almost forgotten what a luxury that was. Sure, I took “field baths” in the desert, Read more