When Donald Trump was on the campaign trail, one of his campaign promises was to “drain the swamp” in Washington. It looks like he might want to start in his own house—that is, the House of Representatives. Republicans met prior to the start of the 115th Congress this week and voted, over the objections of…
Category: Point of View
These are my posts where I give an opinion about something, take a stand one way or another, give praise and also give criticism.
Visions of gingerbread and used-up rolls of tape on this Christmas Day
I’m sitting here early on Christmas morning, darkness still outside—except for the ever-glowing string of Christmas lights on the tree and fence at my next door neighbor’s house. Every Christmas is a little different, but I was a little surprised to be conscious before 5 a.m. I finally got all the presents wrapped. It’s ironic…
Some thoughts on Wisconsin winters
While December is known as the Christmas season, it also marks the start of winter. After nearly three months of going from hot to cold and seeing the leaves change color and fall off the trees, we’re rewarded with snow. Most folks around where I live in Shawano find it hard to believe that Arizona…
Torquere woes indicate professional publishing not the safest option
Sometimes self-publishers, also known as indie publishers, get a bad name. Because we don’t have the backing of a company with scores of employees dedicated to molding the books into literary perfection—if there is such a thing—we’re sometimes seen as lazy amateurs looking to sell books without putting in all the work. This isn’t going…
Playing by the rules gets you penalized
You live your life playing by the rules, not mooching off the world or sticking it to innocent people, and are you rewarded for it? Not if you’re trying to buy a car. For the last six-and-a-half years, I’ve driven a 2004 Chrysler Sebring with hardly a problem. I’ve had to replace the battery and…
A ‘popular’ idea to elect presidents has merit
We’re on the eve of one of the biggest elections in recent memory. We’re also nearing the end of a long, nightmarish year where we, the American people, have been bombarded by the most negative political campaigns for the presidency that anyone can remember. We’ve got two main candidates that most voters wish they could…
Guidelines for the dead irritate the living
There are plenty of us who would love to live forever. Besides the uncertainty some of us have, based on our actions in life, about whether or not we’re going to heaven or hell, there’s also the reality that death has become such a rigid affair. As Exhibit A, I present to you a recent…
Watch the debate or stare down a hurricane? You decide
How many of us are dreading the impending arrival of tonight’s presidential debate and wishing we were down in Florida or Georgia dealing with the flooded aftermath of Hurricane Matthew instead? The 2016 presidential campaign has been a nonstop barrage of verbal attacks and assorted scandals that have made this the most distasteful one in…
Limbaugh’s cautionary tale of lesbian farmer invasion laughable
With all the vitriol from the presidential election washing over people, you have to think that things can’t get any worse. Then you see a random link on Facebook, and you discover, by golly, it can get worse. Apparently, Rush Limbaugh, the right-wing radio host who proclaimed the last Clinton presidency was basically America being…
The twisted irony of an Olympic swimmer drowning in a pool of lies
Ryan Lochte is one of the best swimmers in the world, with 12 Olympic medals to his name. Now, if he only had the same intimacy with the truth that he does with a pool, then he’d really be a force for good. He doesn’t, though, and that is why many Americans are covering their…
Lazy authors shouldn’t count on others to make sales
Being a writer is no easy task. Most of the time, you have to put in the time and the effort to give your story life, but the work doesn’t end there, especially if you self-publish. Once the story is in the pipeline for printing, you have to promote yourself, market yourself and be your…
Quilt of old Army uniforms a heartwarming hometown tale
Sometimes hometown news is the best antidote to the national tidal wave of despair you see on the networks and read about in the metro newspapers. This morning, I woke up after spending the previous night proofreading and laying primary election copy to catch up on the news in good ol’ Chino Valley, Arizona. In…
Rural Roots and American Rainbows 