PinnedAppreciation: Fire on the Mountain, a Musical InterventionRobert Hunter and Mickey Hart collaborated in a poignant plea for Jerry Garcia’s life. The Grateful Dead was the most American of bands. With the divining genii of Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Bobby Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, Keith and Donna Godshaux, John Perry Barlow…Grateful Dead15 min read
Apr 19Observation: Will Smith in the Briar PatchHollywood condemns him for acting just like the heroes in most Hollywood movies. — Will Smith is one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Hollywood, a perennial leading man in big-draw films, an award-winning rapper, and an accomplished producer. …Will Smith11 min read
Jan 15Observation: The Prevalent Confusion of NumberStop letting your predicates wag the verb’s tail! In a coherent English sentence, the verb agrees with the subject in number: One subject IS singular; two subjects ARE plural. The number of the subject noun or pronoun determines the verb’s number. That’s pretty simple. …Language5 min read
Jan 9Essay: Through the Wilderness with Sam GrantHe took upon his everyman’s shoulders ultimate responsibility for saving our Nation, and he delivered — leaving us responsible for redeeming America’s promise of liberty. Culpeper should be a national shrine. From March to May 1864, Ulysses S. Grant made his headquarters in Culpeper, Virginia, and it was from there…Civil War37 min read
Oct 8, 2021Observation: Coca-Cola, What Were You Thinking?The worst Coke ever? — From its introduction in 2005, Coke Zero became my favorite soda. Back in the pre-Coke Zero days, I used to favor Diet Pepsi because I couldn’t stand the sharp artificial aftertaste of Diet Coke. Then along came Coke Zero, and it was the best choice for diet cola. Why? Because…Coca Cola2 min read
Jun 7, 2021Appreciation: The Greatest Example of Heads-Up Base RunningJohnny Damon stole two bases on one pitch in the World Series! Is it possible for a base runner to steal two bases on a single pitch (i.e., with no error made)? Yes, indeed — the door is open to such a move when the fielding team implements the shift…Baseball6 min read
May 18, 2021Appreciation: Facadism in the Nation’s CapitalA smart compromise saved historic, architecturally interesting streetscapes in Washington while preserving incentives for economic revitalization. To maintain economic vitality, America’s cities continually evolve through a broil of regeneration with the inevitable tearing down and repurposing of properties for more productive uses. But emotional countercurrents sometimes push against this upheaval…Architecture11 min read
May 4, 2021Rumination: Nature and the Human EnvironmentThere’s no valid basis for division. Popular thought persists in believing there’s an essential divide between the natural environment and human-fabricated landscapes. What if this belief is specious? The notion of a separation between nature and the manmade world carries the lingering echo of medieval arrogance — legacy of the…Environment9 min read
Apr 7, 2021Appreciation: Edward GibbonThe epitome of the English enlightenment. Edward Gibbon published The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in six volumes between 1776 and 1788. The colossal historical canvas of this extraordinary work encompasses the Roman Empires of the West and the East and the cultures of the Mediterranean, Northern and…History2 min read
Apr 7, 2021Appreciations: George Catlin & Francis ParkmanFirst-hand accounts that enrich and enliven the historical understanding of life among American Indian peoples of the West in the early 19th century. On George Catlin, Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians (1832–1839): From George Catlin’s extended visit to the Mandan villages…Culture3 min read
