National Siblings Day is on April 10th, so I am late with this posting. However, it took me some time to find this photograph of my brother, David, and me that I treasure. The photo was taken about 1946 in front of our home in Jacksonville, FL. Our neighborhood, North Shore, at that time was … Continue reading Post Posing: Remembering National Siblings Day
I’ll never forget the old Springfield Library–the Temple of Knowledge at Tenth & Silver Streets –or Mrs. Porter, the librarian, its “Priestess.” The Springfield Library of the Forties was a far cry from today’s suburban libraries with their “shopping center modern” décor, computerized checkout system, and librarians seemingly more knowledgeable about the catalog system than … Continue reading The Old Springfield Branch Library “Temple of Knowledge at Tenth & Silver”
My recent recollections of Congressman Charles E. (“Charlie”) Bennett, who represented Northeast Florida’s (then) Third Congressional District for decades led a reader to conclude: “I’ll bet Congressman Bennett would be out of his mind by now working in Congress and trying to make America a better place to live. I think our country is in … Continue reading What Would Charlie Bennett Do…
The mortal remains of the most Honorable Charles E. Bennett, M.C. were interred in Arlington National Cemetery following his death in 2003. This resting place of honor for him among our nation’s heroes is especially appropriate. Not only did he earn that privilege through physical courage under fire in combat, but he earned all the honor and … Continue reading Congressman Charles E. Bennett: A Great American Statesman and Patriot
Democracy has always been a historical rarity. If we look at human history in terms of frequency and duration, monarchies have prevailed. The historian team of Will and Ariel Durant, after decades of comparative study, considered democracies as “hectic interludes.” Today, functional democracies are found in relatively few countries. All of them are facing economic … Continue reading Democracies As “Hectic Interludes”
Moving from seventh grade at North Shore Elementary School to eighth grade at the larger, much more “cosmopolitan” Kirby-Smith Junior High School was stressful, what with the older, larger, tougher kids from other parts of Jacksonville, Florida. That transition from bush league to big time was made much easier for me by a big fella … Continue reading Ernest Craun, a life well lived, RIP
“All of America’s veterans have placed the nation’s security before their own lives. Their sacrifice creates a debt that America can never fully repay…. And we will not stop searching until we have accounted for every soldier and sailor and airman and Marines [sic] missing in the line of duty.” President George Bush, 11 November … Continue reading What’s A Government Promise Worth?
“All of America’s veterans have placed the nation’s security before their own lives. Their sacrifice creates a debt that America can never fully repay…. And we will not stop searching until we have accounted for every soldier and sailor and airman and Marines [sic] missing in the line of duty.” President George Bush, 11 November … Continue reading Time To End Don’t Ask, Don’t Search Policy
“Sustema” I believe it’s a case of “sustema,” Doc. Sustema? Yeah, sustema, a composite whole, a Greek word we got from the Romans—only now we call it “systems.” Oh, systems. But I don’t understand what that’s got to do with your feelings of helplessness, anger, alienation and nausea, especially when you see your Social Security … Continue reading Life Is Just A Bowl of Systems
His business associates called him “Mr. Connors,” or “Old Man Connors.” His friends and relatives called him, “Arch.” His employees, when he wasn’t present, called him “Fire-in-the-Hole.” Construction crews, just before setting off dynamite, yell “Fire in the hole,” as a warning to take cover, explosion about to take place. It fitted Arch Connors to … Continue reading Connors Construction Company