Class of ’70 Reunion

As things usually happen when there’s not a lot of money in the old class reunion bank account, I was called on to take the class photo of my wife Stephanie’s high school class of 1970 for their 50th reunion (really 51st with its postponment last year). I took my GoPro camera along with my […]

Joseph’s Coat

Before reading below, press the arrow for the appropriate background music for reading the below. I was recently elected to the Board of Joseph’s Coat in Columbus. It was somewhat of an unusual way. I created one blog on Midnight Oil about early morning in my local coffee house and provided some photos I took […]

The Chair

Miles Davis / “In A Silent Way” It comes as little surprise that today’s greatest cultural wars are being waged within our educational system. The battles of this war are fought in all segments of the American educational system from our secondary school system to our colleges and universities. We read about scrimmages in the […]

Snow, Death & The Bewildered Herd

(Editor’s note: The chapter below titled “Snow, Death & The Bewildered Herd” is from the book Seeking Truth in the Country of Liesby Edward Curtain. I have been reading this brilliant book of essays collected from blogs over the past few years by the author, a professor at an eastern college. Outside the insightful comments on […]

Dylan 2020

(The below is from Edward Curtin’s essay “Bob Dylan: A Masked Man in Search of Redemption?” from his book Seeking Truth in a Country of Lies (2020).  “He wears a mask and his face grows to fit it.” George Orwell, “Shooting an Elephant” In late March 2020, (Dylan) unexpectedly released a new song. He burst […]

Claudia

A good friend of mine just had her 83 birthday today and I sent her a little time capsule containing key things in culture the year she was born, in 1938. Here is the top song of the year by Artie Shaw, “Begin the Beguine.” One of the most beautiful jazz songs ever created. I […]