A collection of miscellaneous weekly blog posts below!
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Many years ago, when still considered a young man, I wrote a piece called “If the Whole World Could Hear Schubert.” Not just know Schubert, or to be familiar with his music, but that the whole world, across oceans and time zones, could hear Schubert all at once—to experience the loveliness, potency, and majesty of…
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I have a quote that I’d like to live by. Unfortunately, I don’t stick to my guns as often as I should. Anyway, it goes something like this: “My time isn’t yours to waste.” If there was ever a quote that ends up DOA no sooner than one exchanges their marriage vows, it’s that one.…
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On a Sunday in late February, while sipping our morning coffee, Kathy turned to me and said, “How about throwing me a birthday party? It’ll be the last big bash in our house.” (We’re on a two-year downsizing plan.) I gave one of those “I’ll consider it, Hmms” and then replied, “Sure. Why not,” and…
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Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five: Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. He said to his friend, — “If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern…
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The Wright Brothers’ first flight was 120 feet and lasted twelve seconds. Had Usain Bolt witnessed their feat, he might have been mildly amused while grinning that his gold medals and world records were safe even against machines. Back to the drawing board, the Wright Brothers went. Their tenacity turned 120 feet and twelve seconds…
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An epic novel takes time to absorb, so reading it over and over again, irrespective of its literary prowess, linguistics, and message, could end up feeling like a chore. There are a few novels I’ve read multiple times, A Prayer for Owen Meany among them, but it was over a period of years, decades in…
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Viruses, irrespective of their origins, have one universal characteristic: they cannot travel over water. So, for example, if you were standing on the beach with the ocean to your right, you could rest assured that no virus could attack you from that direction. Also, if you are old enough to have read a newspaper on…
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Mmm, what would I want carrying my name? The first thing that comes to mind is some sort of structure. But definitely not a tunnel; in the event of an accident, I wouldn’t want people stuck inside me. It would be somewhat ironic if I had to call my wife and tell her, “Honey, I’ll…
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In what was dubbed “Operation Cyclone,’” the U.S. furnished the Mujahedin with the weapons and cash they needed to resist the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; Iraq fired SCUD missiles that they acquired courtesy of the Soviets at the U.S. for intervening in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; the U.S. coughed up a billion or so…
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Dear Miserly Old Prick, In the event that you’ve lost track of time (doubtless you have; it’s a symptom of living too long), it’s 2062, and you’re 100 years old. Congratulations. But are congratulations in order? Should longevity count as an accomplishment? Let us examine the situation, shall we? Presently, you’re enjoying life with the…
Michael's Corner 