A Keen Observer

Last fall my wife and I went through customs in Edinburgh, Scotland.  The customs officer noted approvingly that it was our sixth visit in six years.  He knew we had enough money to fly there, and that we’d drop at least a couple of thousand...

The United States has the most dangerous roads of any industrialized country in the world.  Every day more than 100 people die from car crashes, almost as many as those who die from gun violence.  Last year nearly 37,000 Americans were killed in car crashes. ...

I was never in love with Hillary Clinton, but I wanted her to become the first female president in the 227-year history of our country.  Women have had the vote for a century (since 1919), but she was the first to get a presidential nomination...

RASSLIN’ Princeton University Professor Eddie Glaude made an observation the other morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that was both amusing and frightening.  He was reacting to the “fake news” that was published the night before in the “failing New York Times.”   The Times got hold...

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pelé, is a retired Brazilian professionalfootballer  He is regarded by many in the sport, including football writers, players, and fans, as the GOAT, i.e., the greatest player of all time.  What the rest of the world calls “football,” we Americans...

HOWARD SCHULTZ AND THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES Democrats are up in arms this week because former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced he may run for president next year as an Independent.  Their perception is that he couldn’t possibly win but could definitely pull enough votes from the...

Last month New York Times syndicated columnist Frank Bruni, an openly gay man, asked his readers a question.  Which of these three groups will be first to have one of its members elected president:   A JEW, A GAY, OR A WOMAN   The question...

  My prediction for 2019 is that it will be a very good year—-not only for small town girls and soft summer nights, or city girls who lived up the stairs with all that perfumed hair—but also a politically good year. In the next 12...

I’m beginning to see the error of my ways in criticizing progressive Democrats and their very appealing political platform.  I’m going to board the train to progress and do it with all the zeal of a reformed smoker or drinker.  You know, the person who...

My father was the fifth out of a family of eight children,and my mother was the fifth of a family of six. My parents were from large Italian families and both were born just prior to 1920. My grandparents emigrated to America at the turn of...