A Keen Observer

  Michel Serres, a French philosopher, told a story about a Christian martyr named St. Denis. In the year 250 AD Denis was executed by decapitation.  According to the writings of Christian believers, Denis picked up his head and walked several kilometers, all the while...

Let me begin by apologizing to my good friends who are obsessed with electing Bernie Sanders to the presidency of the United States.  I know you’re not going to like what follows, but I have to do it in all good conscience. I’ve stated repeatedly...

As a former English teacher and student of literature my command of mathematics is pretty much limited to basic arithmetic.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages are easy for me, but once the x’s and o’s appear or anything to do with geometry I’m completely...

A Gen-Xer I know who’s in his late 30’s made a keen observation at a recent Sunday dinner gathering he attended.  When the talk turned to politics, he reported that the people over 50 unanimously said Bernie Sanders was too old to be president. The...

Last year I needed a pair of cheap sunglasses to keep in my car.  I found a pair for $5, and I got them at Wal-Mart. I use non-prescription reading glasses, but Wal-Mart charges $8.  Ocean State Job Lots in Whitinsville sells them for $3....

The first time I went to Italy I landed in Milan. One of the most beautiful churches in the world, Il Duomo, is located in the center of the city. https://www.google.com/search?q=duomo+in+milan&biw=1408&bih=649&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjiuePytb7LAhUCNSYKHZzpBrMQ7AkIPQ&dpr=1.36 The day I went to view it there was a big protest march with...

Bernie Sanders and his supporters continue to reference polls that show him beating Republican candidates, including Donald Trump, by a wider margin than Hillary Clinton. These polls are meaningless and irrelevant because nobody in the Grand Old Party (GOP) has bothered to attack Mr. Sanders....

One of the topics on the Jim and Margery NPR talk radio show yesterday was whether supporters of Donald Trump had to hide their feelings to avoid the wrath of friends and family members.  Some of his fans are in the closet and others have...

A “Don” is the boss, brain, and leader of a crime family. Think Don Corleone in “The Godfather.” Teflon is a synthetic resin used to coat nonstick cooking utensils. John Gotti (1940 – 2002) was an Italian-American mobster who became boss, or Don, of the...

Last week I posted a comment on Facebook that came from a New York Times reader who wrote, “If it comes down to a choice between Mr. Sanders and Mr. Trump I won’t be bothering to vote… neither has a chance of ever enacting one...