Not an easy ride at school

A recent study released by a Washington think tank says school is too easy for most kids in the United States, failing to challenge them and leaving them bored.

Some recent observations

You can observe a lot just by watching, Yogi Berra once said, and I've been doing some observing lately.

No more partying until dawn

"Early to bed and early to rise," said Benjamin Franklin, "makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

Conspiracy theories never really die

Ralph, who runs a roadside nursery business on the Maine island where Nancy and I spend time, is a conspiracy theorist of the first order.

In awe of people who can jam

You might have seen the segment on TV recently that spotlighted a guy who had virtually no musical talent, then dived one day into the shallow end of a pool and suffered a severe head injury, and days later sat down at a piano and played it like a virtuoso.

It's good to be queen

Being queen is a heck of a job. You've probably seen television coverage of the big British celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary of occupying the throne. There's no arguing she's got one of the best jobs in the world. A queen has a leg up on your average Joe Sixpack -- uh, Joe Alepack in the United Kingdom -- who's trying to earn a ...

Eagle webcams addictive

Technology is bringing the magic of nature -- specifically, the majesty of America's symbol, the bald eagle -- into our living rooms.

A bartender named Slobo

My friend had been having a bad day, starting with absent-mindedly putting a tin of Altoids mints in his pocket before going through the metal detector at the airport. That had set the infernal machine screaming, which led to suspicion, which led to officers confiscating the little round silver flask he had in his carry-on bag.

An alternative graduation address

The students over at the University of South Carolina are raising cain because they don't like the graduation speaker who's been chosen to deliver the commencement address later this month.

On aging, writing, opinions

Random thoughts on a spring afternoon: • I saw a photo recently of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier demonstrating proper passing technique to one of the Gamecock quarterbacks during spring practice. Nobody can argue with the old ball coach's hurling ability -- he won the Heisman Trophy as the country's best college football player back in 1966 -- or his coaching acumen, as he has compiled an impressive sidelines resume and ...

Regional tastes

Camden native Ford Graham, who's going to live in Germany as head of South Carolina's European industrial recruitment efforts, says he's going to convert natives of that country to boiled peanuts.

Tending to Fido’s mental health

Let's talk about dogs. Specifically, dogs that need psychiatric counseling. But first we'll focus on dogs that need obedience training, which according to the U.S. government must be about half the entire U.S. canine population. A California school that specializes in dog-obedience training raked in $2.7 million from the federal government last year so it could teach military spouses how to take a dog for a walk. No kidding. <p ...

Old-time politics

Back in the days before binding caucuses and every-other-day primaries, political conventions were fascinating.

PTL lives on with 'supernatural debt cancellation'

Regarding our time together today, I'm reminded of two old maxims:

More than one apology warranted

My, my, isn't Rush Limbaugh getting contrite now that his advertisers are abandoning him?

Welcome to the good life

Were talking coffee and burgers today, folks.

The U.S. Open