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Big Al and the rabbit fish
More than 50 years ago, I spent many a day fishing with my maternal grandfather on Lake Wateree. He was known to all as Daddy John and the lake was always called The River. Daddy John knew the location of every Bream/Crappy-Bed and Catfish-Hole at The River. Amazingly, he knew all of the fish in the lake by name. He also knew a great big turtle that he affectionately called Big Al.
A few items from the grab bag
This is one of those weeks where I don't have any one thing in particular to write about. That is due in part, at least, to the fact that I was sick most of last week with a touch of bronchitis. What fun. So, instead of trying to strain my brain, I thought I'd just touch on a few things here and there that dimly caught my attention ...
The terror of not knowing
WASHINGTON -- As the manhunt for the Boston bombers reached its climactic conclusion, Americans of all hues and backgrounds heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it wasn't ... fill in the blank:
Gay marriage battle not same as civil rights movement
No one wants to be labeled a bigot. Not in this day or age. Not at this time in American culture, and especially not pertaining to the current battle on gay marriage.
When profiling becomes a real menace
Some media found the possibility that foreign terrorists bombed the Boston Marathon to be too tantalizing an explanation to pass up, even when it snares the wrong suspects.
Faith healing v. common sense
When do religious affiliation and common sense collide? You would think they would somehow meet when your child dies after a failed attempt at "faith healing," but apparently not. A "faith healing" couple on probation for the death of their 2-year-old son will soon be charged for the death of their, other 8-month-old son who died last week in Pennsylvania. The children's parents, Herbert and Catherine Schaible, have been labeled as fundamental ...
Spring-time tips for healthy trees
I said this last month, but now I really mean it -- Happy Spring! It's evident spring is here by seeing the hordes of folks scurrying around in the garden section of many of our local stores. For many of us the allure of warm weather and blooming plants stirs us to get outside and get our hands in the dirt. If you haven't gotten outside yet to do your ...
Issues with airplanes
This weekend, I will be traveling via airplane for the first time alone. Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous about the whole ordeal. For starters, I'm terrified of heights. I'm talking, if I see a photo of someone skydiving or one of those "cool" pictures in National Geographic where a person is scaling a cliff, my heart rate automatically speeds up and I feel nauseous, bordering on a panic ...
The governor, the soul mate and ... The End
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- As the reporter said to the novelist: Why bother to make stuff up?
Immigration discussion begins
By the time you read this, a group of United States Senators will likely have introduced the first significant proposal on immigration reform in more than 20 years. While it is far too early to comment on its content -- the group has been fairly secretive as to details -- the simple fact that such a high profile group will be offering a proposal is noteworthy. And it ...
A friend and a fireball
My initial reaction was to bend over double and my next thought was to wonder what happened to all of the oxygen in the room. Johnny Jaynes and I have been good buddies for more than half a century and even though we are good friends, neither us want the other to go "one up." This day, he won.
Horror without terror, just anger
(This column was written prior to Friday morning's events when two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing were identified and one killed.)
‘You know nothing, John King’
In George R.R. Martin's fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire," a Wildling woman named Ygritte often tells one of the main characters "You know nothing, Jon Snow." She says it because Jon, a member of the Nightwatch guard, tends to jump to conclusions about her people based on the stories he's heard back in his home territory. Jon's mistakes are honest ones: he grew ...
More about River Monsters host
Community support is insanely valuable in so many areas of our lives. Everyone has a dream, or at least something they hope to achieve, and more times than we may want to admit, achieving the dream requires some kind of support from the community, whether it be local, national or international. A lot of times our wildest dreams will force us to ask people for things that make us feel vulnerable in a way.
Articles by Section - Columns
Don’t shoot the messenger
I've always heard the phrase "don't shoot the messenger" throughout my life. I somewhat understood what it meant -- don't take your anger out on someone who is simply relaying unwanted information. It wasn't until I started my career as a reporter that I developed a deeper and more meaningful relationship with this quote. Being a journalist means that not only do I get to be the bearer of ...
Googling ourselves to death
WASHINGTON -- At a party a few years ago, a young reporter bounded over to my cluster of social nodders and, with the breathlessness of a born tweeter, chirped: "What's the new hot thing?!"
Statehouse ethics: just tell the truth
When I was a young boy growing up and my mother confronted me with something that I knew I had done wrong, I often stammered around, making excuses and trying to avoid fessing up. My mom's response was always the same: "Let's begin by just telling the truth."
Noted and passed
** A new Gallup poll indicates that Americans rank the performance of Congress at the lowest level since polling on the subject began. Only 10 percent of citizens say they have confidence in Congress, with no discernible difference among those who call themselves Democrats and those who say they're Republicans. Congress rates last on a list of 16 institutions, with the American military ranking first. The Gallup organization has been asking opinions of Congress ...
Crisis of faith in government
WASHINGTON -- It is reassuring that in the midst of so much government dysfunction, the IRS has resolved the question of when and whether to tax tanning beds under the Affordable Care Act. Do not be concerned about that giddiness you feel. You are not having a nervous breakdown but are suffering a symptom commonly associated with recognition that the absurd has become the accepted norm -- and that you are, in fact, alone. ...
KCSD has had a one terrific school year
The end of the school is a veritable kaleidoscope of activities and excitement, with happiness and even a little relief thrown in for good measure. For me, it's also a time to reflect on the school district's many accomplishments over the past year. To say the least, it's been one terrific year! This month, I wanted to review just a few of the many highlights of 2012-13:
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Welcome to the good life
Were talking coffee and burgers today, folks.
Secrecy scandal? Not so much
When is a scandal not really a scandal? Many are shocked to hear that the government, in its pursuit of terrorists as relentlessly as Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner, is massively snooping into our phone records and popular social networks without search warrants.
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