latest
Dear readers, you may not agree with me on this one, but SPAM – in my opinion is one of the greatest food inventions ever produced. From my point of view, you either love SPAM or you hate it. And even if you hate it, keep reading anyway – you just might learn something.
Read more
When I sat down at my computer this morning, I received an unsolicited popup from Bill Gates about President Trump’s cabinet members and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani being accused of influencing an election. Hmmm, I pondered this for a moment and wondered if I should expect the men in black to show up at MY door.
Read more
Every now and then you come across something on the Internet that seems to have value or is worthwhile. The “erdle” craze fits that bill for me. These are online games that refresh themselves every day and are designed to provide you with a few minutes of entertainment in an otherwise hectic world. Wordle (https://www. nytimes.com/games/wordle/ index.html) is the first of these of which I became acquainted.
Read more
By the time a person reaches my age, they’ve probably accumulated a significant number of pet peeves. I have one even bigger than hearing the word “sammich” and its people airing their personal business in public via their cellphone.
Read more
When I was growing up there was a running joke among comedians about how awful their inlaws were, especially their mothers-in-law. Not knowing any better, I took this as a true fact and after I got a bit older, I had some friends who got married and sure enough, they married into a mess. All this solidified the myth for me that all inlaws are bad and there will be nothing but conflict with them after you marry. Boy was I wrong. I’ll start by saying this: If a marriage is a gamble, I hit the jackpot. My wife is still putting up with me after almost 30 years of having me on the Alan Shoalmire Improvement Project, despite the marginal gains that have been made. That being said, her parents are absolutely wonderful human beings.
Read more
Groucho Marx famously said, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” When it comes to Grimes County’s White Man’s Union Association (“WMUA”), I would say truer words were never spoken.
Read moreMillions of Texas children are heading back to school this month, as early as this week in some districts. The Texas Department of Transportation urges drivers to be especially alert and focused when driving in school zones and near bus stops. Drivers are further reminded that a new Texas law requires drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, according to TxDOT. The Lisa Torry Smith Act is named after a young mother killed in Missouri City in a crosswalk as she walked her son to school. The driver received a $50 fine for failing to yield, according to numerous media reports.
Read more
Friends, readers, and colleagues I must start this piece with a bit of a confession to make. I am not obsessed, but I do have an unusual affinity for Dixon Ticonderoga pencils. I’m not sure where or when this started, but as a writer I can tell you that they truly are the best in the world. I have at least a dozen or so at strategic locations around my house in case I get a spark of inspiration to write something. I keep some in my car, in my truck, in my desk, and in other locations as well. I probably have a couple hundred of them that I can put my hands on at any time. Why this particular writing instrument, you might ask? It just works for me, I guess. The smell of a just-sharpened pencil takes me back to elementary school, I suppose. I also have a professional grade pencil sharpener that produces a very very sharp point. So, enough about me, let’s dive into the history of this wonderful piece of engineering.
Read more