Archives: October 2015

Ben Franklin’s Wish

They had a lot to decide that summer of 1787 in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention was called for the 13 states to fix the Articles of Confederation. They weren’t working. Too many conflicts among the 13 independent states. A weak federal government with no ability to tax. Any changes had to be by unanimous vote.

Read on »

October on the Brink

“It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.” -President John F. Kennedy October 22, 1962 Fifty three years ago tonight

Read on »

Fast News

If we say it faster, will it sound more urgent and important? ABC News thinks so. If you watch ABC World News, you’ll have to listen faster. I’m not criticizing their content. Although they are not shy about using the broadcast clichés that should make us all cringe. They are going after the young viewer, who research shows,

Read on »

Where Was He Standing?

It is the most famous speech in American history. Given by the most important president in our history, honoring the soldiers who died in the most decisive battle in the country’s history. Gettysburg is a special, even sacred place. I have great interest in history, particularly events that changed its course. My wife and I

Read on »

The Sentence

It starts with a thought. After you think about it long enough, you put it on the page. It’s the first step. It can gush out of you, or it can be a painful trickle. I’ve written over a dozen pieces for this blog. Most of the sentences gushed out. But writing about the thing itself

Read on »