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Well, the world is still here. This development has caught me off guard and I had prepared nothing new in the way of “entertainment” for you to read. Fortunately for me this world- continuing thing has fallen squarely during the “week between Christmas” and it has been tradition for the two previous years now that I print my sad attempt at poetry. I think this year though I will try to break down or give some rationale to the events chronicled in this poem. The first part is, to me, pretty on th...
In 1642, John Donne wrote the following words: “No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main ... Each man’s death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” Donne was familiar with death. He wrote the above words six years before the end of the Thirty Years War, a war between Catholics and Protestants which claimed 8,000,000 lives by combat and disease. In those old days, dea... Full story
Apocalypses have been predicted pretty much since there have been civilizations to cower in fear of them. Since one of the “biggies” is just around the corner I thought this week timely to explore some earlier world-shattering (or not) prophesies.1 Rome’s End. The Romans thought the world would end in 634 B.C. because supernatural eagles told Romulus, Rome’s founder, his civilization would only last 120 years. Romans panicked as the city neared the eventually uneventful anniversary. Really.... Full story
For the last couple summers, my girlfriend, Sheila, and I have been putting up cyclists in our home thanks to a website called WarmShowers.org that connects people riding around the world with people who think that sounds like an amazing adventure. The cyclists we met came from every point on the globe - Brazil, Sweden, Ireland, Australia, Canada - and most of them came to the United States to tour the country via the TransAmerica route, which meanders coast to coast from Oregon to Virginia. For many cyclists, Saratoga is the first night... Full story
I was 16 years old before I could beat my grandmother in an arm wrestling match. We were at her kitchen counter, seated on opposite stools. It wasn’t a quick match, and afterwards I was confused. I expected to have to go gentle on her knuckles when I pinned her arm down. Instead, after two minutes of struggle, I just got them to touch the counter and claimed victory. It was a hollow victory. It was my grandmother, after all. In my defense, my grandmother hefted a lot of cast iron pans and k... Full story
Circling an asphalt wasteland like a vulture waiting for that fleeting moment when a parking space opens, fighting the bargain-hunting hordes blocking the aisles and stepping into lines that feel like they have not moved since the last Black Friday may be fun for some people. Here in Saratoga, we feel lucky for the opportunity to walk into a distinctive store, go straight to the owner and ask about the new items in stock. Inside this year’s Christmas Candle special pullout, you will find local business owners donating their time and money to p... Full story
