Voting Daze

I stood in line about twenty minutes today, waiting to cast my vote on the last afternoon of early voting. There were about a hundred people in line when I got to the polling place, and that number stayed steady throughout the time I was there. Entering the building where the voting was taking place,… Continue reading Voting Daze

In Progress Book Review: “Warriors”

I’m about halfway through a compilation of short stories and novellas entitled Warriors. It’s edited by acclaimed sci-fi/fantasy authors George R.R. Martin (whose Wild Cards series I’ve been devouring whenever I can find a volume in e-book format) and Gardner Dozois. The anthology is filled with stories that go beyond the genres that its editors… Continue reading In Progress Book Review: “Warriors”

Sears: Where the Undead Shop

Why would Sears create a remarkably graphic (but still tongue-in-cheek) ad campaign that features zombies? Beats me, but I’m impressed, if slightly unnerved. I mean, they’ve gone all out, including three videos using the undead to pitch their products, and their zombieized website is at least a couple of clicks deep before you get to… Continue reading Sears: Where the Undead Shop

Run, You Fool!

Note: The following will seem relevant only to those who consider themselves runners, but it also applies to anyone who routinely, or even occasionally, tries something that’s hard. And if you don’t fall into any of those categories, go ahead and read it simply to enjoy the sublime beauty of my prose. Have you ever… Continue reading Run, You Fool!

The Dangers of Having Gifted Friends

Norman Johnson is a local cartoonist, illustrator, and artist. His work is familiar to most folks in the Midland/Odessa area, whether or not they know its source. Norman is also a gifted caricaturist, and his friends (or, as he would put it, his rapidly-dwindling supply of friends) are frequent subjects. Debbie and I (and even… Continue reading The Dangers of Having Gifted Friends

And…another stroll down memory lane: Wiley Walker & Gene Sullivan

Update [October, 2011]: C.S. Fuqua has published a book entitled “Alabama Musicians: Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie.” Why do I tell you this? Because Gene Sullivan was from Alabama, and Mr. Fuqua included a chapter about him in the book. He also included the photo shown below, and provided yours truly with a… Continue reading And…another stroll down memory lane: Wiley Walker & Gene Sullivan

Another stroll down memory lane: Bewley’s Chuck Wagon Gang

Below is another scan from Debbie’s mom’s collection of ’30s and ’40s memorabilia. The Chuck Wagon Gang is still going strong (I wonder what the original group would have thought about the idea of a website?), billing itself as “the oldest recording mixed gospel group still performing with ties to the original founding.” The scan… Continue reading Another stroll down memory lane: Bewley’s Chuck Wagon Gang

Fair Weather Fan

I’m the world’s worst (or best, depending on your perspective) fair weather sports fan. I’m not a huge sports fan to begin with. I do have some favored teams, but I’m generally content to follow their fortunes in the newspaper or online, after the fact. I can’t remember the last sporting contest that I watched… Continue reading Fair Weather Fan