Loud Voices and the Barks of a Dog

Loud Voices and the Barks of a Dog

Loud Voices and the Barks of a Dog 1,200 words • 5 minutes When I was living in Japan, every day I would religiously read Tokyo’s English language newspapers. These were high-quality publications and ones in which the editors would, surprisingly, open the letters...
Why Do People Insist on Going With Three Names?

Why Do People Insist on Going With Three Names?

Why Do People Insist on Going With Three Names? 350 words • 3 minutes Frankly I do not know. I mean no offense here as some long names are almost musical sounding, but I find the use of three names to be rather pretentious. Again, not always, but for most people a...
A Southern Profanity

A Southern Profanity

A Southern Profanity 928 words • 7.1 minutes When I was growing up, I never heard my parents use profanity—never once. It just wasn’t used in our household and I can hardly imagine the trouble that would have been in store for me had I uttered foul oaths in front of...
Johann Sebastian Bach says, “Let me try that!”

Johann Sebastian Bach says, “Let me try that!”

Johann Sebastian Bach says, “Let me try that!” 1,320 words • 7 minutes I recently heard a quote about J.S. Bach that made me think harder about something than I have in quite some time. Bach, it was said, was better at what he did, composing and performing music, than...
Ardent warriors – Submariners in WW2

Ardent warriors – Submariners in WW2

Ardent warriors – Submariners in WW2 1,600 words • 12 minutes Ardency is one of my favorite words in the English language both for how it sounds and for what it means. Sadly though, we do not hear it much anymore—at least not in the United States where it has been...
Podcasts – A Modern Treasure

Podcasts – A Modern Treasure

Podcasts – A Modern Treasure 1,365 words • 7 minutes “I prefer to read books” was the rather snippy and haughty response on the pilot chat forum. Even though they were nothing more than five words on the computer screen, their sheer dismissiveness was obvious to...