Columns

What’s news? It depends on who you ask

I need someone to tell me what’s happening. Not a tinted version of events but what’s really happening. I make the request because mainstream (if there is such a thing) news outlets seem to fundamentally disagree about what’s important.

Colorful ball brought governors, trappers together

As late as the middle 1950s the end of the trapping season was celebrated by an elaborate Trapper’s Ball that included the crowning of a king and queen, speeches by governors and assorted dignitaries, and, of course, dining, dancing, and a sip of something stronger than soda pop.

Aggravation: Is it a board game or a way of life?

First off, Louis Armstrong was right about it being a wonderful world. And I realize many people suffer far worse troubles than mine. But still … I would die of shock if I ever experienced 10 consecutive minutes of comfort, serenity and dignity.

Long pier was first step into Gulf

The beginning of the offshore oil industry is commonly dated to the completion of a Kerr-McGee well south of Morgan City in November 1947, but drillers brought in the first well in the Gulf almost a decade before that, in the middle of March 1938.

Enough of the Royal Family

If only we had a vaccine that would cure our sick obsession with the Royal Family, I’d be the first to sign up. I’d cut in line for that. If 100% efficacy required three doses, I’d raise my arm for that.

Do you find Saint Patrick’s Day troubling?

“My father and mother were Irish, and I am Irish, too.”

Dr. Seuss erasure is just beginning

I do not like green eggs and ham I do not like their colors, ma’am I only sup on rainbow fish I like a multi-colored dish I will not swallow things too white But chocolate milk is a delight And Black-eyed peas are really nice I’ll eat them ma’am I’ll eat them twice I think the thing that matters...

How did we survive Looney Tunes?

Is the world finally coming to grips with the wrongs I endured as a child growing up in the 1970s? I came of age before 24-hour cable news channels sensationalized childhood abductions and made every parent in America terrified that their kid was likely to become the next victim.

We ought to have a Baileyville

You have probably never heard of G. W. R. Bailey, but his thinking and influence were crucial to the decision of where lots of people in south Louisiana live.

Believe it or not, money isn’t the key to happiness

Get this: A study by McGill University has found that more money does not necessarily make people in low-income countries happier. I like more money as much as the next guy, but that does not surprise me.