Columns

Partisan extremists want to keep us divided

Is this never going to end? Both left and right wingers continue to lash out with charges filled with rumors and innuendo on issues that seem pretty reasonable to me.

Are you distressed by distressed clothing?

My family will soon take advantage of our state’s tax-free weekend for clothing and school supplies, but none of our hard-earned money will go for distressed clothing. Coincidentally, none of the money we spend at the food court will purchase pre-chewed burritos. Call us rebels.

A/C hasn’t only made life cooler

As a heat wave hits America from coast to coast, it’s hot outside — but cool inside, thanks to the triumph of air conditioning. For most of human history, there was little people could do to avoid heat.

Eat all of your ragondin

It’s not surprising that a story about a new cookbook filled with recipes for nutria meat was considered front-page news in August 1963 by the Cameron Pilot.

This is not a movie review

You cannot, after all, review a movie you haven’t seen. My problem is that I want to see a movie, and I’ve been stymied at almost every attempt. This independent movie is exactly the sort of film our art houses in Philadelphia like to showcase, but have let it off their schedule.

“Try that in a small town” has critics unhinged!

I grew up listening to classical music. That’s all I played in my truck when I was living in the small town of Ferriday. You know what I mean.

The lost freedom of bike hikes

I dream of recreating some of the epic bike hikes I enjoyed as a kid back in the 1970s. My used Murray five-speed spyder-bike with the high handlebars only cost 25 bucks but it was one of the coolest bikes of the age. Man, I loved that bike. During the long summer days, I rode with a group of kids.

Is the world ready for these random thoughts?

Sometimes topics simply demand more research than a deadline allows. I couldn’t do justice to this week’s topic, so I’m kicking the can down the road by dishing out another batch of research-free random thoughts.

History of Bayou Teche takes many turns

If you read enough stuff that was written a good while ago, you will eventually run across the claim that Bayou Teche was named for Edward Teach, the infamous pirate better known as Blackbeard.

Don’t let political dogma cost an education

When Democratic wunderkind Josh Shapiro campaigned to become the next governor of Pennsylvania, he tried to assume a centrist, bipartisan tone on “helping kids.