Columns

Have you hugged an etiquette expert lately?

“Were you raised in a barn?” I never had the legendary Mrs. Montgomery as a teacher; but she was a senior class adviser and I needed her input on a school program script, so I made the rookie mistake of assuming her wide-open door meant I could forego the formality of knocking.

Lights also brought shadows

By 1900, communities across south Louisiana were beginning to prosper again after the vicissitudes of the Civil War. Growing commerce brought new comforts that we take for granted today. Railroads and telegraph lines were bringing speedier communications between our towns for better or for worse.

Inflation 101: This time is different

It is important to know the history of Inflation so that you can prepare accordingly. Inflation is dangerous and is ultimately caused by poor government monetary policy which significantly disrupts Demand vs. Supply (i.e.

Women in many other nations fear for their lives

As I write this, the clock is ticking.

Our wild debt party is over

Gosh, I hate debt. I’ve been in and out of debt from time to time. When I was younger I took out a car loan for a nice set of wheels that I really couldn’t afford. I borrowed money I didn’t have to buy a really nice stereo system, too.

The pen is sillier than the sword

For those of you who don’t know, my more respectable gig for the past quarter century, or so, has been teaching college English. (Scary, I know.

“Quiet quitting”: Is that a thing or not?

Have you heard of the “quiet quitting” trend that is being breathlessly reported on social media? Quiet quitting refers to doing the minimum requirements of one’s job and putting in no more time, effort or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary.

Gold fever reached south Louisiana

The famous California gold rush in 1849 was caused by dreams of vast fortunes made by just wandering around and picking up nuggets — something like picking up pecans in the fall.

Hostility to pro-life activists taken too far

In 1994, Congress passed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Modern communications: Hung up on rudeness

Changing communications technology is one of life’s never-ending annoyances, and now we have a new agitation: voice messaging. Voice messaging allows smartphone owners to record their voice and send the recording to others as they would a text or a chat.