Columns

Fatherly inspiration and the art of grace 

After all these years, my dad inspires me still. As I write this, the almost 89-year-old fellow is fighting to get back onto his feet as stenosis, bad knees and general old age are wearing him down. But though his body shows wear and tear, his mind remains as agile as his sense of humor.

Try electro-anthropology for your ails

There appeared to be more skeptics than believers when a Professor Shaw, self-proclaimed scientist, classical scholar, and creator (and likely sole proprietor) of the Science of Electro-Anthropology began touring south Louisiana just before the Civil War.

Dispelling the myths about abortion

I was always a big fan of mythology. My particular favorite is Athena, also known as Minerva, goddess of wisdom. She is said to have sprung fully formed from her father Zeus’ head, which was probably a great relief for his wife Hera.

History, science render a verdict on abortion

The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, John Roberts, has confirmed that the draft opinion leaked on May 2 was authentic, in that it was generated by the justices themselves.

COVID-19 lockdown’s long hauler effect

It all started with the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020, and it’s one of the few lingering effects of the experience that hasn’t tempted me to seek intense electroshock therapy.

Care for some stolen random thoughts?

Honest, I’m going to write a book chockful of random thoughts someday (my more serious book about religion is already available on Amazon), but deadline pressures keep forcing me to cannibalize my ideas for this column instead.

Fit only for frogs and alligators

Every year about this time, when the Mississippi begins to fill with snowmelt and rainwater from the north, talk begins again about the possibility of the Atchafalaya grabbing almost all of the water from the big river — with dire consequences on both of the streams.

Some free speech warriors defend only speech they like

Unlike so many people with Twitter and Facebook accounts these days, I am not a constitutional scholar.

Let’s unleash the entrepreneur

I started my first business in the 5th grade when I convinced a neighbor to allow me to cut her grass with her electric lawn mower. That project ended in immediate failure. The mower was powered by a long extension cord — a cord I ran over and sliced in two shortly after I began mowing.

From cypress logs to high-flying flags

One of my gifts under the tree last Christmas was a tee shirt inscribed with the question: “Have you ever noticed how many towns are named after their water tower?”