Years ago, Merlin Mann1 said you can’t think your way out of writer’s block. You must write your way out of thinker’s block. I’ve been trying to do the former when, obviously, I should be attempting the latter. So much as happened since New Year’s Eve 2020. The novel coronavirus pandemic aka COVID-19. People wearing […]
Author Archives: elb_cast
Photos of Roadside Americana
Download 11,710 Free-to-Use Photos of Roadside Americana: The Library of Congress has published over 11,000 high-resolution shots of U.S. roadside attractions, and released the images (to which it had purchased the rights) into the public domain. The photos were taken by architectural critic and photographer John Margolies, who spent forty years documenting his travels along […]
24 Hours on Facebook
The main lesson learned after 24 hours on Facebook is that the people most likely to ask What Would Jesus Do are the least likely to follow his lead. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church and respected the adults who taught us right from wrong. They taught us about the wrath of the […]
“Prejudice, Racism, and Assumptions”
I have a friend, more of a brother, who posted his thoughts about the current #blacklivesmatter state of things. It’s damn near perfect.
Finding Words
A couple of days ago I started struggling with writing something titled “Take a Breath, Count to 10.” I now know this isn’t the time for that, but I’m still struggling to find appropriate words. Are there any? I have been thinking lately about George W. Bush. I didn’t like him. I didn’t support him. […]
COVID-19 and the American Idiot
Watching the row of men toting long guns, marching shoulder-to-shoulder toward the capitol, sent a bead of cold sweat rolling down my back to meet the shivers crawling up my spine. This isn’t the opening of a new novella about the Civil War. It’s my recollection of watching spoiled middle-aged men threaten the government of […]
John Prine
Bridge Concert 10/22/16 Roger Waters “Hello In There” John Prine song – YouTube: John Prine touched so many lives including mine. So many musicians loved his work and appreciated his muted style. Many covered his work, but this performance by Roger Waters (begrudgingly of Pink Floyd fame) is among my favorites. They even performed this […]
Leadership
Queen tells UK “we will succeed” against Coronavirus in rare address to the nation: Calm. Supportive. Encouraging. Hopeful. None of these words describe our lunatic president. If only a leader was here to provide such a message in the United States.
How I lost control of our bank accounts to a phone scammer
How I lost control of our bank accounts to a phone scammer | The Robservatory: Do yourself a favor, and don’t be me. I never thought I’d be “that guy” either, as I keep current on scams, look for signs of fishiness on phone calls, etc. Still, they got me, and it was painful—not necessarily […]
Fragile, yet Resilient
Humans are fragile. Flesh and blood. Walking bags of bones and meat brought to life by a smattering of thoughts—some good, some bad. When we’re hurt, we bleed, and it’s not that hard to hurt us. If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison […]