There’s something in me that really does not like to make phone calls. Oh I like to talk on the phone. Talking and I are grand friends. But for some reason, my insides get squiggly when I have to make a call. Very strange indeed since I come from a very long line of telephone company worker bees. This phobia goes all the way back to the CB (Citizen’s Band) radios. We had them … [Read more...]
Long Ago Close-Ups
In the world today we all have our pictures taken daily. Nearly everywhere and nearly all day long. Well hopefully not in bathrooms. You just need to assume cameras are everywhere. I am not a fan of the picture taking world. I have come to realize that no matter what you look like in your head, the camera certainly does not lie. On top of that, those sneaky cameras like to … [Read more...]
Memories of Mum
MUM. Among the many blessings I owe my mother, Margaret “Mum” Wessell, two stand out in particular. First, she taught me to appreciate truly beautiful women because she was possessed of such striking physical beauty herself. An outward beauty that was reinforced by her spiritual beauty, that was most expressed through her eyes, her gentle voice and her soothing touch. … [Read more...]
Dirty cellos playing oxymorons for peccadillos
The rancorous campaign for Catherine Cortez-Masto’s U.S. Senate seat has been rather undistinguished until now. Mme. Senator may have at last done one thing for the history books, a true political innovation. OXYMORON ALERT: She’s now airing a POLITE hatchet job against her Republican opponent, Adam Laxalt. She thus raises the burning question: Can you be too laid back to … [Read more...]
Raid of the century and the Berkeley Barb
Pardon me if I’m still shocked by the news that the Joe Biden administration raided ex-President Donald Trump’s home and confiscated boxes of documents the government said belonged in the National Archive. Before we get started, let me comment on journalists who say we shouldn’t call it a “raid.” Call it a “search.” I’ve got no tolerance for that kind of deception. The … [Read more...]
Milestones Make Smile Stones
Milestones Make Smile Stones On the path of life, milestones are huge. Even little ones. First tooth. First steps. Have you seen the commercial where a guy gets up from the couch where other people are watching a baby do baby things. When the guy is out getting snacks the baby takes her first step. When the guy gets back he wants to know if everyone can make the baby take … [Read more...]
For Sale: Unsafe at any speed, $40,000
Today’s column got started in a Reno bar decades ago. I was drinking with a bunch of lawyers. The conversation was wide-ranging until somebody uttered the magic words: “Jeep case.” That opened the floodgates. All had war stories about their many Jeep cases, even criminal defense, corporate or estate-planning specialists. I never forgot that free seminar in consumer … [Read more...]
Jim Aiken—Second Half
COACH AIKEN. As promised last week, this is the continuation of the Jim Aiken story. The legendary Nevada coach is well remembered by those who had the good fortune to play for him. After I felt I had convinced Coach Aiken that my hands were indeed “big enough” for basketball and that my mother actually did sleep with my press clippings under her pillow; our first interview … [Read more...]