Whatever else that can be said about the 2018 elections, they are a picnic for pundits. They can find anything they want in the results.  Trump won or he lost.  There was no “blue wave” or the Democrats scored big gains in the House and governor’s seats.  The president has gained a Democratic House to […]

I was recently invited to join Bob Milford, manager of the prestigious Diamond W Ranch, on a drive-around tour of the place. It’s a huge, private ranch, with tiny ex-logging roads winding around through 13,000 acres of pine trees and rocks. A real paradise. But I was horrified to see wooden street signs nailed to […]

With each passing day we are constantly bombarded with news reports about how polarized America has become and how divided our nation is by political strife and violent squabbles. It’s a never-ending 24-hour news cycle of death, destruction, mayhem and leaves little room for much else to talk about. There are arguments endlessly on social […]

When I started teaching at the university level, about 1,500 students ago, I had no idea that I’d ever have to dedicate class time to address honesty. Some brief reminders on plagiarism was all that I was used to. That Melania Trump could use some help, her “Be Best” speech was stolen from Michelle Obama, is […]

Late in the afternoon of Dec. 25, 1991, Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, declared his office closed, and handed over the keys to Russia’s nuclear deterrent to President Boris Yeltsin. The next day, the red flag of the USSR came down and the white, blue and red flag flew over Moscow’s Kremlin and the Russian […]

The latest topic du jour at the world dilemma think tank is Dud Campbell’s trapline. It should be noted that no animals were harmed in the production. In fact, the “victims” of Dud’s trapline probably gained a pound or two during the ordeal. It all began not long ago now when Mrs. Miller complained about […]

Each year, on his statutory birthday, this column pays tribute to George Washington.  Now, in light of the Pittsburgh massacre of Jews at worship and the role of President Trump in creating the atmosphere for such actions, it joins with others across the country in recalling one of his writings. Rhode Island, fearful that is […]

“Pray for us, I will call you later.” That was the text message we received from our 16-year-old daughter at 10:16 a.m. on Saturday morning as we drove down Liberty Avenue toward Pittsburgh’s Strip District. My wife called her immediately. “Are you okay? Were you in an accident? What’s happening?” I heard a gasp from […]