Between 1978 and 1982, I spent a lot of time as a Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent in Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, and Nicaragua — all of which were experiencing vicious uprisings and revolutions. From time to time, I post one of the stories I wrote …
The new Muhammad Ali postage stamp is now available, issued by the United States Postal Service. It is a commemorative Forever Stamp honoring the boxing legend and humanitarian, putting his image into circulation nationwide. Twenty-two million stamps are being printed, each featuring Ali in his fighting prime. In the black-and-white photo …
Not since slave-loving Democrats provoked the succession of Southern states from the Union have Democrats demonstrated such hatred for America, but that is exactly what is happening today in Minnesota and Minneapolis. Led by Gov. “Tampon” Tim Walz and Boy Toy Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota and Minneapolis are now havens …
In 1961, an Oscar-nominated film, “The Hustler,” starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, told the story of two pool hustlers out to beat the system and each other. At one point in the film, “Fast” Edie Felson (Newman) and Minnesota Fats (Gleason) engage in a marathon game of “straight pool …
During a discussion in a journalism class I was teaching at the University of Illinois a few years ago, I posited the following question: What do you think has been the greatest, most impactful invention in the world during the past 1,000 years? The answers, as you might expect, were …
The following is a compilation of Thanksgiving trivia from The Old Farmer’s Almanac & the Indianapolis Star. My thanks to both of these fine publications. It’s Thanksgiving Day, and millions of Americans will celebrate by tucking in for a big meal with friends and family, by watching football games, and maybe …
“And now for something completely different,” as they used to say on the old Monty Python show. Every week, I receive heaps of emails containing bits of wisdom, humor, anonymous information, and lots of weirdness. Usually, I give these things a quick read and delete them. Today, however, I thought …
I used to think I was just a regular guy, going about my life, as President Lincoln once said: “with malice toward none and charity for all.” Boy, was I wrong. Just take a look: I was born a white male, which means, whether I like it or not, I …
Historical myths say that Lucrezia Borgia was a seductive poisoner who carried a hollow ring filled with venom, hosted orgiastic banquets, and eliminated lovers and rivals at will—an archetypal 16th-century Renaissance “femme fatale.” As Duchess of Ferrara, Lucrezia exercised a lot of agency: she managed a sophisticated court, patronized artists …
Today is Veterans Day. Given that only 6 percent of the people of this nation have ever put on a uniform–including those currently serving–I am not sure many Americans have any idea why Veterans Day is a holiday. Yes, it means schools and most government offices are closed. But it …