Columns

My youngest is studying to be a chemist at Valdosta State and, accordingly, he did a home experiment last week in trying to develop his own brand of organic solvent. I haven’t quite figured out just what that is yet but at least now I know it when I smell it. Let me explain. [Full Story »] 

B. J. and I go back with Charleston, S.C. a long way. Since I have a lot of family and ancestral roots there, and a brother buried there, I probably go back farther than B. J. Across the years, Charleston has become sort of an “old stomping ground” with us. There are few nooks and crannies in Charleston that we haven’t plundered through at some time or other in daylight or dark. We traversed Charleston Harbor several times both in my brother’s private boat and on the ferry. While my brother Halbert was living, since he was a WW 2 U. S. Navy Veteran, we made Patriot’s Point a regular destination so my brother could guide us through the WW 2 Navy ships anchored there. [Full Story »] 

Barrow Seeks to Change 27th Amendment to Cut Member Pay

On March 6 U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, H.J. Res 33, to allow Members of Congress to cut their pay at any given time. Under this amendment, Congress may reduce their compensation immediately upon enactment of a salary reduction law. The 27th amendment currently prevents members from “varying” their pay, preventing a salary reduction. [Full Story »] 

Every once in a blue moon, members of Congress actually roll up their shirtsleeves and do something positive. Last week U.S. Senators Orin Hatch (R-Utah) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) introduced legislation to repeal a portion of Obamacare. The legislation, dubbed the American Job Protection Act, attempts to repeal the job-killing employer mandate that was included in the President’s $2.6 trillion health law, which requires businesses with 50 employees or more to provide health insurance of minimum value or pay a penalty between $2,000 and $3,000 for each employee working 30 hours or more per week. [Full Story »] 

When I walk into a Weight Watchers meeting, the room is already set up. Chairs line the walls, products sit on the back table waiting for my perusal and/or purchase, and the flip chart of the week’s session awaits the appointed hour. In the back the leader and her assistant are already weighing members in, celebrating with those who lose and commiserating with those who gain. They smile and encourage as they efficiently do their jobs. We all know that they are doing jobs, of course. They are paid, as well they should be, but how fair is their pay? I’ve never heard Baxley’s local leaders complain, but a big outcry is sounding across the country among leaders who complain that they make less than minimum wage. [Full Story »] 

I keep getting notices through my email that someone wants to be my friend on Facebook. Out of courtesy I almost always approve them even though I do not know them from a bucket of turpentine. Just this morning another request arrived and I went to the site and there, on the right side of the screen, was as ad stating that if I wanted to meet some nice ladies that wanted a faithful man to take care of them, that all I had to do was click on the picture. I thought about this for a minute and was about to click just to find out who might be available in the event my wife up and run off. [Full Story »] 

I’m not sure how old I was when I realized that there are many definitions of the word meeting. I couldn’t have been too old because that lesson usually comes early in life. People meet to discuss any number of things, and I’d be the first to admit that productive meetings can accomplish miracles. During my teaching career, I spent years in a mixture of meetings: faculty meetings, parental meetings, both as teacher and parent, planning meetings, and every other kind known to the educated man. [Full Story »] 

Just the other day I was listening to a friend of mine opining about the need for honest politicians and this brought to mind the story about Diogenes, the ancient Greek philosopher. It seems Diogenes was walking around town in the middle of the day and shone a light into the face of everyone he passed. Finally, someone asked, “Diogenes, what are you looking for?” and Diogenes replied, “I am looking for an honest man.” This ancient philosopher seemed to be implying there is no such thing as a completely honest man and I tend to agree. Now don’t get me wrong for I am as honest as the next person and more honest than most but I am not running for reelection to anything. If I were I might have to delay the aforementioned statement until I was out of office or at least out of the running for one. [Full Story »] 

The popular column, Tales from the Altamaha, authored by T. Ross Sharpe and published several years ago in the Lyons Progress, has been brought to life in recent years by the talented playwright and actress Laurie Jo Upchurch, an endowed cast of gifted actors, and the outstanding River Rat Revue Band. The increasingly popular production begins April 4 and runs through April 13 at the Blue Marquee Theater in Lyons. [Full Story »] 

A friend emailed me a letter to the editor that appeared in The Iosco County News Herald in Michigan recently. This letter is simple, to the point and questions the double-standards of our society. While I may not agree with all points the writer expresses, the letter is certainly thought-provoking: [Full Story »] 

In the early years of my life, I’d don my red flannel pajamas that Mama made for me and climb into Daddy’s lap for a story. After he finished The Gingerbread Man, I could usually talk him into reading The Three Bears and maybe even one more—unless Mama came along and interrupted our reading session by ordering me off to bed. [Full Story »]